Sincerely Sicily by Tamika Burgess

Welcome Back, Booklovers! 2023 is almost here! New books will be dropping on Jan 3rd and I don't want any to get lost in the holiday shuffle. I thank Tamika Burgess for sending me a copy of Sincerely Sicily because I'm loving seeing all the Afro-Latinx rep from various authors and this was one I was really looking forward to reading.

Sicily starts a new middle school and is having a hard time because none of her best friends are at this school with her. When he meets a old friend things are finally starting to look up but then her teacher assigns her a project about her heritage. Sicily thinks it will be easy. She's Panamanian and has visited the country a few times so she knows exactly what to say. However when students bombard her with question about how she can be Black and Panamanian she freezes and her presentation turns into a mess. Her identity struggles don't end at school either. At home Abuela is giving her a hard time about her hair and constantly making comments about her braids. Sicily has to learn how to use her gift as her Abuelo always put it and speak up.

One thing that's nice about this story is that there's a lot going on and it doesn't narrow in on one particular issue. Sicily is dealing with everything that comes with middle school including new friends and a first crush. She likes to write and she wants to write for the school newspaper but Erin Masterson is giving her a hard time. 

She learns more about her Panamanian heritage here but I like that it's not written in a heavy handed way. She's doing research so she learns different facts about Black culture and history in Panama everything from the West Indians who worked on the canal to the origins of Reggaetón.  

I really liked how the relationship with her family is written here. She and Abuela were very close prior to Abuelo dying but they become distant after Abuela continuous makes comments calling Sicily's hair bad. But I also loved how the book never shies away from her mother's non nonsense attitude and own conflict with Abuela. It felt very realistic as someone who has been in a similar situation.

There was so much depth here with all the different plots going on and Tamika Burgess takes the time to follow through with a satisfying ending. Overall I think this is a very strong middle grade sure to hold readers attention. 

Someone Had to Do It by Amber and Danielle Brown

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I've took a break from reading thrillers for awhile because I was feeling like they were all reading the same. It seemed like every Black thriller was a story about a Black person dealing with a secret society of racists plotting against them. So when HarperCollins offered me this one months ago it was refreshing to see one that was a little bit different.

Brandi is working at prestigious fashion house Simon Van Doren as a intern and is hoping to get an assistant position that includes the trip of a lifetime to accompany CEO and his team in Milan. Her boyfriend Nate used to go to school with the CEO's daughter Taylor and calls in a favor and get's them into one of his charity galas. At the party Brandi overhears Taylor and her friend's plotting to kill Simon Van Doren so she can inherit his fortune.

The authors Amber and Danielle Brown have both worked in fashion and you could tell from the scenes at the fashion house to the mentions of designer duds that they were knowledgeable. There was a period in the 2000s where NY Fashion set stories were very popular and we seem to be cycling back to that with a few upcoming titles. 

It took a little while for me to get into the story because there were way to many sex scenes. And I love a sex scene but these felt so unnecessary and didn't actually push the plot forward. I wouldn't cut all but maybe one of them and used that space to tighten up the mystery a little more and get to the action faster. Plus when they weren't having sex too many convos still turned sexual which was weird. 

While Brandi did annoy me with her naivety and stupid decisions I was still on the edge of my seat turning the pages to hope everything worked out for her. I thought it was ridiculous she caved to Taylor's 10k hush money bribe when that amount just barely covered her tuition with some money left over. Taylor was planning on coming into billions and she took such a small amount plus a couple of dresses and purses from Taylor's friends who she knew not to trust. And Nate was already offering to pay her tuition. And then she was shocked Taylor would actually follow through with the murder after paying her hush money. 

The plot was predictable and a little convenient. But it made for a quick read. Overall I do think Amber and Danielle have promise. If they were to write a sexy fashion set amateur sleuth mystery I would definitely read that. 

Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I wanted to squeeze in one more Christmas romance before December ended and Love in Winter Wonderland looked so cute because we rarely get Black YA romance set at Christmas. Two years ago when I decided to restart this blog I started by covering Love Secret Santa by SA Domingo(also known as Sareeta Domingo) which is also a UK YA. There's definitely a big gap that needs filling here so I was glad to see another entry.

Trey's family owns a bookshop called Wonderland. Sales have been down and his mother is strongly considering selling the shop. A disaster plan to earn money lands them further in debt with Trey scrambling for ideas to save the shop. Ariel is an artist who goes to his college and she needs a seasonal job to make some extra money for a special course. The two of them come up with ways to get the shop more attention and even catch the eye of celebrities like Rihanna. They start vibing but Trey has a longtime girlfriend Blair still in the picture.

Usually when I read books by Black British authors set in the UK the writing style is a little different and there's vernacular they use that I have to get used to. There were words sprinkled in here but it really felt no different than a US YA. Which was interesting because this was published strictly in the UK for a Black British audience. We didn't get any unique to their families or cultural traditions for Christmas. Which I would've liked to see. Most likely the characters have African or Caribbean roots but we never got a mention of that.

I did enjoy that each chapter started with a song from a playlist of Christmas songs by Black artists. And the setting was perfect with Christmas spirit in the air and plenty of mulled wine to go around.

The book starts off very cute and I enjoyed plot of them working together to save the book shop. Though this book was advertised as enemies to lovers they were never enemies or even rivals. They vaguely know each other from school and Trey is in his feeling about the shop and unnecessarily takes out his frustrations on Ariel. That's quickly cleared up!

I  thought that Trey and Ariel had nice chemistry and I would've liked to see them spend some more time together without his girlfriend being the elephant in the room. I could've done with Trey having a girlfriend for the first a few chapters or the first half at most but we were less than 100 pages until the end of the book when he finally broke up with Blair which broke up the momentum on the book.

His emotional cheating lessened the cuter moments in the book and cheapened when they eventually get together because as his parents told him he shouldn't be jumping from girl to girl. I feel like Bello tries to justify Trey's emotional cheating because his girlfriend is a bitch but that says more about him and why he was with her for so long. And he does things like forget his girlfriend's birthday, dance with other girl's at a party for her, and keep secrets from her.

At one point it felt like the drama was dragging out the ending even though there was so much going on with the bookshop, Ariel wanting to get into the art course, Trey getting over his fear of public singing, and Ariel dealing with the mean girls at school and her issues with her weight. More could've been focused on that versus the drama with Blair. Especially since Trey doesn't break up with her until she does something especially heinous.

Cute story overall I just found that the romance was overshadowed because Bello felt Trey needed a  girlfriend for drama and angst.

Breakup from Hell by Ann Dávila Cardinal

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Breakup from Hell intrigued me because it's a Latinx fantasy with a different premise. I received an arc from HarperCollins for review.

Mica lives in cold and snowy small town Vermont and she's desperate to move to sunny California for college. She's tired of her very religious grandmother's strict rules and she thinks she can be so much more outside of their town. One day during church she meets a mysterious newcomer and she quickly finds herself drawn to him. Mica soon discovers her new boyfriend is actually one of Satan's sons.

This book definitely felt very teen friendly which I appreciated because some YA books seem to be targeting a more adult audience. This was funny and poked fun at classic teen fantasy tropes. Mica also is a very sarcastic character and keeps that throughout even in scary situations.

I also liked the way it wove Christianity and the book of Revelation into the magic system. And Mica being Puerto Rican, religion is very tied into the culture. People may have mixed feelings about the portrayal of religion in this story but I thought it was very relatable from the teen perspective. It doesn't condemn or critique Catholicism. Mica felt like a girl I went to Catholic school with. Her grandmother reminded of some of the women I came across in church growing up.

I will say the pacing in this story is a little uneven. It starts out very fast-paced which I didn't mind because she doesn't waste time laying down the foundation for the story. Mica meets Sam and they quickly form a relationship which we find out he used his powers to draw her in so it makes sense why she fell so fast. Once we start getting things revealed the pacing slows down a lot. 

Overall it's a good lighter teen fantasy especially for those who don't read a lot of fantasy and things are left open for a series.

Never Cross a Highlander by Lisa Rayne

Welcome Back, Booklovers! While I'm not normally a historical romance reader when I saw a Black man on the cover I just couldn't resist. I've had this one on my tbr for over a year and I received an arc from Entangled Publishing.

Ailsa Connery is a freeborn biracial woman who was captured and enslaved at Sterling Castle. She's hoping to make her escape to reconnect with her clan during a tournament but her plans get thwarted when she's captured. Her capture is handsome highlander Kallum MacNeill who runs an Underground Railroad of sorts freeing enslaved people. While freeing servants in the palace he grabs her too so she doesn't ruin their plans for freedom. She decides to convince him to help her make her way back to her clan.

This is a slow burn romance and it did take a little time in the beginning for me to really get into the story. It felt like there was a lot of set up at first. It was also very wordy at some parts and lengthy for a romance. It did get better when I stuck with it. Kallum and Ailsa do have great chemistry that kept me engaged.

Ailsa did grate my nerves at times though. While I admired her independent spirit, her need to be a contrarian all the time also got them into trouble. Sometimes I needed her to just shut up and follow Kallum especially when it resulted in her life being in danger. I liked Kallum but I did want to know a little more about him. We did get some insight towards the end from his adopted family of sorts.

This isn't based off any real figures so Lisa Rayne images what life could've been like during that time for a Black highlander in an all white community. Fans of historical romance will appreciate all the familiar tropes sprinkled throughout. 

Counterfeit Courtship by Synithia Williams

Welcome Back, Booklovers! The 3rd book in the Heart and Soul series recently released and if you've been following me this year then it's no surprise to you it was on my must read list. I couldn't wait for Tyrone's story! And I'm thankful to have received a copy from Synithia Williams in exchange for an honest review.

Tyrone is the youngest of the Livingston brothers and he's working hard to make sure their ghost hunting reality show is a success. Tyrone has a reputation for being a player and it's effecting the show. The network is a family network so they need him to be in a stable relationship. After a photo scandal, he convinces makeup artist Kiera Fox to fake a relationship with him to better both of their careers.

I love that the seeds for this plot were planted in book one. I was ready to read Tyrone's story after the glimpses I saw of him in the previous books. I just knew it would be some mess! This was probably the only fake dating romance I read this year where the fake romance actually made sense. It's mutually beneficial to both of them to go along with the plan because it secures Kiera a job and secures Tyrone and his brothers a second season. Tyrone and Kiera had chemistry from the moment they met. And Kiera plays the role of the "perfect" girlfriend who is standing by her man despite what the haters say. Which makes Tyrone comfortable with the idea of making their relationship real.

I liked that Kiera still has some insecurities from her childhood when she used to have bad acne so makeup is her security blanket. And Tyrone being the youngest wants to prove himself. 

Overall it's a story that's definitely worth checking out especially if you've been following this series.

One Snowy Seduction by A.C. Arthur

Welcome Back, Booklovers! It is December which means the holiday season is upon us and I know everyone is in the mood for some Christmas romance. One Snowy Seduction is a part of the Baes of Christmas series of indie published Black Christmas romances.

Teesha has won the trip of a lifetime. She's always wanted to vacation in the French Alps and spend a holiday skiing. Kendrick has decided to get away from it all and has his assistant arrange a private getaway. Due to a mixup, Kendrick and Teesha end up sharing the same chalet. These former best friends end up reconnecting and one sizzling hookup leads to multiple.

If you're looking for a sexy quick read on a cold winter's night this one is worth picking up. Definitely one of my favorites I've read by this author. Teesha and Kendrick sizzled and snowy mountainside is the perfect winter escape. With a Christmas backdrop it's a nice warm up to get into the season.

Jump in by Shadra Strickland

Welcome Back Booklovers! I'm often looking for picture books for my nieces and nephews and when I find them I wanna share them with the world. So Bloomsbury sent me an arc of a new picture book that has officially been nephew approved.

Jump In! is a book that through beautiful illustrations highlights a community at play on a warm summer day. The kids are outside jumping rope like how my friends and I used to as a child. Even some of the elders in the neighborhood jump in to show off their moves! We need more picture books like this one where Black kids can just be.

A Valentine for Christmas by Reese Ryan

Welcome Back, Booklovers! If you've been reading WOC Read for awhile you've probably come across one of my Reese Ryan reviews. She's one of those authors I always keep an eye out for. And if your looking for something for the grown folks she delivers.

Chandra and Julian meet on a plane where Chandra is terrified and we get a very cute moment with him comforting her. Both are headed to the small town of Magnolia Lake to meet up with family members they haven't spent time with in awhile. After a couple of run ins the two decide that while they're both in town they might as well make the most of it.

This series is a spinoff of The Bourbon Brothers series where we followed the Abbott family. It was nice to see them make cameos in this book as we got introduced to their long lost cousins The Valentines. Abbott "Ray" Valentine has purchased and plans to renovate a vineyard originally owned by his family and he's attempting to get his children on board. And because it's our introduction to them we get a fair amount of the Valentine siblings in this story. Chandra is the eldest daughter who had to take on a mother figure role for them so they're all fiercely protective of her. Just like the Abbott family readers will fall in love and love to hate some of them. 

Chandra and Julian were more on the cusp of age gap then actual age gap. He's 30 years old and she's 39 years old. But the way a big deal was made out of it you'd think she was 49 years old. I understand what was attempting to be done with the age gap but they were too close in age. 

I also wanted some holiday spirit. Harlequin had Christmas in the title but Christmas only got a passing mention on page. This truly could've been set during any time of the year.

There was some conflict that came in towards the end where I wasn't really a fan of the execution because it was rushed. I think if it would started a little bit earlier it would've gone over smoother.

Overall Chandra and Julian's chemistry kept me reading. Reese Ryan is very good at writing grown and sexy and sexy characters. And I'm excited for Naya's book and hope it's next!

The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown

Welcome Back, Booklovers! For November I needed a book that was a change from my normal reads and I've been really trying to get into more sci-fi books and the blend of sci-horror along with the shorter length was enough to get me to pick up The Scourge Between Stars. Thanks you to Tor Nightfire for sending me an arc.

After failing to colonize another planet the remnants of that mission have been wandering through space with hopes of returning back to Earth. Starvation seems like their biggest threat until a mysterious alien species infiltrates their ship Calypso, and starts causing death and destruction. First mate Jacklyn must assume captain duties and figure out how to keep the rest of the ship alive.

I was beginning to wonder if I'm just not an SFF novella person because it's been awhile since I read once I enjoyed. However this pulled me in. It felt like a full length novel in the right way. It's an approachable sci-fi read with a set up that felt real. I think the author's background in astrophysics helped. It's a simple concept that's been done before but Ness Brown manages to hit the right levels of emotion while not solely relying on atmosphere to carry the story. And the ending leaves you with a sense of hope while leaving room for much more.

Interview with Author A.J. Locke

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I'm welcoming back author AJ Locke to WOC Read with some updates on her current and upcoming projects and some helpful writing advice.

Does it get easier writing a series after the first book where the world is set up or do you find it more challenging?

It’s a mix of both, to be honest. I love continuing a series when I’ve already done the heavy lifting establishing my characters and world building. It makes certain things easier because you get to build on things, you can still add new things, and it’s great to get back into the heads of characters you already know well. But it can also be challenging because you want to keep each book in the series fresh and interesting in its own way, you don’t want to repeat storylines, and you want to make sure you’re continuing to develop your characters and the ups and downs of their interpersonal relationships well. I enjoy writing series because it’s a lot of fun to keep expanding your world, deepening your lore, and giving your characters new challenges.

How do you decide if a new story idea is worth pursuing?

A lot of times I get interesting ideas and I might jot them down and make some notes, but the interest doesn’t always last. When something really takes hold to the point where I’m writing scenes in my head, I know it’s something I need to spend some time with. I’ll start figuring out characters and plot, and seeing if there is something there I can create an entire story around. I’m solidly “team plotter” these days, so if I’m able to take an idea all the way to an outline, that seals the deal.

I noticed you put little nods to Caribbean heritage in your stories. Would you ever write a full out Caribbean inspired fantasy?

I would absolutely love to. It’s always in the back of my head to write a fantasy novel set in Trinidad and Tobago. We have a lot of amazing folklore I would like to explore. I know the right idea is going to find me one day.

What can we expect from Magic Legendary, Magic Rogue?

Ooh, what I can say that’s not too spoilery! Well, we are going to see Penn grow into her magical power, which is something I’m excited about. We’ll get to see some of the magical elements from Magic Dark, Magic Divine on the page, as well as some new things. With the way MDMD ends, I think readers should expect the world around Penn to be a bit different, and that was a lot of fun for me to play with. There are also some interesting things going on with Callan, Toji, and Gideon that sets up challenges for them if the series continues. 

Why did you decide to try Kindle Vella?

It just kept coming back to me that I wanted to try it. I was intrigued by the idea of publishing a story in serial format. I thought it would be interesting to see what kind of audience my stories might reach. Can’t know until you try, right? So when I finally got an idea for a story I felt would work on that platform I took it as a sign that it was time to jump in.

When you post stories on Kindle Vella do you write the entire story ahead of time or do you start with some of it and write as you go along?

I write the entire story ahead of time. Even though I outline, my ideas always evolve as I write, so I might establish something in episode one that I change my mind about in episode ten, so if I’ve already published episode one, it would make it a very frustrating process for me. It works much better to complete the story, edit it, fix plot holes, incorporate new ideas, flesh scenes out, etc, before I publish.

Was this your first venture into self-publishing or have you self-published in the past?

This is my first solid venture into self-publishing. Self-publishing can be very daunting so I’m glad for a platform like Vella where you can put your story out there bit by bit.

Would you ever republish your Reanimation Files series?

Yes! There are four books in that series, and I hope to continue it, so I am going to get them back out there. I already had a new cover made for Affairs of the Dead that's really lovely. I was hoping to re-publish Affairs this year, but other projects took precedence, and before I put the books out again I want to give them a refresh. I wrote Affairs of the Dead about ten years ago, so there’s something to be said about reading it today and seeing ways I can bring the manuscript up to my current writing style. But I have realized that it is easier to write a new project than it is to revise an old one! So refreshing Affairs of the Dead has been slow going, but I have been working on it. I want to say I will definitely get it re-published in 2023. Fingers crossed. 

How do you balance working on multiple writing projects at once?

Only recently have I been able to work on multiple things at once without feeling overwhelmed, and that’s because I’ve gotten better with time management. It’s as simple as saying I’ll spend the first two weeks of the month on project A and the last two on project B and stick to that so I can make progress without feeling pulled in too many directions. If I’m on deadline for something it makes me feel as though that’s the project I have to focus on over others, but I’ve been able to work things out in a manageable way. 

Any other projects you want to talk about?

I am really excited about the book I just finished, which is an historical fantasy heavily inspired by Wuthering Heights. Hopefully that will be a project I can share good news about one day. I’m in the final stretch with Legendary/Rogue edits and that’s coming out in April. And I’m also publishing two stories on Vella, The Vanish Witch and Elemental Inferno, and I think I’ll be putting more work out on that platform in the coming months. 

Somebody That I Used to Know by Dana L Davis

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Honestly October was feeling kind of slumpy and I didn't end up reading much. But then I started reading this book on the second to last day of the month that renewed my fervor for reading.

Dylan lives in Iowa but yearns for the day she can leave her small town and move to New York. She knows Julliard is her destiny. It's the only school she applied to and if she practices violin hard enough she can nail that audition. What she doesn't expect is her childhood best friend turned R&B superstar, Legendary to come back into her life after years of ignoring her. Legend has gotten himself into some trouble and was placed under a conservatorship so he makes a deal with Dylan to grant her a place to stay for her Julliard audition if she helps him prove to his mother that he's still the same boy she used to know.

It was refreshing to read a story that felt like it was written for Black teens. While the Black girl was the only Black girl but it wasn't the gist of the entire story and time wasn't spent exploring her being the first or suffering through microaggressions on every page. When race was addressed it felt more for the Black girls who are growing up in very white environments vs trying to teach white readers something about race. Dylan is a transracial adoptee and the struggles with growing up with a family of a different race is so well done here. Her family loves her fiercely and she loves them but sometimes she feels out place when people stare at her when they're out together. Dylan wears colored contacts and extensions to fit in and she's struggling to feel pretty especially compared to the gorgeous Instagram models Legend surrounds himself with.

Dylan loves classical music. But her love of classical music isn't used to set her apart from the other girls. Instead she and Legend use their love of music to collaborate and create a very cool audition piece blending old styles with new. Readers follow along as they rekindle their friendship and discover new things about themselves. The romance in this book is slow- burn but well paced enough to keep you turning the pages. 

Set in Space TBR

Welcome Back, Booklovers! here's something about outer space that's intrigued me ever since I was a child. Growing up I was fascinated by promos for Space Camp, so many 90s and 00s videos being set in space, shows like Lloyd in Space, and of course the Zenon movies. After a visit to The Kennedy Space Center, space is on my mind more than ever. Sci-fi both fascinates and scares me with the sometimes complex language and explanations. So I'm trying to ease into space stories and work my way up rather than diving into confusion. I wanted to make a list of books set in space with Black characters that are on my TBR.

Disney Pixar Lightyear Izzy Hawthorne: Destiny Awaits

This middle grade novel is a sci-fi, space adventure following the events of the film from the unique perspective of one of Buzz's new friends.

Children of Stardust

Zero Adedji dreams of joining one of the Saba guilds―groups of intergalactic travelers who explore space, retrieve lost treasures, and hunt down criminals. Instead, he must scrape by as a guide to travelers stranded on his home planet of Anansi 12. Then he meets Wanderblatch, a strange creature with an even stranger object: a golden pyramid that houses a legendary Kobasticker called the Jupiter. When the Jupiter chooses Zero as its next host, he is recruited by a top Saba guild so he can harness his newfound powers.

But the stakes are rising, and Zero and his friends Camih and Ladi are tasked with recovering an artifact known as the Mask of the Shaman King, which can grant wishes at a terrible price. And they’re not the only ones on the hunt―Space Mafia head Rozan Leombre is desperate to use the Mask to break his family’s curse. The trio must use their wits, courage, and friendship to achieve their quest and protect the galaxy.

Blast Off (Abby in Orbit)

It's the first day of third grade, and Abby Baxter is determined not to make any mistakes. It’s a little trickier than it was last year, though, because Abby is starting school on the OASIS International Space Station, where her parents are scientists. Abby is so focused on getting used to microgravity, watching her little brother, Nico, and meeting her new classmates that she almost messes up Mami’s big experiment. Can she figure out how to make things right, or is she destined to be sent back to Earth?

Where It Rains in Color

Colonized by the descendants of Earth’s West African Dogon Tribe, the planet of Swazembi is a blazing, color-rich utopia and famous vacation center of the galaxy. No one is used to serious trouble in this idyllic, peace-loving world, least of all the Rare Indigo.

But Lileala’s perfect, pampered lifestyle is about to be shattered. The unthinkable happens and her glorious midnight skin becomes infected with a mysterious disease. Where her skin should glisten like diamonds mixed with coal, instead it scabs and scars. On top of that, she starts to hear voices in her head, and everything around her becomes confusing and frightening.

Lileala’s destiny, however, goes far beyond her beauty. While searching for a cure, she stumbles upon something much more valuable. A new power awakens inside her, and she realizes her whole life, and the galaxy with it, is about to change…

The Scourge Between Stars

As acting captain of the starship Calypso, Jacklyn Albright is responsible for keeping the last of humanity alive as they limp back to Earth from their forebears’ failed colony on a distant planet.

Faced with constant threats of starvation and destruction in the treacherous minefield of interstellar space, Jacklyn's crew has reached their breaking point. As unrest begins to spread throughout the ship’s Wards, a new threat emerges, picking off crew members in grim, bloody fashion.

Jacklyn and her team must hunt down the ship’s unknown intruder if they have any hope of making it back to their solar system alive.

Zombierella by Joseph Coelho

Zombierella is the first in the Fairytales Gone Bad series which is a three part twisted classics retelling series. 

Zombierella starts off much like the classic Cinderella with an invitation from the prince to the 3 day ball.  However while home cleaning the night of the ball, she slips down the stairs and dies! Death visits her and brings her back to life. Zombierella is whisked way in her mushroom carriage to the ball where she meets the Vampire Prince.

This was a fun way to retell a classic story with a creepier twist. I liked the illustrations throughout. I wasn't fan of the emphasis on the stepmother not being her biological mother and instead her fake mom. But I like how the author turned that around at the end. The illustrations throughout are great and I love the attention to detail on the textures of the girls hair. 

Interview with Author Janelle McCurdy

Welcome Back, Booklovers! You know I love chatting with authors on here. And I got to chat with Janelle McCurdy, a debut author who wrote the new middle grade fantasy series The Umbra Tales. And if you're a gamer make sure to check out her game reviews too!

I read that you started writing and querying at 16 years old. What inspired you to start your journey as an author so young? And was your family fully supportive of your decision?

I've always wanted to be an author, and nothing really inspired me to start early, I just knew at 16 I definitely wanted to be an author, so I just started working towards it. I worked part time, alongside going to school so I could afford to go to writers workshops and other events that would help me with my writing craft. It also helped me understand the process of becoming an author and what I needed to do to get there.

Thankfully, my family fully supported my career choice, which meant everything to me. My mum has been my rock throughout the whole process and I wouldn't have gotten to where I am today without her support. She’s been there throughout the ups and downs of this journey.

What inspired you to start writing The Umbra Tales series?

Two things actually inspired my Umbra Tales series.

The first and biggest one was through gaming, and the second came from my fascination with stars and the universe. I wanted to incorporate the things I loved together in one amazing book series, and so The Lightcasters was born and the trilogy began.

How do you keep all the facts straight about the world you’ve built in this series?

I have this thing called a Book Journal/Map, which is a huge document that has every single detail about my book world. It's like a digital scrapbook and makes it ten times easier for my editors and I to stay on top of things. I'd definitely be lost without it.

Have you gotten to see the reaction of Black British readers to your book?

Yes, and it's been amazing. I've gotten the chance to go to a few events so far and honestly it's been so much fun and so many children seem to enjoy my book. It really means a lot, especially when I hear so many children want to become authors too. I'm so excited for the new generation of Black British authors.

Is there a song that you think describes Mia?

Yes! "Barricades" by Hiroyuki Sawano, but Samuel Kim's "EPIC version". It's a song from Attack on Titan and captures the mood of Mia throughout my book. I've actually written a few scenes to this song too!

You describe yourself as a fully-fledged gamer. What are your favorite games? 

Some of my favourite games are Tekken, Resident Evil 7, Black Ops 2, Outlast, A Plague Tale: Innocence, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Tomb Raider: Legend, and of course all the Pokemon games.

Has your love of video games inspired your writing?

Definitely, especially for The Lightcasters. I wanted to write a book that could capture the essence and magic of gaming. I want my readers to love my characters like they would a character they play in a game. I want them to be invested in the journey and the adventure at the same time. A few games actually helped spark my original idea for The Lightcasters, such as Final Fantasy, Resident Evil 7, Tomb Raider and Pokémon.

Is there any IP you dream of writing for?

Yep! I'd LOVE to write for Tekken, Tomb Raider, Final Fantasy, Attack on Titan, Resident Evil (Especially about 7 and 8), Cyberpunk (Especially Edgerunners) and Doctor Who.  

If you could travel anywhere in the world to host a book event where would you have it held?

100% Japan. It's my favourite country, I love the culture, the food and the language. It would be a dream to host a book event there.

Are you working on anything new you’re able to/want to shout out? 

I'm currently working on Book 2 of the Umbra Tales series, which I'm really excited about!

I also write game reviews on my website too at Janellemccurdy.com!

Thank you so much for having me!

You can follow Janelle at @JanelleLMccurdy on Twitter and @janellemccurdyy on Instagram 

Books With Black Witches

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Because Halloween is fast approaching I wanted to post post some books with Black witches just in case you're looking for a last minute read.

Wildseed Witch

Hasani’s post-seventh-grade summer to-do list is pretty simple: get a bigger following for her makeup YouTube channel and figure out how to get her parents back together. What she does NOT expect is that an emotional outburst will spark a latent magical ability in her. Or that the magic will be strong enough to attract the attention of witches. Or that before she can say #BlackGirlMagic, she’ll be shipped off on a scholarship to a fancy finishing school for talented young ladies.

Les Belles Demoiselles is a literal charm school. Here, generations of young ladies from old-money witch families have learned to harness their magic, and alumnae grow to become some of the most powerful women across industries, including politicians, philanthropists, CEOs, entrepreneurs—and yes, even social media influencers. Needless to say, admission to the school is highly coveted, very exclusive . . . and Hasani sticks out like a weed in a rose bouquet.

While the other girls have always known they were destined to be witches, Hasani is a Wildseed––a stray witch from a family of non-witches, with no background knowledge, no way to control her magic, and a lot to catch up on. "Wildseed" may be an insult that the other girls throw at her, but Wildseeds are more powerful than they know. And Hasani will learn that there are ways to use magic and thrive that can never be taught in a classroom.

Bad Witch Burning

Katrell can talk to the dead. And she wishes it made more money. She's been able to support her unemployed mother--and Mom's deadbeat-boyfriend-of-the-week--so far, but it isn't enough. Money's still tight, and to complicate things, Katrell has started to draw attention. Not from this world--from beyond. And it comes with a warning: STOP or there will be consequences.

Katrell is willing to call the ghosts on their bluff; she has no choice. What do ghosts know of having sleep for dinner? But when her next summoning accidentally raises someone from the dead, Katrell realizes that a live body is worth a lot more than a dead apparition. And, warning or not, she has no intention of letting this lucrative new business go.

Only magic isn't free, and dark forces are coming to collect. Now Katrell faces a choice: resign herself to poverty, or confront the darkness before it's too late.

How to Succeed in Witchcraft

Shay Johnson has all the makings of a successful witch. As a junior at T.K. Anderson Magical Magnet School, she’s determined to win the Brockton Scholarship—her ticket into the university of her dreams. Her competition? Ana freaking Álvarez. The key to victory? Impressing Mr. B, drama teacher and head of the scholarship committee.

When Mr. B asks Shay to star in this year’s aggressively inclusive musical, she warily agrees, even though she’ll have to put up with Ana playing the other lead. But in rehearsals, Shay realizes Ana is . . . not the despicable witch she’d thought. Perhaps she could be a friend—or more. And Shay could use someone in her corner once she becomes the target of Mr. B’s unwanted attention. When Shay learns she’s not the first witch to experience his inappropriate behavior, she must decide if she’ll come forward. But how can she speak out when her future's on the line?

The Witchery

Haelsford, Florida, is a hellmouth. Or at least, that’s what Logan, a new witch struggling to control her powers, thinks when she arrives at Mesmortes Coven Academy. She is immediately taken under the wing of the infamous Red Three: Iris, a deathwitch, who wants nothing more than to break the town’s curse; Thalia, the talented greenwitch, on the run from her religious family and a past that still haunts her; and Jailah, one of the most extraordinary witches at the academy whose thirst for power may lead her down a dark path.

With the Haunting Season approaching, Wolves will soon rise from the swamp to kill, and the humans and witches must work together to survive the yearly onslaught. However, the history between humans and witches is long and bloodied, with the current truce hard-won and hanging in the balance. And this year, the stakes couldn’t be higher as two boys from Hammersmitt School prepare to make their first sacrifices to the witches in exchange for protection. But when students start turning up dead, Iris, Thalia, Jailah, and Logan realize they’ll have to harness their powers and stop the Wolves themselves. Yet old dangers lie in wait, and the cost to break the curse may be greater than any witch or human could ever know...

The Ravens

At first glance, the sisters of ultra-exclusive Kappa Rho Nu—the Ravens—seem like typical sorority girls. Ambitious, beautiful, and smart, they’re the most powerful girls on Westerly College’s Savannah, Georgia, campus.

But the Ravens aren’t just regular sorority girls. They’re witches.

Scarlett Winter has always known she’s a witch—and she’s determined to be the sorority’s president, just like her mother and sister before her. But if a painful secret from her past ever comes to light, she could lose absolutely everything . . .

Vivi Devereaux has no idea she’s a witch and she’s never lived in one place long enough to make a friend. So when she gets a coveted bid to pledge the Ravens, she vows to do whatever it takes to be part of the magical sisterhood. The only thing standing in her way is Scarlett, who doesn’t think Vivi is Ravens material.

But when a dark power rises on campus, the girls will have to put their rivalry aside to save their fellow sisters. Someone has discovered the Ravens’ secret. And that someone will do anything to see these witches burn . . .

Witchful Thinking

Lucinda Caraway loves living in Freya Grove, the mystic seaside town where charms, hexes, and magical beings of all kinds are the norm. She spends her days teaching high school history and her nights reading tea leaves and tending to her conjure garden. It’s a good life . . . but she can’t stop wishing for more.

Until one night, that wish turns into a spell, and suddenly Lucy can’t say no. Not to a public karaoke performance. Not to running a 10K. And, most alarmingly, not to her high school crush, Alexander Dwyer, who needs her help unjinxing his new house—which just happens to be right across the street from hers.

Alex has spent the last ten years traveling the world on adventures Lucy has only ever dreamed of, and he’s planning to leave again as soon as his house is safe to sell. But until Lucy can unhex herself, she and Alex are stuck together. And with so much magic in the air, maybe the next spell Lucy casts will be the one that convinces him to stay.

 

Hexes and Ohs

Rosalind Fletcher is a witch but that's not her only secret. Her one-of-a-kind wedding cakes are infused with a loving spell that produces long-lasting marriages where the men never stray, the women don't nag, and none of the blissful couples end up in divorce court.

What happens when a bewitched cake falls into the hands of the wrong person? Like her worst enemy Ace Benedict, who accidentally eats a sample meant for his clients? Well...all hormones break loose!

Surrendering to Ace's lustful appetites proves far easier than finding an antidote, for the conflicted low country witch with a sweet tooth for the blond tight end.

Can Rosalind alter the bewitching powers of a hundred-year old spell before things get out of hand? Will she let her conscience guide her to a remedy or will her heart lock them both in a sham?

The Conductors

Hetty Rhodes and her husband, Benjy, were Conductors on the Underground Railroad, ferrying dozens of slaves to freedom with daring, cunning, and magic that draws its power from the constellations. With the war over, those skills find new purpose as they solve mysteries and murders that white authorities would otherwise ignore.

In the heart of Philadelphia’s Seventh Ward, everyone knows that when there’s a strange death or magical curses causing trouble, Hetty and Benjy are the only ones that can solve the case. But when an old friend is murdered, their investigation stirs up a wasp nest of intrigue, lies, and long-buried secrets—and a mystery unlike anything they handled before. With a clever, cold-blooded killer on the prowl testing their magic and placing their lives at risk, Hetty and Benjy will discover how little they really know about their neighbors . . . and themselves.

Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking by Raquel V. Reyes

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I've been enjoying cozy mystery series this fall and I was excited to continue the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery Series. I am here for the mouthwatering food and the drama.

One of the things I like about this series is how it highlights how Caribbean culture is so interconnected through food. Whether the island speaks Spanish, English, or Kreyol they have so many staple vegetables that are the same throughout. Miriam being a food anthropologist is fascinated by the similar dishes and is quick to share the origins of some of them. Some recipes are included at the end but there are a few dishes I looked up to try and recreate as well.

I really enjoyed the girl squad she had surrounding herself that consisted of cousins, friends, and her sister-in-law. Especially now that's she's settled in since the move. Her son is in daycare, her relationship with Robert is stable again and her cooking series have really taken off. Her mother-in-law is still a pain especially when she puts her in charge of the woman's group gala. But she also has other family members around to keep her grounded. And I liked her Tia and the Santeria rituals as well as Miriam exploring other religions outside of Christianity. 

There were some parts where we got a little too much explanation on issues within the community such as colorism and anti-Blackness.

The mystery felt a little more complicated with so many power players involved. I definitely did not figure out everything. And I was a little scared for Miriam since the Russian mafia was entangled in this. She was moving extra reckless at some points. But this book did something different in that the inciting incident isn't out outright murder but an attempted murder.

While I would usually say you can read a cozy mystery series out of order this is one of the few times I insist you read book 1 first as it references events from that book including who the murderer was and their are parts that tie in.

Overall it was a good read. I cheered for Miriam standing her ground when it came to her awful mother-in-law, chastised her when she made stupid moves, but still rooted for the gala to go well.

Frizzy by Claribel Ortega and Rose Bousamra

Welcome Back, Booklovers! So Frizzy was put on my radar by Kiara Valdez over at First Second who edited this graphic novel.(In case you missed it I previously did an interview with her. Which you can check out here.)  I've been trying to read more graphic novels and comics because one of my favorite childhood series is a comic. And there's so many unique stories you can tell through this medium. So thanks to First Second/Macmillan for this finished copy.

Frizzy is the story of Marlene, a young Dominican girl with big curly hair. Her mother drags her to the salon every Sunday to "tame" her curls by blowing them out. But Marlene secrets hates the salon days and she hates how her family always compares her to her perfect cousin. She dreams of the day she can let her curls be free and forms and plan to copy a hairstyle from Youtube.

The artwork truly does the heavy lifting here. It immediately sets the tone. Having grown up in a very Catholic Caribbean household the pictures of Jesus on the walls in the house reminded me so much of my mother's house growing up. I especially got a laugh out of Judging Jesus.

A lot of us have gone through this experience. I remember my mother insisting my hair needed relaxers because I didn't know how to take care of it. It was supposed to make it easier to manage. I remember Dominicans girls from the cosmetology class offering to give me a blow out. The days I fried it with the flat iron only to try and make curls with the curling iron to give my flat lifeless curls some body. That cousin with the "good" hair who made you feel bad about yours.

I liked that the text pointed out that the anti-Blackness and push for straight hair as acceptable was something passed through generations. And I loved the full circle moment at the end which reminded me so much of my own natural hair journey. I only wish I had an auntie as cool as Tia Ruby to help me through the trial and error of finding products that work.

Interview with Author S.K. Ali

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I am back with another author interview! Today's interview is with the lovely S.K. Ali who's new book Love From Mecca to Medina releases October 18th, 2022.

What inspired you to start writing? And what is your favorite part of the process?

Falling in love with stories at an early age inspired me to try my hand at writing my own when I was in my tweens. My favorite part of the writing process is when all the pieces I envision for a story click into place. That’s when the craft of writing turns into the art of storytelling.   

In Love from Mecca to Medina we follow established characters Adam and Zayneb. Do you like getting to revisit characters and continue their love story? 

Yes, definitely! They are so distinct from each other that writing them allows me to feel like I’m writing two stories (which is something exciting for a writer who is always ready to move on to a fresh new project, even in the midst of finishing a book). And with Adam and Zayneb, I wanted to make sure that readers got closure on their love story. The first book, Love from A to Z, didn’t elaborate on this part and this was an opportunity for me to write the ever-after. 

Were you inspired by your own pilgrimage story?

Choosing to set this story in Mecca and Medina meant revisiting my own memories of visits to these cities, and the emotional experiences of my pilgrimages when I was young. It also meant researching, via YouTube and TikTok, what it’s like for young Muslims today to do the pilgrimage. And I found that the awe hasn’t changed. Like arriving in Mecca, and the feeling of first sighting the Kaaba, the site two billion of us around the globe turn toward when we pray, is mystical and feels otherworldly, and I tried my best to capture that through my words. 

Do you get nervous about the perception when writing a book so interconnected with your faith and culture?

It’s easy to feel self-conscious about this due to prevalent Islamophobia, which casts suspicion on someone writing positively about being Muslim, when the norm is to write the opposite. But I don’t succumb to this feeling because I recall reading so many books where faith, mainly the Christian one, was intrinsic to a character’s journey, whether it’s Little Women or Anne of Green Gables (and these stories are, to this day, adapted again and again for screen) and so many more, and no one bats an eyelash. And I love these books and others where characters got to be free with sharing their religious identities. Why should I get worried about perceptions when I’m doing the same thing these beloved authors did to be authentic to their characters? 

What genre do you love reading the most vs genre you love writing the most?

From when I was young, I’ve always loved reading (and watching!) mysteries and thrillers but I’ve yet to try to write one. I don’t know why it comes easier for me to write romance when I hardly read any. (I do watch rom-coms from time to time, though!)

Is there any type of author panel you’d love to be invited to speak on?

A panel on writing or other “authory” stuff! The sad truth is that marginalized authors rarely get to speak about the writing process or the craft of story building or anything else that communicates we’re professionals in this industry. We’re often asked to speak about our pain or identity issues or why we’re “grateful to be published”. And, to this I say, just let me be a plain ol’ author sometimes? And also believe that I didn’t “just” get published because of “diversity”? (I think I also know a thing or two about storytelling.)

What’s the best thing you’ve heard a reader say about any of your books?

This is a hard one to answer because I feel like they’re all the best things I’ve heard. I’m often moved to tears when I read notes from young people grateful to see themselves in stories. I cry because it’s such a simple act — to be witnessed to be human too — that they’re grateful for, and I wish there were more instances of such affirmations for all who feel othered. Yesterday, a high school sophomore shared with me that every time they need a bit of comfort in their day, they pick up Love from A to Z, and they immediately find it in the pages. Of course I teared up on hearing that. 

What advice would you give to upcoming writers?

Continuously learn the different writing processes of published authors (they’re captured in interviews all over the internet) and try different ones out; you’ll never know what works best for you until you try. And then, when you find a great one, don’t be afraid to try yet another one. Each will add to your repertoire of skills as a writer. 

Are there any upcoming writing projects you’re able to talk about?

I’m changing gears and working on a speculative fiction project next. That and an adult rom-com! 

You can follow S.K. Ali on Twitter @SajidahWrites, Instagram @skalibooks, Tik Tok @skalibooks.