To support our work and listen to additional content, see here: https://patreon.com/yourshelf and follow us on social media @_yourshelf_. In our latest, sixth episode of The YourShelf Podcast, Given Stories, our chief curator Juliano Zaffino (Jay) catches up with writer Nikita Gill to discuss books, representation, girlhood, culture, inheritance and Nikita's first novel, The Girl and the Goddess. For full show notes, see here: https://podcast.yourshelf.uk/episodes/6. Thanks for listening.  

LinksPatreonInstagramTwitterPodcastYourShelfEpisode NotesJay asks Nikita about her bookshelves, the books that made her, and which writers she'd want to play in a one-woman show. (from 1:15)Nikita explains why she decided to write her first YA novel in verse, The Girl and the Goddess, where the inspiration for the story came from, and what representation means to her and her work. (from 10:38)Finally, Nikita discusses her recent reads and upcoming projects, including a new collection, Where Hope Comes From, publishing Feb 2021. (from 1:10:50)Jay recommends signing up to our Patreon for access to exclusive content, including a  bonus episode with more content from the interview, where Nikita answers some phone-in questions, and gives a reading from The Girl and the Goddess.Jay wraps up with all the books that were discussed in the episode: Maya Angelou's I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, Alice Walker's The Colour Purple, Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, Nikesh Shukla's Brown Baby, Salena Godden's Mrs Death Misses Death, the works of Amrita Sher-Gil and Sarojini Naidu, Dean Atta's The Black Flamingo, CS Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia, Manjeet Mann's Run Rebel, the work of Yena Sherma Purmasir, Louise O'Neill's After The Silence, Savannah Brown's Sweetdark, and Poems To Save The World With, chosen and illustrated by Chris Riddell.Nikita Gill closes with a reading of the stunning poem 'A New City' from her YA novel in verse, The Girl and the Goddess. (from 1:25:33)Buy, read and review The Girl and the Goddess now, available from most bookstores! Nikita's earlier work is also available for purchase.Thanks for listening and tune in again (very) soon for Episode Seven!