Episode 105 Notes and Links to Nikesha Elise Williams’ Work
On Episode 105 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Nikesha Elise Williams, and the two discuss, among other things, her early aptitude for, and interest in, the written word, her varied and prolific reading habits, formative books and writers for her, her days as a television producer, her fantastic podcast and its seeds, and her prolific publishing history, with special emphasis on her award-winning Beyond Bourbon Street.
Nikesha Elise Williams is a two-time Emmy award winning producer, an award-winning author, and producer and host of the Black & Published podcast. Her latest novel, Beyond Bourbon Street, was awarded Best Fiction by the Black Caucus of African-American Librarians in the 2021 Self-Published eBook Literary Awards. It also received the 2020 Outstanding Book Award from the National Association of Black Journalists. Nikesha’s debut novel Four Women received the 2018 NABJ Outstanding Literary Work Award and the Florida Authors and Publisher’s Association President’s Award for Adult Contemporary/Literary Fiction. Nikesha is a Chicago native. She attended The Florida State University where she graduated with a B.S. in Communication: Mass Media Studies and Honors English Creative Writing. Nikesha writes full time with bylines in The Washington Post, ESSENCE, and VOX. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her family.
Nikesha Elise Williams' Website
Black and Published Podcast Home
Buy Nikesha's Books
"How Local Author Nikesha Elise Williams Uses the Library to Write Books That People Check Out" From the Jacksonville Public Library
At about 2:40, Elise talks about her early relationship with words, her home being full of books, and an inversion of preschool “nap time”
At about 3:55, Elise talks about a fateful and inspirational autograph signing with Connie Porter of the American Girls’ series
At about 5:20, Pete references the notes often found in used books
At about 7:05, Nikesha references Robert Jones, Jr.’s quest to buy first-editions of his favorite texts-here’s Nikesha’s episode with him!
At about 8:45, Nikesha talks about the vast swath of books she read as a kid, and the singular exuberance of the Scholastic Book Fair-she mentions reading above her grade level with John Grisham, Roots, and Eric Jerome Dickey, E. Lynn Harris, and Zane
At about 11:00, Pete and Nikesha talk about the powerful impact of reading Roots at young ages, and the need to re-read to take in the full experience and context
At about 13:05, Pete poses a tough question: Which is Nikesha’s favorite Toni Morrison book?
At about 14:50, Pete asks Nikesha about memorable reading from college and early adulthood, and then asks her the question she uses on her wonderful podcast: “When did you know you were a writer?” This brings up Nikesha’s kind words about the wonderful Eric Jerome Dickey and his encouragement
At about 17:00, Nikesha refers to important books for her, like TP Carter’s Lovestoned, Erica Simone Turnipseed’s A Love Noire, An American Marriage, and Deesha Philyaw’s short-story collection The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, and Heavy by Kiese Laymon
At about 18:35, Nikesha gives a highly-complimentary explanation of the greatness of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies
At about 21:35, Pete wonders about any career-starting moments and/or “ ‘Eureka’ moments”-Nikesha talks about doing early writing after entering the workforce
At about 24:10-26:35, Pete asks Nikesha about what she did as a television producer
At about 26:35, Nikesha responds to Pete’s questions about objectivity in news in the Age of Trump, and Nikesha recounts her memories of Election Night 2016
At about 31:00, Nikesha describes her writing for Essence and VOX
At about 32:45, Pete asks about seeds for the Black and Published Podcast and its serendipitous early days
At about 38:30, Pete wonders about Nikesha feeling represented i
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