ATLANTA - s4story -- Nikki Shantell (pen name of Nicole Wooten), an Atlanta-area writer, contributes to the forthcoming Dear Black Woman Anthology, a national collection of first-person letters by Black women to their younger selves and to one another. The book releases September 20, 2025.

In her letter, Nikki opens with a childhood memory: a fearless jump into a swimming pool at age three—a moment that foreshadowed a life of bold moves and later became a model for leaving unsafe jobs, places, and relationships. "That jump allowed me to be bold, take chances and deal with the what-ifs later," she writes.

She then addresses the long echo of violence and abandonment in a child's home, people-pleasing in adolescence and adulthood, sexual assault in college, grief, divorce, and a debilitating injury that upended her career and health. The letter names therapy, faith, family support, and small daily actions as anchors during recovery. "Self-advocacy is one of the strongest powers you will have… No matter what, speak up for YOU," she counsels.

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Nikki Shantell frames peace as an "inside job," and points readers to practices that restore agency: journaling, prayer, mindset work, and choosing a trustworthy circle. Her closing section claims victory and reminds readers to give themselves grace, pivot when needed, and keep moving through seasons that ask hard questions until the season that answers arrives.

The anthology pairs lived experience with practical tools for reflection and group discussion—well suited for book clubs, counseling programs, faith communities, and workplace wellness efforts.

Availability & Local Events
Dear Black Woman Anthology Project publishes on September 20, 2025. Pre-order updates and event details will post at DearBlackWoman.me. Atlanta-area readings and discussions featuring Shantell will follow publication.

Media Contact (Book/Events)
Dear Black Woman Media — info@dearblackwoman.me | 469-447-4825
DearBlackWoman.me