Authors & Espresso

In this Festival Flashback, Sheila Kennedy explains why every author’s story matters — how books create connection, give others permission to speak, and start conversations that change lives. She shares candid self-publishing insights, encouragement for hesitant writers, and the power of storytelling even in a virtual world. Recorded at the 2020 Virtual Festival of Books, the keynote highlights pr...

Host Nadia Gilkes sits down with debut author Liz DelSignore to discuss her newly published novel From Death to Birth, which follows a man awakening in the afterlife and living his life in reverse. They explore themes of transformation, purpose, grief, and self-discovery, plus the author’s writing and publishing journey—from phone notes to cover design, audiobook narration, editing, and marketing....

Host Nadia Gilkes shares a quick, personal episode about the creative power of changing your scenery to refresh your mindset and jumpstart writing. She explains how new views and environments can awaken your senses and improve your storytelling. Practical ideas include working from coffee shops or hotel lobbies, visiting libraries, spending time in nature, rearranging your home writing space, taki...

In this engaging conversation, Joel Plummer discusses his new book 'Black Kid, White School: What They Don’t Teach Your Black Child - Volume 1' and the inspiration behind it, emphasizing the importance of teaching Black history to children. He shares insights from over 20 years teaching experience, the challenges of writing, and the necessity of providing Black youth with the tools to navigate a w...

Nadia Gilkes revisits her 2020 Authors & Espresso interview with Anthony K. Robinson, covering his autobiographical fiction (He Was My Husband Too, Being Married to Her, and upcoming When I Said I Do), his experiences with grief and family fallout, nonprofit and scholarship work, self-publishing and ghostwriting advice, and a live breakout performance.

Host Nadia shares a candid week-nine update from Authors & Espresso — juggling braces trouble while celebrating podcast growth, new YouTube uploads, and a well-received newsletter. She highlights recent author interviews, festival flashbacks, and listener stats. Also covered: community writing resources (Shut Up and Write), weekly November write-ins, a planned vision-board workshop, and...

Host Nadia Gilkes revisits a 2020 interview with Susan Johnson, author of Some Dreams Are Worth Keeping, who shares her lived experience with bipolar disorder and the memoir that grew from it. Susan discusses diagnosis, treatment, coping strategies (medication, sleep, exercise, support), overcoming obstacles to finish college and publish her book, and the importance of breaking stigma and offering...

Cheryl Baker, an experienced elementary music teacher and author, discusses her books Lessons from the Music Room and A Survival Guide for New Elementary Teachers, sharing practical classroom strategies and niche-focused advice for new music educators. She also talks about her writing and self-publishing process, marketing tips, and how to build community and resources for elementary music program...

In this festival flashback from 2021, host Nadia Gilkes interviews educator and author Joel Plummer about his book Sumo Wrestlers and Supermodels and what two decades in the classroom taught him about the failures of a one-size-fits-all American school system for Black children. They discuss Plummer’s journey into teaching, the historical context shaping Black students’ needs, practica...

Host Nadia Gilkes shares practical tips and favorite apps (Structured, Trello, Evernote, Habit) to help writers organize their schedules, find hidden free time, and build writing routines. Learn how to consolidate calendars, plan writing blocks, track projects visually, and create lasting habits to make room for your novel.

Host Nadia Gilkes revisits a 2021 festival interview with Dr. Shafeeq Ameen, a lifelong educator and author of HBCU Pride and A Message to a Fatherless Generation. They discuss the influence of HBCUs, the impact of fatherlessness on Black boys, community support efforts, and Dr. Ameen’s self-publishing journey and outreach work.

Host Nadia Gilkes shares three practical tips to beat the blank page: listen to conversations around you, reconnect with friends and family for story sparks, and photograph daily moments to inspire descriptive writing. These small habits help build a daily writing practice and prepare you for writing a book in November. Subscribe to the newsletter for more tips and share your work on social media...

In this festival flashback episode of Authors in Espresso, host Nadia Gilkes revisits her 2020 interview with Dr. Gerry Hagen about his novel Mia Thaw: The Future Whispers. Dr. Hagen, a retired physician turned author, explains his vision of a future where minds can be "deep downloaded" into the cloud and explores how that technology might reshape society. The conversation covers the book's charac...

Host Nadia interviews Sheila Kennedy, founder of The Zebra Ink, about her journey from coaching to starting a small-label self-publishing company. They discuss do's and don'ts when hiring publishers, the layers of editing, ghostwriting realities, and how traditional vs. indie publishing compare. The episode offers practical tips for authors: vet publishers and contracts, invest in editing, conside...

Host Nadia Gilkes presents a festival flashback featuring Verde Arzu, author of Rainbow, exploring themes of Black queer love, self-acceptance, and the importance of representation in literature. Verde discusses her independent publishing journey, discusses the importance of acceptance and owning your work, and offers encouragement for aspiring writers.

Host Nadia Gilkes shares practical, encouraging tips to help aspiring authors find topics and start writing. She recommends beginning with what you know, listening to recurring feedback from others, using emotions or headlines as prompts, and keeping a journal or voice memos to capture story ideas. Small daily writing habits can turn collected moments into a book over time. Stay tuned for next wee...

Host Nadia Gilkes interviews Brandon Ward, Sr. about his memoir The Pain of a Man, his daughter’s life-changing accident, and the healing tools he used—books, meditation, and community—to rebuild his life. Brandon also discusses his nonprofits promoting child safety and CPR training, his work mentoring young men, and his second book, The Manifesting Playbook. This episode highlig...

Host Nadia Gilkes interviews Angela Findley about her debut novel On This Rock, a church-set family drama set in Las Vegas that explores hidden conflicts, a spoiled teen, and community fallout. They discuss Angela’s writing process, self-publishing experience, lessons about editing and marketing, plans for the sequel, and practical advice for aspiring authors.

In this Festival Flashback Friday episode, author Chanda Austin discusses her children’s book Qiana’s Braids, a celebration of natural Black hair and the beauty-salon culture that builds pride and community. She shares the inspiration behind the book, the importance of authentic representation, and the history and meaning of braids. Released in June 2020, the book sold over 700 copies in two month...

In this episode Nadia launches Authors & Espresso and explains what self-publishing means, walks through popular platforms (Amazon KDP, Barnes & Noble Press, IngramSpark), and shares pros and cons of indie vs. traditional publishing from her own experience. She offers practical tips on editing, cover design, distribution, and marketing, encourages writers to choose the path that fits them,...

Host Nadia Gilkes reflects on the sudden end of NaNoWriMo, explains her cautious stance on AI in writing, and outlines her planned writing timeline and alternatives like write-ins to help authors stay motivated. She offers practical tips for preparing in October, writing in November, and editing afterward, and invites listeners to join her community-driven approach to keep creating together.

Host Nadia Gilkes celebrates her authorversary and returns with Authors & Espresso, sharing her publishing journey, the Virtual Festival of Books, pandemic challenges, Toastmasters leadership, and a renewed focus on supporting indie authors. Expect author interviews, self-publishing tips, festival flashbacks, NaNoWriMo preparation, and calls for guests — all served with a side of coffee....