Black & Published cover logo

Bigger Than Me with Erica Simone Turnipseed

31m · Black & Published · 07 Nov 05:00

This week on Black and Published, Nikesha speaks with Erica Simone Turnipseed author of the new children's picture book, Bigger Than Me. In the book, children discover the impact they can have when they band together and how solidarity lifts everyone up during the 2020 COVID pandemic and racial reckoning.

In our conversation, Erica discusses why she decided to have her young characters use actual building blocks to make meaning of their lives, why she's eternally hopeful despite the current sociopolitical landscape, and how she's reaching parents, teachers, and librarians to get her book to a young audience.

Support the show

Follow the Show:

IG: @blkandpublished
Twitter: @BLKandPublished

Follow Me:

IG: @nikesha_elise
Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise

Get My Books

The episode Bigger Than Me with Erica Simone Turnipseed from the podcast Black & Published has a duration of 31:18. It was first published 07 Nov 05:00. The cover art and the content belong to their respective owners.

More episodes from Black & Published

The Spine of America with Ashton Lattimore

This week onBlack & Published, Nikesha speak withAshton Lattimore, author of the historical novel,All We Were Promised. The novel that follows three young Black women in 19th century Philadelphia. One is born free. One is enslaved. And the third is free-ish: she self-emancipated with her father who’s maintaining their liberation by passing for white. Ashton is the Editor-in-Chief of the non-profit news outlet, Prism. A position she came to after realizing she did not enjoy her career in law.

In our conversation, Ashton discusses why she never doubted her ambitions to become a published author. Plus, how Les Miserable inspired the plot of the novel. And, the hidden pieces of history she hopes to uncover to help America rediscover its true self.

Support the Show.

Follow the Show:

IG: @blkandpublished
Twitter: @BLKandPublished

Follow Me:

IG: @nikesha_elise
Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise
Website: www.newwrites.com

Engineering the Story with Vanessa Riley

This week on Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Vanessa Riley, author of the historical fiction romance novel, Queen of Exiles. An engineer and self-proclaimed math nerd, Vanessa applies her inventive and analytical mindset to her creative writing. Her historical novels showcase the hidden histories of Black women and women of color, emphasizing strong sisterhoods and dazzling multicultural communities.

In our conversation, Vanessa outlines the two engineering questions she always asks herself to guide her storytelling. Plus, why she believes money trumps race. And, why she refuses to run from or be ashamed of history in telling a story about the good, bad, and ugly of Haiti and how the first Black nation was robbed, pillaged, and plundered.

Support the Show.

Follow the Show:

IG: @blkandpublished
Twitter: @BLKandPublished

Follow Me:

IG: @nikesha_elise
Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise
Website: www.newwrites.com

The Misunderstanding of Haitians with Juliana Lamy

This week on Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Juliana Lamy, author of the short story collection, You Were Watching From the Sand. A Haitian writer, Juliana says her collection is preoccupied with what it means to be Haitian and the honesty of that lived experience.

In our conversation, Juliana, who is a graduate of Harvard and the Iowa Writers Workshop, explains how she creates rhythm and lyricism that translates into English as well as Haitian Kreyol. Plus, the reason she says she isn't ready to commit to a literary agent despite having published a book. And, how she's correcting the record about the cultural and spiritual importance of Vodun.

Support the Show.

Follow the Show:

IG: @blkandpublished
Twitter: @BLKandPublished

Follow Me:

IG: @nikesha_elise
Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise
Website: www.newwrites.com

Free Rein to Write with Shannon Sanders

This week onBlack & Published, Nikesha speaks withShannon Sanders, author of the short story collection,Company. A lawyer by trade, Shannon came to crafting her award-winning collection after attending several writing workshops and having to produce on a deadline.

In our conversation, Shannon explains why she thinks about what's enjoyable for her reader as she's creating new work. Plus, what she believes it means to leave an inheritance and legacy in the Black community. And, how eavesdropping helps her accurately excavate the interior lives of bougie Black folk.

Support the Show.

Follow the Show:

IG: @blkandpublished
Twitter: @BLKandPublished

Follow Me:

IG: @nikesha_elise
Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise
Website: www.newwrites.com

From the Stage to the Page with Rudy Francisco

This week on Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Rudy Francisco, author of the poetry collection, Excuse Me As I Kiss the Sky. Rudy is a renowned spoken word artist who has published two previous collections: Helium (2017) and I'll Fly Away (2020). As a spoken word artist, Rudy said taking his work from the stage to the page allowed him to grow and write about more than one topic.

In our conversation, Rudy explains how he tries to show the accuracy of his humanity instead of a balance between joy and pain, happiness or sadness. Plus, the reason he believes the rift between poets who focus on writing and spoken word artists is closing. And, how his jump to the page was thanks to a few friends who turned their YouTube channel into a publishing house.

Support the Show.

Follow the Show:

IG: @blkandpublished
Twitter: @BLKandPublished

Follow Me:

IG: @nikesha_elise
Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise
Website: www.newwrites.com

Every Podcast » Black & Published » Bigger Than Me with Erica Simone Turnipseed