Authors & Espresso

Braces, Books, and Breakthroughs: Week 9 Podcast Recap

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 an open call for self-published authors to be spotlighted on the show.

Breaking the Silence: Susan Johnson’s Bipolar Journey

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 hope.

Lessons from the Music Room: Cheryl Baker on Teaching, Writing, and Survival

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 programs.

Sumo Wrestlers and Supermodels: Rethinking Education for Black Children

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, practical steps for parents and teachers, and his call to build lasting change beyond individual classrooms.

Find the Time: How to Organize Your Day for Writing Success

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.

HBCU Pride & A Father's Call: Dr. Shafeeq Ameen on Education and Healing

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.

Eavesdrop, Connect, Capture: Quick Tips to Jumpstart Your Writing

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 by tagging Nadia Gilkes, eLegal Cafe, and Authors & Espresso.

Mia Thaw: The Future Whispers - Sci‑Fi for the Non‑Sci‑Fi Reader

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 characters and plot threads, the philosophical and religious questions raised by digital immortality, Dr. Hagen's publishing journey and reader reactions, and the possibilities for sequels and broader impact.

From Pain to Publisher: Sheila Kennedy’s Self-Publishing Playbook

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, consider ghostwriting carefully, and use simple techniques to overcome imposter syndrome and finish your manuscript. Sheila also shares resources for indie authors through The Zebra Ink and Stripes of Power.

Rainbow Revisited: A Black Queer Love Story

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.