The Truth is in the Jokes with Shola Gbemi

This week on Black and Published, Nikesha speaks with Shola Gbemi, author of the novel, They Were Chosen. A  New York native of Nigerian descent, his novel focuses on the twin movements of social justice and sexual assault while following fictional characters on an HBCU campus.

During our conversation, Shola explains why writing his novel was a seven year process. What he learned from the council of women who checked him over the course of the writing to create female characters with nuance and depth, plus the research he did that helped his characters feel true to life.