The Powerhouse
- Jan 25
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 12
Vulnerability
My first dance floor
was my mother’s bedroom
where my cousin Cheryl
kick ball change, kick ball change
three little girls across hardwood floors.
We moved out all the little belongings my mother had every Saturday morning.
Never mind her tears she cried the night before
while she sat in the white corner walls
holding her head in defeat.
Sometimes I asked her,
“Why you always crying?"
Her response,
sharp and quick
“Cuz, they my tears,
I can do whatever I want with them.”
It was there I learned
how to dance free
with my own feelings.
A Philly native, actress, poet and storyteller Nikki Powerhouse is a creative force that speaks to the human spirit. Nikki is a Temple University graduate with BA in Theater Arts and Communication. She received the Leeway Foundation Transformation grant in 2023. As a trauma informed artist, motivational speaker, she uses performance and literary art to create a space for collective healing and transformation within communities. Her latest work is her published book Journal to the Softest Part which was inspired by her previous poetry book The Softest Part of her is Everything. Nikki believes art should engage and transform the creator and the viewer.
THE INTERVIEW
What do you write, and what draws you to this genre or style?
My creative writing is expressed through poetry & playwriting. These genres have shaped my voice, creativity and vision in my work.
What themes, emotions, or questions tend to show up in your work?
At the core of my work is transformation. The catalyst that inspires change , courage and healing. My work speaks to shadow work that teaches us the dark and light are the same. In both , we can discover our resilience, power, and strength of vulnerability.
If you had to describe your writing in three words, what would they be?
Vulnerability. Transparency. Self Awareness.
What book(s) are you currently working on or have recently published? Tell us about it.
My recent book is Journal to the Softest Part. This book was created to help people to tap within their softest part. I wanted my audience to discover their wholeness through the power of journal writing in themes around self forgiveness, joy, pleasure, and self awareness.
Where and when do you write best? (Time of day, favorite writing space, rituals, etc.)
Early mornings between 4 AM-6 AM is where my best writing flows out. During this time, it feels like a writing ritual with water sound in the background. The water reminds me of sacred, solitude and spirit.
What does your creative process look like?
My creative process combines letting ideas be in mind, journaling, jotting down images or themes, and just sitting down and writing.
Are you a planner or a pantser?
Lord knows I be planning but a pantser is where my writing lives. It's in the journey and discovery that I seek to express in my writing.
What's the hardest part of writing for you?
The hardest part is committing to a consistent writing regiment.
What's the most joyful part?
The joyful part in writing is witnessing my own transformation. It's the courage and self care that it serves through the process.
When did you know you were a writer?
When I wrote my first poem at 13 years old entitled Black Pearl.
What made you decide to publish independently?
I published independently because it gives me the creative control and direct connection with engagement to my audience.
What's one piece of advice you'd give to someone just starting their author journey?
Write. Especially when you don't feel like it... Write about that feeling. Read and find inspiration for your writing. Most important- Giving up is not an option.
Who or what inspires your writing? (Authors, experiences, communities, art forms, etc.)
Authors like Ntozake Shange , Maya Angelou, Sonia Sanchez.
My mother's passing , her transition became my transformation. I discovered a deeper awareness to ancestral wisdom that spoke to healing, pleasure and joy.
What book or author changed your life?
"I Know Why the Cage Bird Sings" impacted my writing in a way that inspired me to turn pain into power.
What do you hope readers feel or take away from your work?
The power and strength of vulnerability in self expression through writing is cathartic experience.
What does being part of the Small House Publishing community mean to you?
Being apart of Small House means support, inspiration, and manifest a vision to its full potential.
One phrase to describe 2026 for you.
Do it!
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