SV: Unfortunately, I do not have a copy...yet. I have heard some of it though.  What are your thoughts about this historical presidential election? Are you a Obamanite, or a Clintonite? 

NS: The dialogue our communities are having on politics and the various platforms that affect us is absolutely beautiful! I cannot remember another time during my life when so many of my comrades are discussing the election process, registering to vote, remembering our ancestors and their fights for our right to vote. These dialogues are not arguments. They are debates with concisely structured information. You want to know the most important element to this? Our children hear this. Our nieces and nephews hear these conversations on the electoral college, delegates, primaries and caucuses. They hear us talking about health care and this election also presents us the visual to discuss sexism and racism with our children. That is what I enjoy most. Huh?… oh… Obama.

SV: Where do you see yourself in your craft in 5 years?

NS: I don’t know where my craft will have me in the next 5 years.  But I can tell you my current stream of artistic thoughts and amongst these, some of them, or are all of them are bound to manifest. Alright? Ok, I miss stage theatre, I miss film production, I love presenting lectures, I love writing about black folks. I’ll definitely continue taking a more educational stance with lecturing and facilitating workshops on writing and performing. So, I’ll probably be doing something along those lines. 

SV: What’s in the future for Ms. Nikki Skies?

NS: Teaching my nieces and nephews to swim, teaching my tongue the difference between a syrah and a pinot noir, relearning Double Dutch, organizing my mother’s office desk, buying an aquarium for the family room, having my own children, teaching & learning with them, being creative, laughing loud and hard, documenting it all to be remembered and getting a silver range rover. (laughing) Hey, you asked what was in my future! I’ll always be a creator and artist so those are some personal things on my to do list. 

SV: What would you say to an aspiring poet trying to get their work published, recorded or just simply heard? 

NS: I tell aspiring poets, have something to say to somebody, not nothing to anybody. Just because you’re cute or have a new pair of boots, doesn’t mean you should get on the stage and perform poetry. And please people, you’re not “taking poetry to the next level”, you’re not doing something new, you’re not the champion team or solo champion of poetry. That is so far off the path to liberation we can’t see you anymore! Please come home. WE are a champion people. Poetry is already yours.  Just put on your crown and don't being foolish enough to buy your own land twice! We’re standing on the mighty shoulders of a people that willed to survive so write their stories and defend them fearlessly. Make them proud. And no matter what people say, you must be accountable and responsible for the art you create. Art is medicine, it can heal or even kill if you don’t use the right measurements.

SV: Anything else that you would like to inform our readers about Nikki Skies? 

NS: If I didn’t mention it during this interview, it’s on my website, or my myspace page, (www.nikkiskies.com or www.myspace.com/nikkiskieslive)