In this engaging episode of the Black Writer Therapy Podcast, host Ella Shawn chats with Vanessa Walters about her experiences as an author and the inspirations behind her book 'The Niger Wife.' Vanessa discusses her journey from her Jamaican heritage to growing up in London and eventually moving to Lagos. She reveals how her life as a 'Niger wife' influenced her novel and the support of the Niger Wife Association. Vanessa and Ella delve into themes of patriarchy, familial duty, and the unique struggles of Black women writers, touching on Vanessa’s creative process, the healing nature of writing, and the eventual adaptation of her book into a screenplay by HBO. The conversation highlights Vanessa’s nuanced storytelling and the significant impact of her cultural background on her work.

Vanessa Walters was born and raised in London, UK by Jamaican parents and has traveled extensively living in 5 cities on 4 continents. She now lives in Brooklyn, New York with her family. Vanessa published two YA books in her teens (Rude Girls, Best Things in Life). She has also written poetry, plays and a creative historical collection about Black experience in London (Smoke! Othello!). Vanessa has a bachelors degree in Law and French Law and has worked in a range of media roles over the years including at the BBC, Financial Times, Thomson Reuters, and written for The Guardian, The New Statesman among others. THE NIGERWIFE, was inspired by her time in Nigeria as a Nigerwife. It was a Good Morning America Bookclub Pick and a best books of 2023 (Audible, New York Public Library) and is currently being adapted by HBO spearheaded by Amy Aniobi (Producer of Insecure). Vanessa is working on her second novel which again explores the wonder and tragedy of family, this time in Brooklyn.

Therapeutic Moments

• 07:52 Challenges and Accomplishments in Writing
• 16:17 The Niger Wife: A Personal Connection
• 46:44 Navigating Identity as a Black Writer
• 47:53 Challenges of Audience Perception
• 57:15 Generational Trauma and Healing
• 01:02:13 Motherhood and Parenting Reflections
• 01:17:35 The Complexity of Marriage

01:26:53 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Vanessa's Facebook group Vanessa's Facebook page Vanessa's Website Ella Shawn Listen to Black Writer Therapy Podcast

The More You Know

• Windrush Generation 1945 - 1960 | Haringey Council - This is how Vanessa's family landed in the UK and she does a wonderful job explaining and sharing her Jamaican roots.
• The Nigerwives Association - [comprehensive history of the Nigerwives-Nigeria association from their official website. This association, formed in 1979 by foreign women married to Nigerian citizens, aimed to address challenges related to residence permits, work permits, employment discrimination, and other issues faced by these women. The association has since grown, with branches across Nigeria, working on various social projects and supporting the integration of foreign wives into Nigerian society .]

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