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The Bold World, Jodie Patterson (Ballantine, 2019)

Inspired by her transgender son, activist Jodie Patterson explores identity, gender, race, and authenticity to tell the real-life story of a family’s history and transformation.

“The Bold World reminds me of the best things we have learned from our uniquely instructive sojourn as Black people in America. To be watchful; to pay attention; to make every attempt to comprehend reality; to believe that real life flows in the direction of the real, which is to say, of the true...It’s a marvelous book.” —Alice Walker

“A courageous and poetic testimony on family and the self, and the learning and unlearning we must do for those we love.” —Janet Mock

Book Acknowledgment: “Maya Millett has been for me an editor, a sounding board, and a guide. The gratitude and respect I have for her are enormous. She was flexible, bending around my particular ways as a new writer: holding my hand when I needed it, leaving me be when I needed that. Her ability to remember the details of my life even when I’d forgotten them is otherworldly. This book exists because of her hard work.” —Jodie Patterson

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Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves, Glory Edim (Ballantine, 2018)

Contributing Editor |In this remarkable anthology of essays, Well-Read Black Girl founder Glory Edim brings together some of our best Black women writers to shine a light on how important it is that we all—regardless of gender, race, religion, or ability—have the opportunity to find ourselves in literature. Well-Read Black Girl is a Brooklyn-based book club turned online community of over 170,000, devoted to celebrating the phenomenal Black women on our bookshelves.

“Yes, Well-Read Black Girl is as good as it sounds. . . . [Glory Edim] gathers an all-star cast of contributors—among them Lynn Nottage, Jesmyn Ward, and Gabourey Sidibe.” —O: The Oprah Magazine

Book Acknowledgment: “I want to especially thank Maya Millett for her thoughtful feedback and editing. We make an extraordinary team.” —Glory Edim

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Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work, Dave Isay with Maya Millett (Penguin Press, 2016)

Co-Author |True stories of passion, courage, and commitment, following individuals as they pursue the work they were born to do. Some found their paths at a very young age, others later in life; some overcame great odds or upturned their lives in order to pursue what matters to them. Together they demonstrate how work can be about much more than just making a living, and that chasing dreams and finding inspiration in unexpected places can transform a vocation into a calling.

“Thoughtfully organized and edited, each story is a reminder of the essential role work plays in the pursuit of human happiness. Inspiring, insightful, and thoroughly readable.” –Kirkus

Book Acknowledgment: “This book was pulled together with skill, grace, and heart by Maya Millett, who is blessed with the magic touch.” —Dave Isay

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Ties That Bind (Penguin Press, 2013) and All There Is, Dave Isay (Penguin Press, 2012)

Editor | Ties That Bind is a celebration of the relationships that bring us strength, purpose, and joy. All There Is shares stories that prove that love can be found in unexpected places, and is powerful enough to survive illness, discrimination, and distance.

“[Ties That Bind] is sweet and sad, heartwarming and watery-eye inducing. It’s the kind of book that gives you the urge to call up someone important in your life, just to say hi.”—The Associated Press

"These testaments of love reveal themselves as profound literature on a par with that of even the grandest poet or novelist. ALL THERE IS is a Valentine's Day gift more meaningful than any box of chocolates." —Entertainment Weekly

Awards and Accolades:

StoryCorps Animated Shorts (PBS’ POV)

Producer | My team collaborated with our animation studio to breathe new life into the edited segments StoryCorps produces for NPR’s Morning Edition. As the senior-level producer, I was responsible for each editorial checkpoint within the life cycle of the animated short—from story selection to character designs through final render—guiding the audio story in the process of transformation into a visual medium.

Hear me speak more about the creative process of making the shorts, here.


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