Mirage Series by Somaiya Daud

Welcome Back, Booklovers!

I decided to make this one a double feature as I that cover for Court of Lions appealed to me so much I just had to request an arc. So I ended up buying a used copy to read the duology in it's entirety. A story set in space in a Morrocan inspired setting sure sounded appealing. I ended up mainly listening to the audiobook version because the narrator was so good. She really made the words flow with ease throughout this very poetic style of storytelling. 

Mirage starts with Amani celebrating her coming of age when she is kidnapped, attacked, forced to undergo facial reconstruction surgery, and forced to impersonate the half Vathek Princess Maram who is well hated by her conquered people. The cruel Princess Maram has Amani trained to take her place at certain events as she fears attacks. Maram and Amani are very much like mirror images of each other coming from opposite backgrounds and having different personalities.

Since Amani is nothing like the cruel Princess she is easily detected by Maram's fiance Idris. And soon the line starts to blur between the role Amani is being forced to play and her actual reality. She starts to sympathize with Maram who she realizes has been cut off from knowing one side of her culture and is just as much a casualty of the long going war as the rest of them. She also observes the controlling people around Maram like Nadine who are power hungry themselves. She also starts to fall for Idris who she describes as both tragic and beautiful. 

It wasn't heavy on the sci-fi elements but that didn't bother me. At times I did forget that it was set on different planets. The author does a great job incorporating Moroccan culture throughout painting vivid pictures of clothes, architect, and food.

I thought it was a very well written introduction to this series and made me excited to read the Court of Lions. And that cover certainly helped draw me in. So when the opportunity to receive an arc from Flatiron books presented itself I leaped.But thought Court of Lions picked up right where Mirage left off the two books were like day and night. And I do wonder if listening to the audiobook would make a difference though I found that Court of Lions didn't have as much poetic flow as Mirage.

A lot of time is spent building a counsel of loyal people around Maram as she prepares for the throne while on the honeymoon tour for her and Idris. Everyone is ready to overthrow the Vath and Amani truly belies Maram is the key  to a new type of kingdom. She has this blind faith in Maram that she'll make this amazing queen that I couldn't quite get behind. Maram disassociates herself from her people and hides in the tower letting Amani impersonate her every time she needs to show her face. And she came across as so much more insecure and weak here. Where was the fiery princess from the previous book? Amani to me is the true leader who is taking charge and handling business. She negotiates with the rebels and helps build a team of people loyal to Miram as opposed to her father Mathias. She just doesn't have the royal blood like Maram. 

There were a lot more characters in this story too however I can't say most of the new additions were particularly interesting enough for me to remember their names. At times it was hard to keep track of the every growing cast of characters alongside the names of new planets and cities.

If you're a fan of the romance between Idris and Amani you will be enjoy those parts as it continues in this story as they are forced into each other's proximity during the honeymoon tour.  And they don't always see eye to eye when it comes to politics which creates some tension. Maram's love interest Aghraas just didn't capture my attention as I just didn't see the intense chemistry between them and the woman was so vague it was hard to see her as anything more than a device to further humanize Maram. 

Overall I'm rating this series a 3.5 for a strong start and an interesting premise that could've just delved in a little further for a truly enchanting fantasy. 

  

Don't Count Out Book Bloggers

Welcome Back, Booklovers!

There's been a lot of recent conversation about book bloggers and where they fit in in the book community on social media among the Booktubers and Bookstagrammers and the newly formed Book Tok. And while it's great to have multiple mediums to promote books people need not forget their roots. Bloggers are often neglected and left our of the conversation. They don't get the sponsorship that booktubers and bookstagrammers do. I make a minuscule amount every time you use my affiliate links to shop from Amazon. Bloggers usually are not offered the book boxes or book candles when influencers are being looked at. Even authors will leave them out of events because they want to work with content creators who have a more visible and visual medium.  

It is not always easy to write a fair and honest review for a book. And sometimes it takes hours to write a solid review. And I know some bloggers feel pressure to give every book a good review because they're less likely to get arcs from publishers compared to booktubers or bookstagrammers.  But at the same time bloggers know they have a responsibility to give honest feedback because people defend on them when choosing books. A lot of those reviews on Goodreads that help you decide whether or not you want to order a new release are written by bloggers.

Especially when you have to post content fairly regularly to maintain an audience. I see some bloggers have a post scheduled for every day. In June I was posting 5 days a week and that was a lot of work. So much goes into pre-planning content. 

Blogs don't just consist of reviews. There's only but so many books you can read at a time and so many reviews you can post. I'm someone who often ends up reading 2 or 3 books at a time but not every book I read ends up as a full blog post. And not all books are finished at the same time. When book bloggers aren't posting reviews they're often trying to think of creative discussion pieces to keep people entertained. 

And then let's talk about bloggers of color and how they are often overlooked. Because the blogging platform is less visible than the popular social media  often they're overlooked for arcs especially when the physical arcs are being sent. If you think getting your voice to be heard on social media is a chore just imagine how much harder it is to direct people from those spaces to a separate website as a blogger of color. 

I actually saw some Black book bloggers talking about how they wanted to get involved with Juneteenth bookfest but when they reached out to those in charge their requests were ignored. The organizers had sign ups for Booktubers and Bookstagrammers but not book bloggers. And because these bloggers just wanted to see a successful Black book festival they didn't speak up about being excluded.

That's not to say all authors exclude book bloggers. I've been doing interviews with authors the past few months and they have been amazing. Very willing to show a small book blog some love and answer my questions. So shout out to Alexis Henderson, Alexandra Sheppard, Callie Browning, Brandy Colbert, Namina Forna, Sareeta Domingo, Roseanne A Brown, Liara Tamani,  and Kristina Forest. If you haven't already then you need to buy their books.

It's a hobby that requires the work of a 2nd job but bloggers are so passionate about what they post. So come join the discussions, read and share the reviews, and discover some new books to get lost in the pages of. 

You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria

Welcome Back Booklovers,

I shifted gears for a moment and dove into romance after back to back fantasy stories. I needed a a light summer read to refresh me and this one did not disappoint. With such a pretty cover it would've been a damn shame if it wasn't a good story. This was the best romance I've read this year. It's been years since I've watched a telenovela (with English subtitles because I'm not fluent) or an American soap opera regularly but this brought the nostalgia. Alexis Daria is not a new author but she is new to me and she did not disappoint.

The story starts with Jasmine Lin fresh off a breakup from a good for nothing rockstar dealing with the blowout which is negative press and paparazzi hounding her.  But she's also starting a new role on an English language telenovela called Carmen in Charge on a popular streaming platform where she's playing the leading role. This is her potential breakout role and she can't let her complicated love life screw it up. But why did her new leading man have to be so irresistible?

Ashton Suarez is a veteran telenovela actor who is hoping that this show will be his big break into Hollywood. He's not getting any younger and has a lot riding on this show. He also has his son back in Puerto Rico with the his father and grandparents who are depending on him. Ashton is very closed off because of an incident years back so he doesn't easily take the cast.

Jasmine helps Ashton open up more on set as they film alongside each other and he helps her with her Spanish speaking skills which need a little bit of work.

I love how we actually get immersed into the show they're filming. Coming off two recent reads where the characters were chefs participating in a cooking show but we never really saw them get involved in the cooking show aspect this was very refreshing. It was like getting two different stories in one as we also follow along with Carmen and Victor's adventures. 

I also liked how this book touched on the importance of Latinx representation on screen of all different backgrounds and even mentioned colorism in the community without taking too much away from the romance.  I don't mind when contemporary romance discusses heavier issues I only have a problem when the romance takes a back seat to those issues. Jasmine and Ashton both have their issues which require therapy to overcome but this didn't become a story about their trauma which I was truly grateful for. And they have an intimacy coordinator on set for the more romantic scenes who stresses the point of consent and working with each other to make sure each person is comfortable.

I received an arc from Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review.

Trouble the Saints by Alaya Dawn Johnson

Welcome Back, Booklovers!

So I'm back with another review of a new release. I've been on a fantasy kick recently and at the moment it's taken over as my favorite genre. So coming off The Year of the Witching which was a five star read I immediately dove into Trouble the Saints which is my first Alaya Dawn Johnson book. 

This book had a format that I'm not used to. It was split into three different parts with  each section being told by a different narrator. You get to know each character from all three of the narrator's eyes. It also had a very noir vibe to it which I liked.

The first section was from the POV of Phyllis who is nicknamed Pea.  Pea is white passing and this book can't seem to go by more than a few pages without reminding you of it. Though then I started to wonder if she was really actually that white passing since everyone seemed to know she's not fully white. There were constant references to her race whether it was calling her an light-skinned, octoroon, high yella, etc. Being light-skinned is not a personality trait however it seemed to completely define her character throughout the story.

 On top of that the synopsis and blurb just made you think this was a bad ass assassin story when it wasn't. She's an assassin that gave up killing because of her morals. She was fine with killing as long as she convinced herself that everyone she killed deserved it because they were a bad person. She's working for one of the most notorious mobsters in the city but foolishly believes everyone he instructs her to kill is some horrible person until one day her biracial(Indian/White British) ex-lover hits her with a, "Girl, you didn't know he had you killing innocent people?" Well not exactly in those words but that's basically what he says. And she's so conflicted going forward acting as if her life has been a lie for years. It didn't help that the book is written in a way that just throws you into her life and then tries to piece together a little back story here and there via flashback. 

Dev's section might have been more boring than hers. It had potential to be interesting. It started off well with him dealing with the after effects of a very heavy event where he ended up with blood on his hands. He's also conflicted with  his role as a police officer where he will never truly be seen as one of them. His section was also good for learning more about the "saints' hands" since the first section had very little detail about this gift bestowed only on Black and Brown people. While Pea is able to use her hands to knife wield, Dev can sense danger with his touch. It also adds an interesting dynamic to his relationships with Pea and Tamara.  But his section was even longer and drawn out then the first.

By the time we got to Tamara's story I was just about done with this book. Pea is very much the character this story is centered upon no matter who the narrator is. And Tamara spends much time caring for her. I felt the story flowed better in this section and I did like her backstory. She also worked for the same mobster as Pea as a snake dancer at the club. However she willingly ignores the unsavory dealings for the protection the job brings and the freedom to curate entertainment at the club a few nights a week. She has escaped Virginia after witnessing a friend's lynching and has dreams of a finer life preferably in Paris. Tamara is also an oracle who much as she tries cannot ignore the visions. 

At the end of this day for me this book was very dense. It tried to make a lot of statements and I saw where it could go and what was trying to be said but it just didn't resonate with me. It needed better structuring because the three different sections being continued from previous sections didn't flow seamlessly when the narration changed. Everything was also too purposefully obscured in the first section to really get interested in the story.

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

Welcome Back, Booklovers! 

This week I decided to take on fantasy with Year of the Witching. I had been hearing Rena Barron promote this story and since I loved her Kingdom of Souls and this one sounded intriguing I decided to take the plunge. And the Penguin gave me the opportunity to download the book from Edelweiss. Earlier this month I did an interview with Alexis Henderson so feel free to check it out.

Some of you have been looking for adult fantasy stories and this is one I fully stand behind.

I will say this is darker fantasy then I usually read. If dark fantasy and occult is not something you're comfortable reading then skip this one. I went in open and fell into a story that drew me in. I flew through the first half after one day of reading. I loved how Alexis Henderson described the violence with just enough details that make you squirm and suck in a break but at the same time doesn't feel like it's too much. And I didn't find any violence for the sake of violence. There was blood, assault, pedophilia, and domestic violence but it wasn't thrown in for shock value. It was written in a way that had great impact.

Immanuel Moore lives in Bethel a very religious town town where a bishop-like figure name The Prophet and his apostles of the Church govern all. The Church worships the Holy Father and condemns The Dark Mother and the witches who serve her. As someone who grew up in Catholic school during the week and Catholic Church on Sundays I caught many of the references.

Most of the people of Bethel are fair-skinned with straight hair while Immanuel is of a darker complexion with curly hair. This is because her father was a farmer from The Outskirts which is where the people with dark skin reside. The people of the Outskirts are considered lesser and in need of sanctification.  So though they are not explicitly called Black and White you will see many parallels throughout the story that elude to the experience of the people of the Outskirts to Black people such as the forcing of this religion as well as language and other customs of the "white" people of Bethel on to them. Immanuel is seen by the other girls her age as lesser than them because of her appearance.

The Prophet who is a much older man has numerous wives and his most recent betrothed is Immanuel's best friend Leah. Despite Leah being a teen on the cusp of adulthood it is seen as an honor to be his wife. With Leah soon to be busy with her new role as wife Immanuel is unsure of her place in the world as she doesn't quite fit into their society but she also doesn't identify with the people of the Outskirts who live a very different life than hers. For while her family has little money they aren't on the fringe of society completely. 

The wedding ceremony scenes stood out to me because they have the brides climb on an altar like a sacrifice and then carve a symbol on their foreheads to solidify the union.

Despite her grandmother's resistance Immanuel finds herself drawn to the Darkwood. After an experience in the Darkwood, a blood plague strikes Bethel causing all the water to turn to blood Immanuel believes she has brought about a curse and sets out to amend this. And in turn she ends up bringing her friend Ezra, the prophet's son into the madness with her. Ezra and Immanuel's relationship is very well done. And their feelings for each other do not hinder the plot but rather strengthen it as they work together against the church while the threat of the purging pyre hangs over their heads.

So if you're looking for a fast paced well written fantasy that will keep you enthralled I suggest you purchase The Year of the Witching. It's a tantalizing tale ripe for discussion. 

Late Summer Reading Suggestions for Children, Teens, and Adults

Welcome Back, Booklovers!

I know we're halfway through summer already but I wanted to give some suggestions for all ages because it's never too late to pick up a book.

Songs in the Shade of the Cashew and Coconut Trees: Lullabies and Nursery Rhymes from West Africa and the Caribbean

This is not only a beautiful picture book but it comes with a CD so your child can listen and sing along to popular lullabies and nursery rhymes from West Africa and the Caribbean.  From Jamaica to Trinidad to Benin to Cameroon this book takes you on a beautiful journey with stunning art work to match.

The Day You Begin

This is a great story about how sometimes we all feel like outsiders for our differences but when we embrace each other's differences it's something wonderful. Another beautiful story with great language and artwork.

Just South of Home

This is a Southern Middle Grade mystery featuring 12 yr old Sarah and her 11 yr old cousin Janie who comes from Chicago to their small Georgia town for the summer. When Janie swipes a necklace from the ruins of a haunted Black church burned down by the Klan, Sarah along with her little brother Ellis and their friend Jasper must make things right and settle some unresolved spirits to rest.

 

Gloom Town

12 yr old Rory gets a job at a spooky mansion in his seaside town and soon realized his boss is a supernatural people out to steal people's souls. Rory and his best friend Izzy must find a way to stop him.

Opposite of Always

I feel like YA for Black boys is so rare. And this one has a humorous lead with a lot of heart who is not the jock or the nerd  but somewhere in between.  Jack meets Kate at a college party and starts to fall hard for her. But then on what's supposed to be their special night Kate never shows and shortly after dies. Jack finds himself thrown into a time loop after that reliving their moments together hoping for a different outcome. 

The Voting Booth

This is a dual POV story involving two teens who are voting in their first election. But it also features common end of high school drama. There's the discussion over making a college decision, dating someone of another race, having a plan for after high school. There's also handling the death of a sibling. Though it's being compared to The Sun is Also a Star it's more than just a romance in a day story.

                                           

A Deadly Inside Scoop

Sometimes we just want a book as sweet as that double scoop of caramel corn ice cream. And this culinary cozy mystery is fun and fresh. Browyn and her friends are true amateurs as they put the detective skills they learned from TV to work to clear her family name and help her newly opened ice cream shop thrive. 

 

Vanity, Vengeance and a Weekend In Vegas: A Sophie Katz Mystery 

After discovering that her super-sexy Russian PI boyfriend is secretly married to a mob boss's daughter Sophie and her friends head to Vegas for a weekend at a sex toy trade show. But trouble seems to follow Sophie wherever she goes and this weekend is no exception.

If I Don't Have You

An Afro-Brazilian filmmaker and a Black British journalist are thrown together for a series of interviews and sparks fly.  If you're looking for Women's fiction with a touch of Black romance check this out.

The Girl with the Hazel Eyes by Callie Browning

I picked this up during the month of June because the cover had been catching my eye for about a year now. And it's always nice to read about the Caribbean experience from someone straight from the islands.  

Lia has traveled from Barbados to the US for the first time to write the memoir of the infamous Susan Taylor. She's not a known writer but Susan sees something in her that she deems worthy of telling her story the correct way. It was very interesting the way some parts would flash back to the Barbados in the 1960s. 

Susan Taylor lived in a much different time then now when women were expected to birth babies, cook, and clean all day. Her father didn't even want to pay for her to go to school as she started to get older because he believed her place was in the kitchen and she didn't need to go to school for that. She has aspirations bigger than most women in her village and her light skin and light eyes give her an advantage. Her mother is her biggest advocate and puts away money quitely to save up for her schooling. 

Much of this story takes place around the time when Barbados was moving towards independence and Susan gets involved with a man name Winslow after taking a secretary job. She's acts like what we'd call in 2020 a pick-me.  She plays housekeeper cleaning and cooking for his business meetings. She and his assistant who he also sleeps with engage in petty games for his affections.  She's so sprung off the sex she throws self esteem out the window. And then she convinces herself she will become first lady by playing the role of wife for him. So many times I wanted to slap her but I had to remember the role women had during that time and how some women still are today. 

I do wish we would've gotten a little more into Lia's life in Barbados. We did receive her POV but it was in relation to Susan mainly. I wanted to know more about who Lia was and what she went through and how it compared to Susan's life. There was a twist interesting twist included which I did end up guessing but still left me satisfied.

It's a slow starter but once you get into this story it really captures you. It touches on poverty, race, class, mental illness and colorism in Barbados during that 60s. 

Interview with Author Alexandra Sheppard

Hey Booklovers,

I'm back with another interview. This time with the lovely Alexandra Sheppard who is a UK author. I reviewed her book Oh My Gods on my blog back in January. It's a fun read especially for younger teens looking for a light read.

What was the inspiration behind Oh My Gods? It felt so much like the books I read when I was younger. It reminded me of the Mates and Dates series a little bit. 

It’s funny you should say that - OMGs was definitely inspired by the angsty teen diaries I read obsessively as a teenager. Books like Princess Diaries and Angus, Thongs & Full-frontal Snogging had a huge impression on me growing up, so it’s no surprise that they colour my writing now. 

But it was after watching an old musical called Down To Earth that the idea for OMGs came to me. It’s a movie starring Rita Hayworth about a Greek muse who masquerades as a dancer in a Broadway musical and ends up falling in love with a mortal man. The movie itself isn’t anything special, but that’s when the idea of Greek gods on earth occurred to me. 

I love that you have a Black girl with curly hair on the cover. Did you have any specific requests for what the cover should look like?

Thank you. I love the cover too! I’m so grateful to Liam Drane and Paul Oakley for doing such a brilliant job. The bold and bright illustrated approach is entirely down to them.

My only feedback came after seeing an early draft - the hairstyle was quite loosely curled, which isn’t how Helen’s hair is described. So I sent a mood board of hairstyles and textures to give the designers some direction. 

I love how this story addresses Helen being a half lifer. Was that inspired by your interracial heritage? Did you ever feel a pressure to write Helen a certain way since the character is half British-Jamaican? 

I never set out to mirror my mixed-race identity with Helen’s half-mortal heritage...but it does make for a neat metaphor! So, while it wasn’t initially inspired by my heritage (at least not consciously), there are parallels.

When I wrote Helen’s character, I wanted to explore her feelings of alienation and loneliness as the only half-mortal in a family of gods. Yes, Helen is the only one without powers or immortal life. But she’s also the only Black girl in a mostly white family. That adds another dimension to Helen’s experience. 

Since Helen is the normal one in a family of magical beings, did you find it hard to balance the fantastical elements with her normal school life?

Yes, simply because I find it easier to write scenes depicting ‘normal’ life than I do fantasy scenes. And as you say, I also had to strike the right balance between the two. I never set out to write a fantasy book - the world of OMGs is very similar to our own. I had to decide how much magical mayhem it would take to really make Helen’s life tough!

How would Helen and her family handle the current pandemic? And how would she deal with the protests?

You know, I’ve been thinking about this! I think Helen would be having regular Zoom calls with her besties to avoid losing her mind about being cooped up. Because, of course, Zeus would go way over the top in trying to keep her safe from the virus (I’m thinking a magical force field around the house…). 

Apollo and Aphrodite would be incredibly bored, desperate for shops, salons and bars to open. They probably wouldn’t see what the fuss was about (they’ve lived through the bubonic plague, after all).

I think the BLM protests would raise some difficult conversations in their household, however, Helen would have an ally in the form of Eros. He would definitely be supporting the BLM protesters in Helen’s place - maybe handing out vegan snacks and bottles of water on the streets.

What has your experience been like doing school visits? 

I love them! I’ve traveled to schools all over the country, and while no two school visits are the same, there are many similarities. The students are nearly always engaged, keen to talk about Greek mythology and get involved with the creative writing tasks. There’s always one or two students that ask cheeky questions (“Miss, are you rich? How old are you? What car do you drive?”) but I don’t mind those.

The most rewarding visits are in those schools where an author visit is rare - I’m sometimes the first author these students have ever met. They are fascinated and excited, and some of them even leave the session feeling like they now want to be authors. 

God bless the librarians and teachers who work so hard to make school visits successful - enthusiastic staff make a huge difference.

Are there any books by Black British authors on your TBR?

A few! I’m really looking forward to reading If I Don’t Have You by Sareeta Domingo, Grown by Melissa Cummings-Quarry and Natalie Carter, Love In Colour by Bolu Babalola, Witches Steeped In Gold by Ciannon Smart, Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and All My Lies Are True by Dorothy Koomson. 

Do you have any works in progress you can currently discuss?

I’m working on my second YA novel but I can’t say more than that at this stage! I will say that this story touches on many themes/topics close to my heart such as sisterhood, gentrification, magic, inheritance and Jamaican food. 

What are your favorite Jamaican dishes?

Curry goat is my all-time favourite dish - it’s the meal I always ask my mum to prepare for my birthday. Closely followed by saltfish fritters, jerk chicken, festival and rum punch. 

If you weren’t a writer what job would you be doing?

I was a social media manager for ten years before my novel was published, so I’d probably still be doing that and working in advertising. I definitely prefer writing.

A Sweet Mess by Jayci Lee

Welcome Back, Booklovers!

Finished two books this week and I'm on to the next one. I love a light-hearted contemporary romance and I've never read one with Korean-American leads so that intrigued me. I received an arc from St. Martin's Press and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. And one of the main characters being a baker made me hope for lots of descriptions of sweet desserts I can't eat.

Aubrey runs a bakery in a small town called Weldon. She's coming off a rough day which included rushing to re-bake a specialty cake because her teen worker accidentally sold it as the special. She meets a sexy stranger at her friend's brewpub and has a one-night stand. Fastfoward to her finding out that one-night stand was food critic Landon Kim and he was also the customer who ate the specialty cake. And because the specialty cake had unusual fillings and texture in it he writes and snarky and scathing review.  The review negatively impacts her business to the point where she fears she must close her doors.

Landon cares more about himself and how it would negatively impact his career and go against his rule about giving places a second chance. Feeling guilty after hearing the full story and trying one of her amazing desserts he approaches her with a business proposal. He and his friend who is a famed chef are working on a cooking show and participating would be a great way for her to earn money and recognition for her bakery.

The descriptions of sweets I can't eat were definitely satisfying. Cookies, cakes, sweet buns, bread puddings, pies and macerated strawberries!  And then Landon being both a food critic and a trained chef could appreciate a meal. I could go for some pad thai and tamarind shrimp right about now. 

In the begging it was really good. The story balanced just the right amount of sexual tension as they fought the urge to be together amid forced proximity at a villa in wine country. 

I didn't like the way the narrative would abruptly switch from Aubrey to  Landon mid page. It was jarring almost every time it happened.

Landon and Aubrey are both broken people working through past family trauma. I felt like we got to explore Aubrey's a little more throughout the book though while Landon's was touched upon quickly towards the end. 

Also the tv cooking show aspect could've been better used. It never expanded outside of a reason to keep these two up under each other and could've provided the opportunity for some fun scenes. I didn't even understand how to competition worked. 

And then Aubrey got a little more emotional during the last 3rd of the book and it was seriously getting on my nerves. I understood why she felt the way she felt but the  story really dialed up the drama in a way that was unneeded and left the book ending on an overly-angtsy note.

Interview with Author Tanzania Glover

Welcome Back Booklovers. So I wanted to introduce you all to another self published Black author writing books on her own terms.

What inspired you to start self-publishing?

Okay please try not to judge me too harshly, but I wrote B2K fanfiction from the time I was a preteen up until I went to college. I always dreamed of getting traditionally published, but my stories went on the backburner when my course load became too heavy. About a year after I left college, I randomly got back into writing so I started researching if there was a way to do it on my own. Once I saw that there was a whole self-publishing community I started working on my debut novel Music To My Ears and the rest was history.

Did you seek out traditional publishing first? And would you be interested in traditional publishing in the future?

I actually didn’t because I’ve always known that my writing style and subject matter is unconventional in the sense that it’s not what the publishing world is looking for in black female characters. And since I’m not willing to write according to trends or write black trauma in a way that’s palatable for nonblack audiences, I didn’t even consider going that route when I returned to writing in 2013. I honestly don’t ever want to be traditionally published because for me that means giving up all the freedoms that make writing fun for me. I couldn’t imagine completing a novel today but having to wait a year and a half before my readers got to experience it with me. I’m also a bit of a control freak so even though I sometimes complain about having to do everything myself, I wouldn’t change a thing because whether I fail or succeed I know that it was all because of me and not my publisher dropping the ball. But lately I have been looking into potentially getting an agent since they do most of the footwork for getting books turned into film and television shows which is the next thing on my checklist.

What is your writing process like?

Well I’m a Plotter which means that I have to heavily research and outline to know exactly where the story is going before I begin seriously writing. I’m always open to new ideas that come up, but if I don’t generally know what happens next then I can’t really get anywhere. As far as my writing space goes, I like writing on the floor and I need low background music along with white noise to help get me in the mood otherwise I’ll just stare at the screen and nothing will get done. And even though my books cover pretty heavy topics I make sure to write with levity to keep both my readers and myself laughing as much as possible because black women are so much more than just our pasts and our pain.

What has the marketing process been like when trying to sell new books?

When it comes to new authors I consider myself one of the lucky ones because even though I’m still figuring out social media ads and establishing my author brand, there are so many black book blogs, groups and websites that have shared my work from the very first release. And word of mouth is so pivotal to the success I’ve had thus far because nearly every new reader that I meet is a friend or relative of a reader that I’m already familiar with. I’ve found that just being myself and always giving my readers space to speak has helped me far more than ads do. As a black woman I know exactly what it feels like to not be heard so when a reader writes me in private or on social media to discuss my books I always make time to hear them out because little gestures like that can go incredibly far.

What made you decide on novellas vs full length novellas?

Well the first book in my Soundtrack Series, Music To My Ears, was a little more than 270K words/530 pages and it took nearly five years to write. The second book in that series, The Beat Goes On, was about half of that and it took one year to complete. Although I love both books and I wouldn’t change a thing about them, I decided that going forward to release at least three books per year which meant that I would have to switch to the novella format and that’s how The Faded Fairytales Series came to be even though they are technically too long to be considered novellas. Also as much as I enjoy writing longer books, when I’m reading even I enjoy a quick and fun read so it was a no-brainer to give my readers the same experience that I prefer.

Have you been able to find a community of authors?

Yes from the very beginning when I was still trying to figure out the ins and outs of marketing and covers and formatting, I was lucky enough to be warmly welcomed into what we call “Black indie romance Twitter”. It’s a beautiful community of black women authors who support and celebrate each other’s work and wins as a win for the entire black romance book community. I’ve met so many talented authors, some who I speak to daily and plan to work with in the future, and I’m so thankful that I get to be a part of such a dope group of black women.

What made you start your Faded Fairytales series?

With this series I wanted to give black women the fairytales that we missed out on as girls because so often we were told that Happily Ever After wasn’t for us. In Thickerella I decided to go further than just simply putting in a plus sized heroine. I explored black mother/daughter relationships and family dynamics when it comes to raising daughters but loving sons. In Sleeping Cutie I told a story about how difficult it can be navigating the world as a disabled black woman and the complications that can arise during relationships and dating. In Trapunzel I will take a look at a black adoptee who is searching for her birth parents while still trying to honor the family that she was adopted into while also being unapologetic about how she wants to live her life.

Who are your favorite Black romance writers?

My favorite Black romance writer of all time is Terry McMillan. Her work has reached millions and she’s checked off just about every goal I have as a writer. I grew up seeing her books lying around the house and the women in my family always celebrated the on-screen adaptations like Waiting To Exhale and How Stella Got Her Groove Back. But my favorite book of all time is Cheaters by Eric Jerome Dickey. Every time I read it I find something new to love and it just feels like I’m catching up with old friends because the characters and themes are so timeless.

Has the current pandemic situation and people’s need for Black books given an increase in readership?

I’ve definitely noticed an uptick in book sales in the last few months and I attribute it to people having more time to read and needing an escape from all the madness in the world. I always kid around and say that books are for those of us who can’t afford vacations, but I’m especially glad in times like these that I’ve been able to give my readers a much needed mental vacation with my back catalog.

Are you working on any new books?

Yes! I’m currently working on the final books in The Faded Fairytales Series and The Soundtrack Series. I’ve also just began working on a 90’s themed anthology series called 90’s Kinda Love with four other amazingly talented authors Tia Love (Afrodisiac), Sam Strahan (The Never List), Elle Jaye (The Ex Chronicles) and Black Cherrie (Quickies). The anthology will be available on Amazon in September.

Interview with Author Alexis Henderson

Welcome Back Booklovers! I'm back with another interview with a debut author. Her book The Year of the Witching comes highly recommended by Rena Barron, another author who's debut was among my favorite reads of 2019. And it's occult fiction/ horror which is a genre I don't usually explore.

 

What has your experience been like debuting during a pandemic and one of the largest global racial movements we’ve ever seen? It’s been a bit of a whirlwind honestly. Promotion especially has been difficult because I’m so distracted by everything that’s going on in the world, and I’m always concerned about detracting from the important discussions that are occurring. That said, I think there’s something profound and humbling about debuting at such a critical moment in history.

 

You grew up in Savannah, Georgia and have since relocated to Charleston, South Carolina. What has it been like living in those places and how has it inspired your writing? Growing up in the South was an interesting and, at times, challenging experience. In this area, history is present in such a visceral way, and I think that certain, dark parts of its past certainly inspired elements of my story. That said, the biggest source of inspiration has definitely come from southern folklore. Savannah, Georgia is one of America’s most haunted cities, and so I don’t think it’s any coincidence that my book is rife with ghosts, witches, and other eerie elements. 

 

In your own words what is The Year of the Witching about? The Year of the Witching follows Immanuelle Moore on her quest to defeat a coven of witches who have cast a powerful curse upon her home, a theocratic settlement called Bethel. But her in her plight to defeat the coven, Immanuelle uncovers dark secrets about the Church and Prophet that she serves.

 

In many Black communities there’s a stigma against witchcraft and a strong tight knit Christian community. What drew you towards witchcraft? Much like my main character, Immanuelle Moore, I think I was drawn toward witchcraft because of the stigma surrounding it. That said, witchcraft is a beautiful practice rife with history and diversity. While the magic system in The Year of the Witching isn’t based on any specific real-world faith, I was very inspired by the plight of those whose practices are deemed dangerous or evil by larger, more powerful, religious institutions.

Were there any Black narratives that influenced The Year of the Witching? The work of N.K. Jemisin is a constant source of inspiration to me. I’m always striving to be as creative and ambitious as she is with her craft. 

 

 If Year of the Witching became a movie who would you fancast? I think Yara Shahidi or Zendaya would make a great Immanuelle. I’m a huge fan of Timothée Chalamet, so I’d fancast him as Ezra. I think Jared Harris or Michael Shannon would be great in the role of the Prophet. I’ve always thought that Julia Garner would be amazing as Leah.

 

As Black author have you ever felt pressure to write a certain type of book? Definitely! I think there’s a lot of pressure on Black authors to write books that explore themes like racism or oppression. While I do touch on those topics in The Year of the Witching, I think Black authors should be free to explore stories that don’t focus on those themes. 

 

What drew you to YA and are you interested in writing any adult fantasies? The Year of the Witching is actually an adult fantasy, with YA crossover potential. I’m not sure that anything specific drew me to YA or adult fantasy. I think I just like good stories, and I tend to gravitate toward the spaces where I find them.

 

What is your writing process like? My writing process changes with every book. But lately, I come up with a loose outline, and I attempt to “connect the dots” by filling in the empty spaces between major plot points.

 

What are some of your favorite books written by Black authors? The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin, Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron, the anthology A Phoenix First Must Burn edited by Patrice Caldwell, Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, and Mama Day by Gloria Naylor.

Is there any advice you would give to an inspiring author? Finish what you start! I often see aspiring authors who frequently abandoned projects and are always distracted by the thrall of the shiny new thing. But it’s important to remember that you can’t learn to write books if you never finish the ones you begin.

Do you have any other works in progress? I have several! But right now, most of my energy is devoted to finishing the sequel of The Year of the Witching.

When you're not writing what are your hobbies? I like to paint, read (of course), and garden!

The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert

Welcome Back, Booklovers!

I didn't read as much as I wanted to this past week but I was determined to finish The Voting Booth before it published. I received an arc from Disney Book Group in exchange for an  honest review and I was excited because this was one of my most anticipated YA releases of 2020 and it did not disappoint. 

This is one of those romance in a day type books that is being compared to The Sun is Also a Star. Love in a day usually doesn't vibe with me whether it's in books or movies but this one was different. It didn't feel forced. Marva and Duke had a really naturally chemistry and despite having just met felt like old friends.

This book also touched on a lot of very relevant topics in addition to the importance of voting as Marva and Duke rush from polling place to polling place to help him cast his vote. Marva and her family celebrate Juneteenth every year.  I was only introduced to Juneteenth 7 yrs ago and I've never been to a big celebration so I'm by no means an expert. But I did notice how many business jumped on the Juneteenth train this year including my own job. And I notice white people spreading a lot of false info about this holiday they just discovered. Marva recalls having to explain to her white boyfriend Alec that Fourth of July is not a big deal to her family because when the Declaration of Independence was signed her people were not free. How many times we gotta tell white folks that blue and green folks don't exist so stop using random colors as a defense? 

Duke is biracial. And I thought that was addressed very well. It showed that like many biracial people he often feels like he doesn't fit in with one side or another. He can sometimes get on the defense over certain jokes because his mother is white and it feels like a slight against her. He feels the need to point out that his mother is not one of those white women who has mixed kids without raising them to know anything about Blackness.

Duke is also struggling because he lost his older brother to gun violence and his brother Julian was a big activist in his community specially fighting against gun violence. His death tore his whole family apart and he feels a pressure to compare to him. Specifically when it comes to voting his Ma reminds him of all his brother fought for.

Marva is a Black girl that reminds me a little bit of myself. I too was a Black girl who spent high school surrounded by white kids who just didn't get it. Unlike me though she's very driven and a lot more active.  She's known what she's wanted to do in life for awhile and has her academic career well planned out. 

I thought this was very well written and I'm hoping it can give perspective to some new voters in the midst of election season. Though it may not seem like your voice is always heard it's important to stand up and fight for change versus sitting back silent. And I've said it prior to reading and I'll set it again that this is the type of content Disney should be adapting and bringing to Disney Plus. 

Interview with Author Brandy Colbert

Hey Booklovers,

I can't believe we're in July already. June was a busy month for reading and blogging. My most productive month this year. I'm very happy to bring you all another interview from my author interview series. If you aren't familiar with Brandy Colbert then you should get familiar. She's been featured in a number of YA anthologies in addition to her standalone contemporary books.

What inspired you to become a writer? 

I’ve always loved stories and reading. From a young age, my parents took me to the library and bookstores, where I browsed the stacks and shelves and loved getting lost in other worlds. I realized as a young child that I had stories I wanted to tell, too. I started writing at the age of seven and never stopped.

I remember your debut story Pointe receiving a lot of acclaim during a time when there were far less Black books in the mainstream. What was that experience like?

I’m so proud of that book, and am pleased with how much it resonated with people. I was surprised that the story I’d had in my head for years was actually published and available to read, and that some people liked the story and sympathized with the characters. At the same time, there were so few children’s/YA books being published by Black authors then, and I believe a lot of the discussions we’re having today apply to my book back then. I do believe it could have reached a broader audience if there had been more support for Black stories and Black writers. Even today, a lot of readers don’t realize that Little & Lion wasn’t my debut.

Had to post the original cover of Pointe for those of us who read it back in 2014

And to piggyback off that question. What challenges have you faced in the industry as a Black author?

Just like many, many aspects of being Black, my career is shaped by an institutionally racist system. Black authors routinely receive less marketing, bear complaints of characters and stories not being “relatable,” and have to work ten times as hard just to get the same respect and attention as our white colleagues. Black authors must also deal with gatekeepers who believe one narrative is more valuable than another; for instance, books dealing heavily with Black pain are often boosted over books featuring Black joy. Even with the current movement, the first instinct many people had was to recommend kids read books about police brutality, civil rights struggles, etc. Of course these books are valuable and always deserve a place on the shelf because they are dealing with important issues. And some of my books deal with these issues, too. But readers shouldn’t have to witness a character experiencing racist violence or pain to empathize with Black people, and to consistently push this narrative is harmful to everyone.

What was it like writing for the Middle Grade audience vs the Young Adult audience with The Only Black Girls in Town?

I loved writing for middle grade readers! There is something so cozy and sweet about that age, though kids are certainly no stranger to pain and suffering, just like any other age group. I liked focusing more on friendships and family than romance and adolescent issues, and it was nice to get back into the head of a twelve-year-old. Everything is big and new when you’re a teenager, but it is so big and so new when you’re twelve, and I enjoyed trying to capture those moments on the page.

How is your upcoming book The Voting Booth different from your other work?

Stylistically, it’s a book set in one day, it’s told from dual points of view, and one of those points of view is a teenage boy, all of which was new to me. It’s technically a romcom, which I’ve also never written, and while it still deals with serious issues, I think it’s a bit more cheerful overall than most of my other YA novels.

Which one of your stories would you love to see made into a movie or series?

Truly any of them!

You’ve written stories for multiple YA anthologies. How is it different writing to fit a specific collection of stories?

I’m still surprised I’ve written so many short stories, as it’s such a difficult art form, and it takes a while to get into that rhythm. I like having a specific goal to write toward (such as writing about a witch, or a love triangle, or a story set during summer), but still having a lot of freedom to create worlds within those parameters. I still have a lot to learn with short stories, and hope to continue flexing that muscle.

Which 2020 book releases have been your favorite reads so far?

I’ve really enjoyed The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed, Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson, In the Role of Brie Hutchens by Nicole Melleby, Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold, and Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed.

You are also on faculty for Hamline University. What has your experience teaching been like?

It’s been wonderful! I never expected to be a teacher, so it’s challenging in some ways, but also incredibly rewarding. I love getting to work with such a brilliant, kind, and supportive faculty, and also such talented writers honing their craft and coming into their voice.

Do you have any works in progress and if so can you tell us what you’re working on?

I have several things in the works, which I’ll hopefully get to share more about soon! One project I can talk about right now is the nonfiction YA book I’m working on about the Tulsa race massacre, which was recently announced. It will be released next year, which is the 100th anniversary of the tragedy, and while the subject matter is quite harrowing, like me, a lot of Americans were never taught about this in school, so I’m grateful and honored to be able to tell this story for young readers.