Join Niccara as she welcomes Paula Chase, co-founder of The Brown Bookshelf and author of the Heights series, to the pod! We talk about her novel The Balancing Act, the power of reclaiming language around grief, and how young people navigate invisibility within communities fighting over scarce resources in their own neighborhoods.

Perfect for readers who appreciate stories centered on Black youth, community resilience, grief and healing, institutional critique, and the courage it takes to be truly seen. Make sure you pick up The Balancing Act from where you get your books!

Follow Us:

@butmakeitbookspod | @thebookishhottie | bookishlyhealing.com

Follow & Find Paula Chase:

paulachasewrites.com | @paulachaseauthor

Shop With Us:

Use our Mahogany Books link with code BMIB

Don't forget to rate, subscribe and review!

Keeping it real...but make it books. Peace y'all

Mentioned in this episode:

African Ancestry

We are the pioneers of genetic ancestry tracing for Black people globally, reconnecting you to your specific African roots–the country and the people. Our scientists compare your DNA markers to the largest African reference database in the world in order to find your African origin up to 2000 years ago.

African Ancestry

The Seven Daughters of Dupree Pre-Order Offer

 Nikisha Elise Williams, the host of the Black and Published podcast, is celebrating the release of her forthcoming novel, The Seven Daughters of Dupree. This historical fiction novel is about the secrets kept between mothers and daughters over the course of seven generations and is told backwards in time from 1995 to 1860. The Seven Daughters of Dupree will be released on January 27th, 2026, but is available for pre-order now at MahoganyBooks.com. Please consider pre-ordering The Seven Daughters of Dupree today.

African Ancestry

We are the pioneers of genetic ancestry tracing for Black people globally, reconnecting you to your specific African roots–the country and the people. Our scientists compare your DNA markers to the largest African reference database in the world in order to find your African origin up to 2000 years ago.

African Ancestry

Join Niccara as she welcomes Sunday Times Bestselling author Analeigh Sbrana to the pod!

We talk about her duology "Lore of the Wilds" and "Lore of the Tides", the power of Black heroines discovering their own magic, and how courage, stewardship of the land, and community create opportunities for freedom and belonging.

Fantasy and romantasy lovers, especially those who appreciate stories centered on Black girlhood, identity, and representation, this episode is for you!

Lore of the Wilds

Lore of the Tides

Make sure you pick up the Lore duology from where you get your books!

Follow Us:

@butmakeitbookspod | @thebookishhottie | bookishlyhealing.com

Follow & Find Analeigh Sbrana:

analeighsbrana.com | @analeighsbrana

Shop With Us:

Use our Mahogany Books link with code BMIB

Don't forget to rate, subscribe and review!

Mentioned in this episode:

African Ancestry

We are the pioneers of genetic ancestry tracing for Black people globally, reconnecting you to your specific African roots–the country and the people. Our scientists compare your DNA markers to the largest African reference database in the world in order to find your African origin up to 2000 years ago.

African Ancestry

The Seven Daughters of Dupree Pre-Order Offer

 Nikisha Elise Williams, the host of the Black and Published podcast, is celebrating the release of her forthcoming novel, The Seven Daughters of Dupree. This historical fiction novel is about the secrets kept between mothers and daughters over the course of seven generations and is told backwards in time from 1995 to 1860. The Seven Daughters of Dupree will be released on January 27th, 2026, but is available for pre-order now at MahoganyBooks.com. Please consider pre-ordering The Seven Daughters of Dupree today.

African Ancestry

We are the pioneers of genetic ancestry tracing for Black people globally, reconnecting you to your specific African roots–the country and the people. Our scientists compare your DNA markers to the largest African reference database in the world in order to find your African origin up to 2000 years ago.

African Ancestry

Join Niccara as she welcomes Addie E. Citchens, inaugural recipient of the Farrar, Straus and Giroux Writer's Fellowship and debut author, to the pod! We talk about her novel Dominion, the cost of maintaining false narratives, and how women become the custodians of family reputation and community silence in the Black church.

Perfect for readers who appreciate stories centered on Black womanhood, Southern life, faith, complicity, and the courage it takes to choose yourself. Make sure you pick up Dominion from where you get your books!

Follow Us:

@butmakeitbookspod | @thebookishhottie | bookishlyhealing.com

Follow & Find Addie E. Citchens:

addiecitchens.com | @addiecitchens

Shop With Us:

Use our Mahogany Books link with code BMIB

Don't forget to rate, subscribe and review!

Keeping healing...but make it books. Peace y'all

Mentioned in this episode:

African Ancestry

We are the pioneers of genetic ancestry tracing for Black people globally, reconnecting you to your specific African roots–the country and the people. Our scientists compare your DNA markers to the largest African reference database in the world in order to find your African origin up to 2000 years ago.

African Ancestry

African Ancestry

We are the pioneers of genetic ancestry tracing for Black people globally, reconnecting you to your specific African roots–the country and the people. Our scientists compare your DNA markers to the largest African reference database in the world in order to find your African origin up to 2000 years ago.

African Ancestry

The Seven Daughters of Dupree Pre-Order Offer

 Nikisha Elise Williams, the host of the Black and Published podcast, is celebrating the release of her forthcoming novel, The Seven Daughters of Dupree. This historical fiction novel is about the secrets kept between mothers and daughters over the course of seven generations and is told backwards in time from 1995 to 1860. The Seven Daughters of Dupree will be released on January 27th, 2026, but is available for pre-order now at MahoganyBooks.com. Please consider pre-ordering The Seven Daughters of Dupree today.