Not for Your Entertainment with Helena Haywoode Henry

About this episode

Nikesha Elise Williams interviews Helena Haywoode Henry about her YA novel that explores capital punishment through a unique narrative.

Order Your Copy of The Seven Daughters of Dupree ! This week on Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Helena Haywoode Henry , author of the YA novel, Last Chance Live! The book looks at the price of eternity through the eyes of an 18-year-old girl on death row, who decides to try to win her freedom on a reality show. In our conversation, Helena discusses the legal papers she read during her time as a lawyer that inspired the premise of her novel. Plus, the reason Helena believes reimagining the current state of capital punishment is one small way to reimagine the current state of America. Mahogany Books Mentioned in this episode: Rate & Review Thanks for listening, family! Please do us a solid and take a quick moment to rate and/or leave a review for this podcast. It will go a long way to making sure content featuring our stories and perspectives are seen on this platform

People in this episode

Host: Nikesha Elise Williams

Guest: Helena Haywoode Henry

Topics covered

• capital punishment
• young adult literature
• reality shows
• legal inspiration
• freedom
• American justice system

Keywords

• capital punishment
• young adult novel
• reality show
• death row
• legal inspiration
• freedom
• American justice

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Mahogany Books

Books & works: Last Chance Live!, The Seven Daughters of Dupree

More episodes of Black & Published

• People Over Place with Toni Ann Johnson · May 19, 2026 · 45 min
• Living Cheek by Jowl with Lisa Smith · May 12, 2026 · 52 min
• The Psychology of Romance with Ashley Jordan · May 5, 2026 · 48 min
• Water's at the Root with Gwendolyn Wallace and Tonya Engel · April 28, 2026 · 38 min
• Every Which Way But Loose with Rickey Fayne · April 21, 2026 · 50 min
• A Character Study with Christina Dotson · April 14, 2026 · 47 min