“Accompanied by simple yet expressive illustrations, this is a loving and much-needed story that encourages kids to make a difference… Empowerment to children to be the change they wish to see in the world.” ― Kirkus Reviews

Nyasha Williams, a passionate social justice griot, has a unique background of living intermittently between the United States and South Africa. This diverse experience has deeply influenced Nyasha’s mission to decolonize literature, minds, and spiritual practices using words and stories.

Nyasha firmly believes that the story lives within each of us and that our mission is to use stories to spread understanding, healing, and empowerment. Through her work, Nyasha encourages us to uncover and share our stories so that we can all learn, grow, and create meaningful change.

Nyasha’s writing is rooted in her understanding of stories’ powerful potential to transform and reveal truths that have been hidden for too long. She strives to use her words to ignite new conversations, inspire action, and ultimately help create a more equitable and just world.

“As BIPOCs, we are operating and navigating harmful systems that weren’t made for us and are actively working against us,” says Williams. “My efforts as a creator, author, and activist are to combat the systems of White supremacy, colonization, and the patriarchy, working towards decolonizing, liberating, and indigenizing our minds and world.”

Writing to Change the Narrative is Nyasha’s way of bringing her passion for storytelling to life and helping us all to write our own stories. With her help, we can all find our voices and use them to write a better world.

She has eleven children’s book titles published or in the publishing process, along with a Tarot deck and Oracle deck, each with journal accompaniments. Nyasha is the founder and creative director of Fire + Honey Press, a digital publishing honeycomb created toward collective liberation.

Nyasha's Featured Titles

Where Is Koketso?: A Search, Seek & Find

Andrews McMeel Publishing |
Children’s

Do you know Where is Koketso? Explore multiple locations searching for her and other hidden items in this BIPOC-centered seek and find book from creator and activist Nyasha Williams.

From author Nyasha Williams and illustrator Anna Abl comes Where Is Koketso?: A Search, Seek & Find, a beautifully illustrated seek-and-find activity book that reminds readers of all ages that the best part of getting lost is being found again. A one-of-a-kind example of representation and expression of wonder, readers search for Koketso all over the world. Traveling with her from airports to train stations, from the local farmer’s market all the way to outer space, from deep inside an enchanting forest and out to the sun-lit sandy coast.

Where Is Koketso? A Search, Seek & Find is perfect for anyone looking for the youthful and imaginative excitement of seeing the world without ever leaving your cozy couch. So, cuddle up and see where Koketso is off to today!

Saturday Magic: A Hoodoo Story

Running Press Kids |
Children’s

An ode to the family, friendship, and the beautiful tradition of Hoodoo practice, this book celebrates the magic and symbolism to be found in every day, written by bestselling author Nyasha Williams.

Dayo practices Hoodoo with her family. One Saturday, she wakes from an interesting dream about a yellow bird. What could it mean? She knows that it’s up to her to figure it out. Over the course of the day, as Dayo and her family move through their daily rituals (mantras and affirmations included), the message sent from her Ancestors through her dream reveals itself. This celebration of spirituality (and heritage) highlights the rich history of Hoodoo and the beauty we can find in everyday magic.

Keep Dreaming, Black Child

Running Press Kids |
Children’s

An inspirational picture book for BIPOC children about the power of big dreams—for their future selves, their communities, and the larger world.

Nyasha Williams’s latest picture book is a moving and powerful invitation to BIPOC children to fully explore their dreams for the future. Dreams provide purpose and meaning—they are ideas born of love. They take time to sprout and can sometimes be clouded by the doubts of others, BUT with patience and discipline, we can rely on our visions for a better world by following our dreams. Interspersed with explanations of what dreams are and why they are important, are affirmations that offer precise ideas for ways our dreams can effect change. Encouraging readers to reach for the stars and embrace others for what they are or wish to be, Keep Dreaming, Black Child reminds children of the power of hope.

Elemental Alchemist Oracle Deck and Guidebook

Andrews McMeel Publishing |
Meditation

The Universe is speaking. Are you listening? Do you know how to?

This deck will teach you how to not only hear the universe, but to connect with it, and to recognize the voices of your ancestors as they guide you to new levels of clarity, insight, and evolution. Get the most out of this experience by using this journal in tandem with the Elemental Alchemist Guide Journal.

Sisters Nyasha Williams and Grace Banda—with vibrant illustrations by Kimishka Naidoo—present Elemental Alchemist Oracle Deck and Guidebook, a beautifully informative and grounded guide to divination by way of decolonization of the mind and spirit. As a young woman who grew up in both South Africa and the U.S., it didn’t take Nyasha long to realize that if she wanted to tap into and celebrate the traditional spiritual practices of her ancestors, she would need to first break down the oppressive walls within her own mind placed there by centuries of colonization, and help others in her community to do the same. With this beautifully designed 40-card deck and guidebook, she and her sister are doing just that.

If you are ready to slow down, tune in, and get grounded, this intentional collection is for you.

Ally Baby Can: Be Antiracist (Ally Baby Can, 3)

HarperCollins |
Children’s

Ally Baby Can books introduce allyship to tiny change-makers! Perfect for shared reading with an adult.

Ally Baby Can: Be Antiracist models how young kids can stand up for members of the BIPOC community in the fight against systemic racism.

Extensive back matter includes important guidelines for allyship, a kid-friendly reading list, and other helpful resources for baby and you.

It is never too early to learn about ways to change our world.

The South African Alphabet of Affirmations

Penguin Random House South Africa |
Children’s

A book of affirmations that highlights each of South Africa’s eleven official languages: Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa and isiZulu.

I Am Somebody

Running Press Kids |
Children’s

An empowering picture book about the importance of stepping up (and speaking up) to address injustice and effect change within our daily lives, from the author of I Affirm Me: The ABCs of Inspiration for Black Kids.

I Am Somebody takes the reader on a journey over the course of a day, as our main character notices various forms of neglect and injustice—from trash on the sidewalk and students butting in line waiting for the bus, to not sharing on the playground and bullying about food. In each instance, the young child remarks that SOMEBODY should do something to remedy the situation(s) until, eventually, they realize that they are the person that can effect change. This powerful story reminds us that every living thing is unique and should be treated with kindness and respect and that we are ALL “somebody.”

Ally Baby Can: Be an Eco-Activist (Ally Baby Can, 2)

HarperCollins |
Children’s

Ally Baby Can is a rhyming paper-over-board picture book series that introduces allyship and activism to tiny changemakers! 

In Ally Baby Can: Be an Eco-Activist, readers will learn effective ways to save our best friends: humanity, wildlife, and planet earth. Ally Baby Can models how young kids can stand up for our planet, and all who live here, and make environmentally friendly choices.

Extensive back matter includes important guidelines for action, a kid-friendly reading list, and other helpful resources for baby and you.

It is never too early to learn about ways to change our world.

Ancestral Illumination: A Guided Journal for Black Tarot

RP Studio |
Guided Journal

Dive into this beautifully designed journal, filled with prompts, questions, tarot advice, plenty of writing space, and more to help you record and reflect on your tarot journey. This journal is a companion to Black Tarot, a tarot deck and guidebook that draws influence from the moon and the water and features exclusively Black figures. Customize your journal and chart your own tarot journey with the four enclosed sticker sheets.

  • SPECIFICATIONS: 6 inch by 8-inch, 176-page flexibind journal
  • DELUXE PACKAGING: This guided journal is full-color inside and out, with beautiful illustrations
  • STICKER SHEETS INCLUDED: Includes 4 sheets of full-color stickers 
  • PAIRS WITH TAROT DECK: This guided journal is a companion guide to Nyasha Williams’s Black Tarot

Black Tarot: An Ancestral Awakening Deck and Guidebook

RP Studio |
Spiritual Guide

Awaken ancestral ties and connect to the divine with Black Tarot, a deluxe tarot deck and guidebook set from author Nyasha Williams, featuring and celebrating exclusively Black figures and imagery.

Let your guiding spirits and ancestral figures come through with this stunningly illustrated tarot deck and guidebook. Black Tarot is the tarot deck you’ve been missing, complete with 78 tarot cards featuring all Black representations of classic tarot figures and iconography (The Sun, The Moon, Judgement, etc.). An accompanying illustrated guidebook with information on each card including traits, descriptions, action steps, flower, element, chakra, affirmations, and more. Throughout, find lessons on how the moon’s cycle and the element of water influence your life, your readings, and your connections with the divine.

  • DELUXE SET: This set includes 78 full-color illustrated tarot cards (3 X 5 inches), shrink wrapped in an interior travel case; a 144-page, full-color illustrated flexibind book (4 3/4 X 6 inches); and a keepsake magnetic closure box with a flocked tray and metallic highlights on the box and cards. 
  • FULLY ILLUSTRATED TAROT GUIDEBOOK: A 144-page full-color guidebook explaining how to best use the cards is included.
  • ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS: Each card features stunning art created exclusively for this tarot deck and guidebook.

Ally Baby Can: Be Feminist (Ally Baby Can, 1)

HarperCollins |
Children’s

Ally Baby Can books introduce allyship to tiny change-makers! Perfect for shared reading with an adult.

Ally Baby Can: Be Feminist models how young kids can stand up for women and nonbinary people in the fight against sexism and gender inequality.

Extensive back matter includes important guidelines for allyship, a kid-friendly reading list, and other helpful resources for baby and you.

It is never too early to learn about ways to change our world.

I Affirm Me: The ABCs of Inspiration for Black Kids

Running Press Kids |
Children’s

Learn the power of language and love with this empowering alphabet book of affirmations to inspire and remind Black children of their inner power, strength, and worth. 

From A is for Afro, to J is for Justice, to R is for Rally, this alphabet book offers affirmations featuring Black children and role models to help children nurture and embrace their authentic selves and to enjoy the magic of childhood.

What’s the Commotion in the Ocean?: A Rhyming Story about Saving Our Oceans

Nyasha Williams |
Children’s

A mermaid has a message for the earth about our seas and oceans, and she requires your help. Find out what is happening with our oceans and what we can do to save them. What’s the Commotion in the Ocean? is a rhyming children’s book reflecting on the current happenings in the ocean and what we can do to help.

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Author Talk: My Why

Introduction Session with Nyasha Williams. Nyasha shares her story, why she started writing and her creative process. Students will learn all about her favorite part of bringing a book to life.

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LITERATURE & MEDIA AS VEHICLES FOR CHANGE

Lesson 1: Then & Now – Our Evolution
Lesson 2: Equality + Equity (Diversity/Inclusion/Belonging)
Lesson 3: Visual Equity Examination of Illustrations in Author Nyasha’s Books

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FANTASY WRITING MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURES

Lesson 1: Creature Creation
Lesson 2: World for Your Creation
Lesson 3: A Day with Your Creation

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WRITING OUR DREAMS

Lesson 1: Books About Dreams
Lesson 2: Importance of Dreams
Lesson 3: Creating Your Dreams

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IMPACT OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Lesson 1: Power in Images
Lesson 2: The Role of Illustrations in Books
Lesson 3: Show It To Tell the Story
Lesson 4: Picking an Illustrator
Lesson 5: Art Notes
Lesson 6: Imagining Illustrations

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Author Talks: Seasons of Black Tarot

Join us in celebrating the current (season) by celebrating a written and illustrated Tarot deck centered around ancestral connection. During this sacred gathering we will connect with the creators and welcome (season) using the deck. Nyasha Williams, a passionate social justice griot, grew up living intermittently between the United States and South Africa. Nyasha’s mission is to use words and stories to decolonize literature, minds, and spiritual practices.

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Co-Authoring a Book

Co-Author of four, two published and two in progress books, join Nyasha Williams describe her journey of co-creating various projects with thirteen different authors she has co-written with in total.

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Showing up! Allyship as a Creative: Social Justice on the Page

Dive into the intersection of allyship, social justice, and creativity as a creative- writing and illustrating. Explore how to authentically incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion into your storytelling while engaging young readers. This session welcomes creators at all levels passionate about using their craft as a platform for positive change. Discover strategies for crafting impactful narratives that resonate with audiences and empower own voices.

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Breaking the Rules on Picture Books: New Approaches to an Old Form

Explore innovative techniques and unconventional storytelling methods with Nyasha Williams toward getting noticed by agents and publishers. This breakout session challenges the taught conventional norms and encourages participants to push boundaries creatively. Suitable for writers and illustrators seeking fresh perspectives on getting your work out into the world.

The Creative Playground with Nyasha Williams

Nyasha’s Events

Honors, Awards & Recognition

2024 Silver Nautilus Book Award in the Children’s Picture Book category for Keep Dreaming, Black Child

Media Kit

By clicking the link below you will be directed to a Google Docs Folder
where you can download author photos and cover images.

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