Nicole has temporarily shifted gears with the publication of her first children's book, THE SHELBY SERIES: THE DAY THE PLUMS DISAPPEARED. Named after her older daughter, PLUMS is based on a real event in which Shelby and her Poppycito go on their usual plum trek. When they return to Miss Minnie's plum tree this time, however, all of the plums are gone. Join Shelby as she sets out to solve this mystery. Illustrated with 24 bright, original collages plus a special picture by Shelby, the book is a must-read for the 4-7 year old set.

The Love Child's Revenge : Claudia “Peach” Fryar is a vixen. Born to a mother who works as a domestic for the Harrisons, an affluent African American family who resides in Philadelphia’s East Oak Lane section, Claudia has felt like an outsider all of her life. She’s chubby, she stutters, and she grows up with her nose pressed against the windowpane, peering in on the lives of the privileged Harrison girls. It’s not enough that they grew up attending elite events and holding membership in exclusive clubs, but the matriarch of the Harrison clan seems to revel in torturing young Claudia. Why? Her husband, the respectable Louis Harrison, is young Claudia’s father also. When he dies, Claudia’s mother is fired, and the two are virtually run out of town, oblivious to the fact that Louis has made provisions in his will to take care of his “love child.” When Claudia returns to Philadelphia years later after learning that she’s been cheated out of her share of wealth, she’s full of venom with an ax to grind. She’s vowed to get revenge for every privilege that she’s been denied, and she’ll stop at nothing to get it.

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Floating: In her highly anticipated sophomore release, Nicole Bailey-Williams, returns readers to Philadelphia where they meet Shanna Washington, a biracial girl who is abandoned by her socialite mother. In this modern twist on the 'tragic mulatto' theme, readers are drawn into Shanna's world where they learn to see that things aren't always just black and white.

"Searingly Beautiful. Mrs. Bailey-Williams' impressive debut is nuanced, stark, and astonishing in its ability to portray the resilience of the human spirit."
Diane McKinney-Whetstone Author, Blues Dancing

“Earnest and heartfelt…”
Kirkus Reviews

“…an enlightening little collection of cogent and deftly written stories about life…”
“…a small book with big lessons for its readers…”
“…riveting and enthralling…”
Black Issues Book Review

“Crisp, clean, and clear narration! Nicole Bailey-Williams has got what it takes, and you’ve got to read it!”
Omar Tyree, author of Leslie

“In a word, captivating! I found myself instantly drawn into Song’s world, a place filled with emotion, struggle and eventual triumph.”
Patricia Haley, author of No Regrets

Gumbo: A Celebration of African American Writing is a 'literary rent party' whose proceeds benefit the Hurston/Wright Foundation. Edited by Marita Golden and E. Lynn Harris, the book features seventy-three authors, among them, Lorene Cary, Tayari Jones, Mat Johnson, and Percival Everett. Nicole's contribution, 'Between Black and White' (page 698), is an excerpt from her forthcoming novel Floating, which will be released on January 13, 2004.

Brown Sugar 2: Great One Night Stands is a collection of erotica which is edited by Carol Taylor. Nicole's contirbution to this piece is entitled 'Zoe' (page 276), and it marks her entree into this genre of writing.