Episode 105 with Nikesha Elise Williams, host of Black and Published Podcast, prolific and versatile writer of Beyond Bourbon Street and More, and Master Storyteller in Different Media.

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 in what she read-she points out Flyy Girl by Omar Tyree as a first

 

At about 42:00, Pete asks about positive feedback that Nikesha has recived, from both listeners and writers

 

At about 43:00, Nikesha describes the “journey” of Four Women and the excitement that came with its publication

 

At about 43:45, Pete inquires about the epigraph for Beyond Bourbon Street, and Nikesha talks about “living abundantly” 

 

At about 48:10, Pete and Nikesha talk about the book’s beginnings and New Orleans as a “character” in the story

 

At about 53:00, Nikesha talks about how an early iteration of the book, and Pete and her reflect on the power of perspective that strengthens the book 

 

At about 54:25, Pete asks about the main character Graigh and Bombei and their marriage issues 

 

At about 57:40, Pete and Nikesha talk about sympathy and empathy as it is portrayed in the book

 

At about 58:45, Nikesha compliments her editor for helping her best involve thoughts in the book

 

At about 1:00:00, Pete outlines the ways in which “wanting to be seen and heard” intersects with history and personal stories

 

At about 1:01:31, Pete asks Nikesha about the writing of the sex scenes, and she connects her days in television with this writing

 

At about 1:04:00, Pete highlights some standout themes and writing and a key quote involving the burdens that women can carry

 

At about 1:07:20, Nikesha talks about her beloved grandparents and their connections to the book

 

At about 1:10:19, Nikesha reads from Chapter Four of Beyond Bourbon Street

 

At about 1:15:00, Pete stans over Nikesha’s usage of “Sisqo Blond"

 

At about 1:15:30, Nikesha gives out contact info and talks about future projects, inclusing an exciting one for LSU Press

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The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.

   Please tune in for Episode 106 with Daniel Olivas, Daniel Olivas, a second-generation Angeleno, is a playwright and the author of nine books including, most recently, The King of Lighting Fixtures: Stories and How to Date a Flying Mexican, a story collection published on February 22.

      His first full-length play, Waiting for Godínez, was selected for the 2020 Playwrights’ Arena Summer Reading Series. Widely anthologized, he has also written for the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, El Paso Times, Jewish Journal, La Bloga, and many other print and online publications. By day, Olivas is an attorney in the Public Rights Division of the California Department of Justice. 

    This episode will air on March 1.