Who Are You? 

I am Nikesha Elise Williams. I was a television news producer for 11 years, left that industry and now I work as a journalist doing freelance articles for various publications (The Washington Post, VOX, ESSENCE). I also am an author, I have 5 novels and a poetry collection out. I am a publisher. I run my own publishing company, New Reads Publications. I also am a spoken word performance artist sometimes.

Where do you currently reside?

I live in Jacksonville, FL. I am originally from Chicago.

How long have you been writing professionally?

If you count writing scripts, as a producer I had to do that, I’ve been writing professionally since 2008.

Who or what inspires you to write when inspiration is lacking?

Because I come from a news background, it’s usually current events that inspire me to write. Most of my novels center around current events or headlines or issues I’ve noticed in the news—-whether they be big or small. But a lot of times, I just love stories. I love finding my way into a story, playing with characters and emotions. Just figuring things out the way is a release and very cathartic for me.

When did you or will you know you’ve arrived as a writer?

I don’t think I know that I’ve arrived as a writer, I’ve had various successes along my career and my journey. So, that’s been very affirming. Success is an ever-moving goalpost. You reach one milestone and you’re looking to reach the other. Life is a marathon not a sprint. I’m grateful for the successes I’ve had but I, by no means, think that I’m successful or have arrived. But I am looking forward to what comes next.

What piece of writing are you most proud of and why?

As far as articles, I’m really proud of my piece that was published in The Washington Post for 15 years since Hurricane Katrina. I’m also really, really proud of the piece that I did on a place called American Beach in The Bitter Southerner back in May, it was called the Spirits of American Beach. For my books, I’m most proud of my debut novel, 4 Women, because it was my first and it took a really, really long journey to get it out. I am also proud of my most recent release, my fifth novel, Beyond Bourbon Street which is set in my grandmother’s home in the lower 9th ward in New Orleans 15 years post- Katrina.

Do you have any current published pieces?

I am working on a piece right now for Healthline about inclusivity in medical procedures amidst the pandemic.

What is your favorite quote from yourself and from your favorite writer?

from Will Smith: Greatness lives on the edge of destruction. And most writers reference the Toni Morrison quote where she says if you don’t see the book you want to read, you must write it. That’s what inspired her to write The Bluest Eye and I think about that quote a lot.

What does being a Black woman identifying writer mean to you?

It means a great deal to me. As a Black woman, I mean, that is my identity. As a writer, telling the stories you don’t get to see. A lot of Black women writers their voices are marginalized in some way, like when there is one of us in the door, they don’t tend to make room for more of us, you know? When there was Terry McMillan, there were so many Black women writing besides her but it was like she was the main Black woman writer at the time. Right now it’s the same with Tayari Jones. It’s just to show that there is more than one of us and we have many different types of stories to tell—-all of our voices matter.

What do you wish you knew before embarking on this journey?

As an indie author, I knew it was going to be difficult, long and frustrating. I wish I had more perspective about success and how it actually goes so that I would have taken the time to count the small wins. You really have to do it because you love it. Everyone wants to sell a million copies and make all the money but that doesn’t always happen. You have to just enjoy the journey.

Any last words?

Write the story you want to write no matter what. And write it because you love it not because you want someone else to love it.