In Conversation: Recent Episodes
Black & Bookish
Black & Bookish founder Antoinette Scully interviews Black authors and creators. Tune in to hear Antoinette talk with writers and creators from all backgrounds and genres about their inspirations, their work, and their experiences in the publishing industry. You’ll get to hear from children’s and middle-grade authors, fiction and non-fiction writers, and others with a passion for bookish culture in the African diaspora.
In addition to writing books for middle grades and young adult audiences, Jay is a composer with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and a professional musician living in Muncie, Indiana.
I’d like to issue a Content Warning for my listeners: This episode was recorded on April 16, 2021, on the heels of gun violence in Indianapolis and includes a discussion of gun violence and police violence against Black and Brown bodies.
In this episode, we cover several key topics including:
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Making time and space for healing
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How to navigate what to share and post on social media
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How the publishing industry monetizes Black pain
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Writing fiction that reflects the real world and celebrates Black joy
And lots more! So sit back and enjoy!
You can order Things We Couldn’t Say wherever books are sold and you can connect with Jay through his website and social media:
Connect with Jay Coles
https://www.jaycoleswrites.com/
https://twitter.com/mrjaycoles
https://www.instagram.com/mrjaycoles
Resources Mentioned in this Episode
Ball State University
Black Boy Joy edited by Kwame Mbalia, includes a story by Jay Coles
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
The Hate U Giveby Angie Thomas
Blackoutby Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon
Joy Revolution Books
Crystal on a mission to positively reshape the way children of color all over the world see themselves. Fed up with the lack of black children's books on the market, Crystal founded Goldest Karat Publishing in order to address the lack of diversity in children's literature.
In this episode, we cover several key topics including:
The importance of represensation for Black kids
The process of finding an illustrator whose work fits your vision as an author
Roadblocks in the publishing industry for kid lit authors
Our shared love of Dan Brown and Christopher Pike
And lots more! So sit back and enjoy!
Connect with Crystal Swain-Bates
https://www.crystalswainbates.com/
https://twitter.com/cswainbates
https://www.instagram.com/cswainbates/
https://www.facebook.com/cswainbates
Resources Mentioned in this Episode
Crystal’s author support Facebook Group: Six Figure Self-Publishing Secrets
Crystal’s course for aspiring authors: Self-Publish Like a Pro
And if you want more Black & Bookish news and resources, sign up for our monthly newsletter.
In this episode, we cover several key topics including:
How the co-authors’ backgrounds play into the story they wrote together. [4:06]
The intersection between literature, history, and culture. [10:21]
The process and love of writing for a middle grades audience. [29:22]
And lots more!
Connect with Kwame Mbalia
https://kwamembalia.com/
https://twitter.com/ksekoum
https://www.instagram.com/mbalia1/
Connect with Prince Joel Makonnen
https://princeyoel.com/
https://twitter.com/hihprinceyoel
https://www.instagram.com/princeyoel/
Resources Mentioned in this Episode
Eso Wan Books
Quail Ridge Books
Page 158
Flyleaf Books
Read With Me
The Regulator Bookshop
Politics and Prose
Busboys and Poets
Mahogany Books
Sankofa
Rofhiwa Books
And if you want more Black & Bookish news and resources, sign up for our monthly newsletter.