Authors & Espresso
Authors & Espresso is where storytelling meets self-publishing. Hosted by author and legal coach Nadia Gilkes, this podcast brings you inspiring conversations with indie authors, practical tips for navigating the self-publishing journey, and insights to help you turn your writing dreams into reality. Whether you’re drafting your first manuscript, launching your latest book, or simply love discovering new voices, pull up a chair and join us for your weekly dose of creativity, community, and caffeine.
Episodes
7 days ago
7 days ago
21 min
This episode announces the launch of Before Forever, a slim, practical guide of conversations for couples that bridges premarital counseling gaps. The host combines two podcast audiences to introduce topics like faith, money, family dynamics, and exercises to build alignment before commitment.Listeners learn about the book’s playlists, chapter exercises, resource guides, and upcoming launch events, and are invited to provide feedback and join future podcast discussions with experts and couples.
May 26, 2026
May 26, 2026
38 min
Host Nadia Gilkes walks indie authors through preparing for book festivals: how to choose the right events, what logistics to ask about, and how to set up a professional, sales-ready table.
She also covers marketing materials, payment options, staffing tips, and practical tricks to maximize visibility, sales, and meaningful reader connections.
May 14, 2026
May 14, 2026
12 min
Host Nadia Gilkes shares a candid episode about grief, burnout, and the need to rest. She explains why the podcast is delayed, celebrates recent good news, and encourages creatives to honor their emotions, seek support, and give themselves grace while navigating difficult seasons.
Apr 28, 2026
Apr 28, 2026
32 min
Minerva Honkala, poet, devotional writer, and humanitarian, shares her motto "Live, Love, Give," her 365-day devotional Boost Me Up, and her long-standing scholarship work supporting students. The episode explores faith, purpose, daily practices (Pause, Ponder, Pray), and her community impact.Listeners will hear about her nonprofit FASFOS, volunteer work, writing and publishing journey, and practical encouragement to build self-worth, strengthen family ties, and create a purposeful life guided by faith.
Apr 20, 2026
Apr 20, 2026
12 min
This episode breaks down what an ISBN is, why it matters for distribution and discoverability, and how it differs from copyright.Nadia explains the pros and cons of free ISBNs from retailers versus buying your own through Bowker, covers costs and formats, and explains why ISBN ownership matters for branding and long-term control.Practical advice: consider buying a 10-pack to cover multiple formats and future editions, register your own publisher information, and keep control of your book’s identity.
Apr 14, 2026
Apr 14, 2026
34 min
Welcome to Authors & Espresso with Nadia Gilkes featuring Tiana Tee, a licensed marriage and family therapist, Amazon bestselling author, and mother of a nonverbal autistic son. In this episode Tiana discusses her new book, What? A 90-Day Devotional for When Life Changes Everything, and shares lived experience on autism parenting, early warning signs, stigma in Black and brown communities, and practical advocacy tips for IEPs and assessments.
She also explores preventing and healing burnout through self-care and 'grace over grind,' explains the value of functional behavioral assessments and record-keeping, and introduces companion group sessions that guide readers through acknowledgement, attending, and aligning to a new normal. Tiana’s A Seat on the Couch series and upcoming memoir about her son are also highlighted, offering relatable stories and therapeutic insights for readers seeking healing and practical tools.
Apr 8, 2026
Apr 8, 2026
21 min
Host Nadia Gilkes walks through her hands-on experiment with Amazon’s audiobook AI beta, testing voice options, accents, and chapter-by-chapter editing from an existing e-book.
She highlights pronunciation fixes, pacing and emotion limitations, royalty and pricing choices, and practical tips for authors deciding whether to use AI narration or record professionally.
Apr 7, 2026
Apr 7, 2026
37 min
Hello and welcome to Authors and Espresso with Nadia Gilkes, who announces the launch of Author Status .. Loading, her new on-demand self-publishing course, and explores audiobook options.
This episode explains ways to create audiobooks — record yourself, hire a narrator or studio, or use AI narration like Amazon KDP's Virtual Voice and Riverside's AI — and gives practical tips: start with one chapter, listen with headphones, and check pronunciations and audio levels before publishing.
Mar 31, 2026
Mar 31, 2026
20 min
This episode re-airs Nadia Gilkes’ guest interview on the Sunday Morning Chat Series with Jesse Oakley III. Nadia discusses her bestselling comedic novel Woke Up Dead, the inspiration behind it, and her upcoming book Before Forever — a divorce-attorney’s take on premarital conversations.
She shares the emotional story behind her book cover, practical end-of-life planning advice, encouragement for aspiring authors, and where to find her work and podcast. A warm, candid conversation about writing, legacy, and starting important conversations early.
Mar 24, 2026
Mar 24, 2026
37 min
In this episode of Authors & Espresso, host Nadia Gilkes interviews Sheryl Green, a bestselling author and expert on setting boundaries. Sheryl shares her personal journey of hitting rock bottom due to overcommitment and burnout, leading her to discover the importance of boundaries. The conversation explores various aspects of boundary-setting, including the Goldilocks principle, the clash question as a decision-making tool, and the significance of kindness in communication. Listeners are encouraged to pause before responding to requests and to recognize their struggles with different types of boundaries. Sheryl emphasizes that setting boundaries is essential for emotional health and maintaining relationships.




