Nikki's First Official Author Interview

April 22, 2005

Keith Lee Johnson: Tell us about your debut novel,
Easier Said Than Done.
Nikki Woods: Easier Said Than Done is a novel
that is set in Chicago and Jamaica.
It is about a woman, Kingston, that has experienced
some terrible tragedies in life. Despite that she
has become a successful entertainment executive
in Chicago. But then her grandmother dies and
she has to go back to Jamaica for the funeral.
It is then that she is forced to deal
with the issues of her past.

Keith Lee Johnson: People who don't write
have said an author’s first novel
is autobiographical. Is this true in your case?
Nikki Woods: It is not autobiographical but
I have definitely drawn upon experiences
from my life. For example, I work in the entertainment
industry and my mother is Jamaican.
Those are probably the two biggest
correlations between the book and my life.

Keith Lee Johnson: And how long did it take you to write this one?
Nikki Woods: It took me probably about four years.
I started this book right before I met my husband.
We got married and I had two babies
so the book got placed on the back burner.
My oldest son is now three and I
finished the book right before his third birthday.
I am just finishing up my second book that only
took six months but I was on a strict writing schedule.

Keith Lee Johnson: How long have you been writing?
Nikki Woods: Ever since I could.
I have books that I ‘published’ in fourth grade.
It was about the hamster I got for Christmas.
I have always written but it is just recently
that I have actively decided to publish my work.

Keith Lee Johnson: What made you decide to publish now?
Nikki Woods: When I first started writing Easier Said Than Done
I would share it with a friend of mine almost daily.
She would always push me to publish.
Then a mentor of mine from work read
some of what I had written and she pushed
me to publish. Both were phenomenal women and both died
within a year of each other in the prime of their lives.
There was no way I couldn't publish this book.

Keith Lee Johnson: Wow! So does any of the novel pertain
to your to wonderful friends?
Nikki Woods: Not really. That book is in the works.
This novel does speak to the strength of friendship and family.
Both of these women not only were mentors
and friends but they paved the way in this business.
They knew about dreams and going after
them no matter what others had to say.
This book symbolizes that to me ... going after your dream.
Keith Lee Johnson: By this business, I take it you mean
the radio business of which you are a celebrity in Chicago?
Nikki Woods: Yes to the radio part. I'll get back to you on celebrity. LOL
Keith Lee Johnson: Easier Said Than Done has been
described as a cross between Terry McMillian
and Kimberla Lawson Roby.
Tell us what that means as some
of the readers may not have reader their work.

Nikki Woods: I hope that it means that
I can relate a good story to the reader.
Terry McMillan and Kimberla Lawson Roby
are at the top of this game.
They can tell extraordinary
stories about ordinary people.
It is flattering to even read my name
along side theirs. BUT, I have a long way to go.

Keith Lee Johnson: What's your favorite reading genre?
Nikki Woods: That is a tough one.
I think like most people, a lot of times
it depends on my mood. I love crime/suspense and romance.
I am also a big fan of historical pieces.
Then you throw Tananarive Due and
Octavia Butler in ... I love a good story no matter the genre.

Keith Lee Johnson: Okay, well, perhaps you can tell us
who some of your favorite authors are
and which of their books you found particularly memorable.
Nikki Woods: My favorite authors include
but are not limited to: Bernice McFadden,
Terry McMillan, Kimberla Lawson Roby,
Yolanda Joe, Nora Roberts, James Patterson,
Maya Angelou, J. California Cooper
the list goes on and on and I am discovering
new authors that I enjoy as well such as
Tayari Jones. I am a fan of words and
how words are put together. Everyone does it differently.

Keith Lee Johnson: Getting publishing is very difficult.
How did you accomplish it and how long did it take?
Nikki Woods: It didn't take that long.
I emailed part of the manuscript to an
acquaintance of mine that I knew was
involved in literary circles. I just
wanted the opinion of a ‘professional’.
She emailed back and wanted to know
who had written it and when I told her me,
she was floored. She loved it and little
did I know she owned a publishing company
right here in Chicago.

Keith Lee Johnson: Ahh, see, now some of the readers
are going to be jealous! LOL! Most of us
get turned down many
times before we get a break through.
And here you come knowing people in the biz,
which leads me to my next question.
How do you like the biz so far and the politics of it?

Nikki Woods: Now comes the hard questions.
Before I decided to publish, I thought
writing the book was the difficult part.
Little did I know! Don't get me wrong,
writing anything ain't no easy thing so big
props to those who have written
anything be it a book, poem or song.
But this publishing thing is no picnic.
From edits to rewrites,
it is a challenge. And then yes, there is
a political aspect to this game as well.
If I had to self-publish I would have
said forget it a long time ago but
thanks to Cheryl at EbonyEnergy
for holding my hand and walking me
through it. But I have met a lot
of great people -- such as yourself --
that has been willing to share their knowledge with me.

Keith Lee Johnson: Can you elaborate on the politics
aspect without mentioning specific names, places, and dates?
Nikki Woods: Wow! Put on the spot!

Keith Lee Johnson: Yes. I tend to do that.
Nikki Woods: Writing is a business just
like any other and unfortunately there is
a competitive aspect to it that I was naive enough
to be unaware of. Just as I said, many people have opened
their arms but there are others that don't seem quite as
excited about it for whatever reason. But I think you
find that in anything. Being in radio -- another aspect
of the entertainment business for more than ten
years has toughened my skin a bit so it doesn't
bother me anymore. Well, not that much! :)

Keith Lee Johnson: Okay, let's shift gears a bit.
What are your thoughts on the state of
affairs in the black community? For example,
Comedian Bill Cosby mentioned the seventy
percent dropout rate months ago. What are your thoughts on this?
Nikki Woods: I think that we are at a critical time in black communities.
I think that the dropout rate is too high for the year
to be 2005. We have college graduates that can't
find a job in their chosen field. People with master
and doctorate degrees that are unemployed.
Imagine the pressure of trying to get a
decent paying job as a high school drop out.
Can it be done? Sure but it just puts you ten
steps behind your counterparts. But what
do we do about it? It's overwhelming to
think of all the work that needs to be done
to turn things around and the majority of
the people that I talk to are reluctant to
get involved because they think that there's
nothing they can do that will make a difference.
The village is falling apart.

Keith Lee Johnson: The question that begs to be asked is,
why? Why is the village falling apart?
Nikki Woods: That is the question, isn't it?
I think there are a multitude of reasons.
Lack of education, lack of role models,
the prevalence of drugs in our communities,
complacency. When you look at the big picture it
can be overwhelming. I don't have the answer. I wish I did.
For me, it has been to start at home.
Make a difference in my church, in my community
and hope it translates to the bigger picture.
Keith Lee Johnson: It seems as if the lack of education,
role models/parenting, and drugs are tied together.
Would you agree with that?

Nikki Woods: I agree. It's cliché to say but it's a vicious circle.
But you gotta start somewhere.
You can't be afraid to just start.
How does the saying go,
"A journey of one thousand miles starts with just one step?"
Keith Lee Johnson: What then is the first step?
Nikki Woods: I think it is different for everyone.
And the degree of the step may be different,
if you know what I mean. Education is my passion
so that is where I started.

Talking to young people about staying in school
is what I'm good at. I can tell you to stay off drugs
but it may have more of an impact from someone
that has been there and experienced that.
Keith Lee Johnson: As far as drugs are concerned,
how about this: Let’s make parents more accountable to
some higher authority, forcing them to be the role
models that they ought to be without a law
enforcement agency's involvement. For example,
why do we have to have a government agency
to make men financially support the children they sired?

Nikki Woods: Because some men don't.
Just because people should do something
doesn’t mean they will. Just like some women
don't take care of their children.
It's unfortunate but it's true.
Statistics show that the number
one reason minorities are fired from their job i
s because they don't make it to work on time.
Says a lot about priorities.

Keith Lee Johnson: My point is,
if we're willing to create an agency to force men
to pay what they owe, why not expand
it further and make parents rear
their children with some measure of self-respect
or face jail time.
Nikki Woods: Who is going to determine
the criteria for how to raise a child?
It's a fine line. A fine political line.
I am sure how I raise my son is
a lot different than how
President Bush raised his daughters.
Obviously there are guidelines
for gross abuse and mistreatment ...

Keith Lee Johnson: Perhaps we
should adopt some of the methods
that worked in the past. It worked for me
and it obviously worked for you.
Someone came along about 40
years ago and said those people
were wrong and now look where we are.
Not only is the black community in trouble,
but the United States is in serious decline,
much like their Roman and Greek predecessors.

Nikki Woods: Yes, we are in serious decline.
But will what worked back then work now?
I don't know. For example: when I was growing up,
I couldn't do anything on the block and get away
with it. My neighbors had full rights to spank,
chastise, whatever they deemed necessary
when my parents weren't around.
So did I act crazy? No because I was
scared of the repercussions. Not three
months ago I said something to
a teenage boy that lives around my house
about using foul language when my
three year old is outside playing.
His mother had a problem with that.
So now who do I go to?

Keith Lee Johnson: That's just it,
Nikki! When I was growing it was
the same thing. Everybody told
me what to do. And I wouldn’t dare tell
my mom about it, knowing I would get
another beating. And people call tha
t abuse today. But, it kept me out of
jail and I was reared in a Toledo Ghetto.
I guess we would have to get the majority
of parents to remember how things were
done back then and how we didn't have to
worry about the children coming to school
killing one another. Well this has been nice.
Is there anything else you'd
like to say that I have not covered?
Nikki Woods: Keith, you're making
my blood pressure go up! LOL
Keith Lee Johnson: I'll leave that alone.

Nikki Woods: I think we have covered a lot
and I have enjoyed it! It will take conversations
like this one to get the ball moving in the right direction.
Thank you for having me.
Keith Lee Johnson: So no questions for me?
Nikki Woods: Uh, just one.
When are you going to satisfy your readers with
a sequel to Little Black Girl Lost!
You left us with Johnnie Wise still at sixteen.
I want to know what happens to her ...

Keith Lee Johnson: Well, funny you should ask
as I have spoken with Carl Weber who publishes
that line of books and we're looking at next February.
However, keep in mind that Johnnie is only sixteen.
She has a lot of growing up to do. But ...
if you gotta know how her life ended up,
buy Fate's Redemption as she is in that book.
The book isn't about here, but she's like 65.
But know that you won't see how everything
happens until I write her novels.

Nikki Woods: Alright, guess I'm gonna be hitting
Border's today. Thanks for all that you do, Keith.
Keith Lee Johnson: It came out May 17.
Before I let you go, tell us where we can get your book?
What's the ISBN?

Nikki Woods: You can look me up on line at www.NikkiWoods.com.
Everything is posted there.
The ISBN number for Easier Said Than
Done is 0-9755092-6-8.
I look forward to hearing what everyone
thinks about it! You can order it by the ISBN
at any bookstore and on-line at www.EbonyEnergyPublishing.com
or www.amazon.com.

Keith Lee Johnson: Great! Thanks so much
for your valuable time. My readers will enjoy you, I'm sure.
Best wishes in all things good.

Nikki Woods: Same to you, Keith.
Look forward to meeting you in person.
Keith Lee Johnson: Are you going to be at any of the events
I'm going to be at?
Nikki Woods: I'm not sure as yet.
I hope so because you've been great!