Descendant Spotlight: Nocola Williams

I think children’s books found me long before I found them. As a child, I spent hours in the Leonardtown Library at Tudor Hall reading Shel Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends until the pages felt like old friends. That book taught me to love the sound of words and the power of imagination.

Later, as a teacher for over 30 years, I saw firsthand how stories open doors for children. I wrote poems and little stories to help my students understand what I was teaching, and that eventually grew into my first series, Freddie the Flounder. Children’s books allow me to blend education, creativity, and heart. They’re a way to reach children where they are and help them see themselves, their families, and the world in the pages of a book.

And honestly, becoming a grandmother sealed the deal. Watching my grandson Sage hold my books and say, “Read Fweddie Frownder,” reminded me why children’s literature matters. It’s about connection, legacy, and planting seeds early. Bugzee and the Bees is about our grandson Sage. I wrote the story when he was four months old. He was five years old when it was finally completed and he could read it by himself.

We’ve already seen a big variety of stories across your books. Where are you drawing your influence and what kind of stories do you think are important to tell?

My influence comes from real life—my classroom, my family, my backyard, and even places I’ve never lived but deeply care about. I’m a backyard beekeeper, a teacher, a grandmother, and someone who believes children should understand how connected we all are to the world around us.

Some of my stories come from home, like Bugzee and the Bees, which is loosely based on our multigenerational living situation and our adventures with honeybees. Others come from global issues, like The Legend of the Sleep-Eating Elephant, which grew out of learning about beehive fences in Africa and how communities are protecting both crops and wildlife.

I think the most important stories are the ones that help children see beyond themselves—stories about family, responsibility, conservation, kindness, and coexistence. Kids can handle big ideas when they’re wrapped in warmth and wonder. If a story can make a child curious, compassionate, and confident, then it’s worth telling.

Can you tell us about any upcoming books or projects you have going on?

Right now, one of my favorite projects is continuing the world of Bugzee and the Bees. I’m working with Tyrus Goshay, the illustrator, on a children’s activity and coloring book for ages four to eight, so kids can interact with the story through games, art, and learning about pollinators.

I’m also expanding my Global Beekeeping Tales series, which blends storytelling with real-world conservation efforts. Book two in The Global Beekeeping Tales called, The Legend of the Boisterous Bear, is in the storyboard phase. This book takes place in the country of Georgia and tells the tale of Jara beehives.

We have a new, eight-year-old granddaughter which means a new book, Amelia’s Corn Rows. When Amelia joins her new blended family on the homestead, she’s thrilled to plant her very first garden. With love, guidance, and a handful of colorful seeds, Amelia discovers how plants—and families—grow stronger when they work together. This book is being illustrated by Bre’Anna Washington-Weatherford.

Our initiative, “The Bee the Change Project,” seeks to provide every second-grade student at Lexington Park, George Washington Carver, Park Hall, and Green Holly Elementary Schools for the 2025-26 school year with a free copy of my latest book, Bugzee and the Bees. This story explores pollination and ecosystems, aligned with NGSS (2-LS2-2), and features characters that reflect the rich racial and cultural diversity of our community. Over 600 books have been donated to children both locally and world-wide. For every $10 donation, a student will receive a signed hardcover book, stickers, a bookmark, and each class will receive a free author visit.

For me, the books and the mission go together. Writing isn’t just about publishing—it’s about building literacy, honoring family and ancestral stories, and creating something that children can carry with them long after the last page is turned.