Your BIPOC Writing Coach

On episode 70 of the podcast, we’re finishing the Your Famous Author Era season. For the last three months, we’ve talked about how to promote your work, build an author platform, and find the fans who will buy, read and support your work over time. And now it’s time for me to wrap up and for YOU to make a plan to truly lean into Your Famous Author Era. During the episode, you’ll be reminded of four key takeaways from the season that will help you move forward with a manageable book marketing plan. You’ll also get a great tip from comedian Josh Johnson, and you’ll hear how I am putting all of these strategies into practice myself. Stick around to the end of the episode to hear what’s coming next on the Your BIPoC Writing Coach podcast. Lit Links to Learn More If you want to watch the What Now episode with Josh Johnson, you can do that here. But it is two hours long. Be warned. If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, visit the reed write and create website at REEDWriteandcreate.com. For literary inspiration and opportunities delivered right to your inbox, sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter Follow Lori on YouTube at LiteraryLori Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation via Buy Me A Coffee.

On episode 69, which is our final guest interview for the Your Famous Author Era season, my guest is Jen dePaula, a veteran in the book marketing space who is going to share her tips and strategies for long-term book marketing success that does not require selling your soul to the social media algorithms. Jenn is a marketing and social media expert who has been working with authors, musicians, and other creatives for over 24 years. She’s worked with every type of author - from New York Times best selling authors to self-publishing authors starting from scratch. Her zone of genius is helping overwhelmed fiction and nonfiction authors clearly and confidently market their books. During our conversation, Jenn and I talk about: When an author should start their book marketing plan. The three different phases of book marketing every author should know. How social media should be incorporated into your book marketing plans, and why it absolutely should NOT be the main component of your marketing efforts. How to hook your reader with emotional triggers. The three things every author should have to successfully market their book. LIT LINKS to Learn More For more information about Jen dePaula and her work, visit her website, where you’ll find information about her YouTube channel, podcast and all of her resources for Authors. If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, visit the reed write and create website at REEDWriteandcreate.com. For literary inspiration and opportunities delivered right to your inbox, sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter Follow Lori on YouTube at LiteraryLori Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation via Buy Me A Coffee.

THE DOORS TO THE REED, WRITE, & CREATE SANCTUARY ARE OFFICIALLY OPEN: NOV. 21 - 28, 2025. GET ON THE LIST TO GET AN APPLICATION. On episode 68, get ready to go behind the scenes of the world of book influencing. My guest is one of my favorite BIPOC book influencers, Jananie K. Velu, YouTube star and literary tastemaker. I invited Jananie on the show to share everything she’s learned from the influencing world about getting strangers to get excited about a book. Jananie has built a massive following of over 100,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel, “This Story Ain’t Over,” and she runs her own publishing imprint, Boundless Press, which is a part of the new start-up publishing company, Bindery Books. During our conversation, Jananie shares: How she built her audience of BIPoC book lovers. How she selects the books she’s going to feature on her social channels. How authors should approach influencers to get their books on their radar. How she runs her publishing imprint at Bindery Books and who should submit their work. Why stickers are part of her community building strategy. LIT LINKS to Learn More You can follow Jananie on YouTube, and across all of her social platforms at ThisStoryAin’tOver. You can also buy her bookish merch at her store This Story Ain’t Over.com. Jananie’s imprint Boundless Press is part of Bindery Books Some of Jananie’s Favorite BIPOC authors: Alexis Henderson Sylvia Moreno Garcia Olivie Blake Visit the website, to learn more about The Reed, Write, & Create Sanctuary, and add your name to the Tell Me More List to get an application. Remember doors to the Sanctuary are open from November 21 - 28, 2025. After that, they stay closed until May 2026. Stop waiting on your writing life. If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, visit the Reed, Write, & Create website at ReedWriteandcreate.com. For literary inspiration and opportunities delivered right to your inbox, sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter Follow Lori on YouTube at LiteraryLori Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation via Buy Me A Coffee.

On episode 67, get ready for a pep talk about the importance of community when it comes to stepping into your Famous Author Era. Tune in to learn: Why you need a community of fellow authors to really help you thrive and survive in your famous author era. The proven benefits of having a community to help you achieve your book promotion and audience building goals. How and where to find the perfect author community. The pitfalls of achieving literary success alone. LIT LINKS to LEARN MORE To learn more about Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, read this article. Review the episodes of the podcast featuring Robin Davis and Nadia Alexis to hear how these two debut authors successfully leaned into community when launching their books. To learn more about The Reed, Write, & Create Sanctuary, add your name to the Tell Me More List. Remember doors to the Sanctuary will open on November 21 - 28, 2025. After that, they stay closed until May 2026. If you want an application, you must be on the list. If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, visit the reed write and create website at REEDWriteandcreate.com. For literary inspiration and opportunities delivered right to your inbox, sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter Follow Lori on YouTube at LiteraryLori Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation via Buy Me A Coffee.

On episode 66, we're talking about how to use the power of community, connection, and conscious marketing to sell more books and have a more successful and satisfying career as an author. My guest on the show is Tamela J. Gordon. Tamela Gordon is a literary activist, the author of the critically acclaimed 2024 memoir, Hood Wellness, and she is an acquisitions editor at Row House Books. She is also a book critic, self-care coach, and performer. Online, she uses the handle, She Writes to Live to share her wisdom and advice for writers. This isn’t a conversation about algorithms and social media. Expensive publicists and bestseller lists aren’t part of the discussion. You are going to hear about a paradigm-shifting way to view book selling, book marketing, and finding the readers who will support you and read your books. Get ready to lean in and learn. Welcome to Your Famous Author Era. Lit Links to Learn More Follow Tamela Gordon at She Writes to Live on Instagram and Threads. Buy Tamela’s book, Hood Wellness at the Reed, Write, & Create bookshop. WE’RE OPENING THE DOORS TO The Sanctuary at the end of November. If you’ve been looking for a supportive writing community to join, and you are a BIPoC woman who takes your writing seriously, then make sure you’re on the Tell Me More Wait List so you’ll be the first to know when the applications go live. Inside The Sanctuary we provide everything writers need to succeed and thrive in their writing life. Check out the website for more details on all of the resources and activities we offer inside The Sanctuary. If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, check out the Reed, Write, & Create website at ReedWriteandCreate.com. For literary inspiration and opportunities delivered right to your inbox, sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter Follow Lori on YouTube at LiteraryLori Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation via Buy Me A Coffee.

On episode 65, I am giving you a pep talk about finding your 1000 true reader fans. This is a term that is often thrown about in entrepreneur spaces when it comes to sales and marketing, but it’s something authors need to think about as well. Therefore, in this episode we’re going to talk about: Why authors should be searching for fans not audiences or followers. How to figure out who your real fans are. Where to find your fans. How to nurture your fans once you find them. This isn’t going to be a theoretical pep talk. I’m sharing facts and figures from the publishing industry to support why having 1000 true reader fans would significantly move the needle on your career and longevity as an author. Grab a pencil and get ready to take notes. This is a good one. LINKS TO LEARN MORE If you want to start your own book club and/or find your readers online try: Fable: A Social App for readers The Storygraph: An alternative to Goodreads created by a Black woman. Bindery is a start-up publisher relying on author fandoms to drive publishing decisions. The Black British Book Festival recently announced their new partnership with Pan MacMillan. WE’RE OPENING THE DOORS TO The Sanctuary at the end of November. If you’ve been looking for a supportive writing community to join, and you are a BIPoC woman who takes your writing seriously, then make sure you’re on the Tell Me More Wait List so you’ll be the first to know when the applications go live. Inside The Sanctuary we provide everything writers need to succeed and thrive in their writing life. Check out the website for more details on what we offer. If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, check out the Reed, Write, & Create website at ReedWriteandCreate.com. For literary inspiration and opportunities delivered right to your inbox, sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter Follow Lori on YouTube at LiteraryLori Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation via Buy Me A Coffee.

On episode 64 of the podcast, you’re going to learn how to successfully strategize, plan and execute a book tour for your first (...second, or third) book that will set you on the road to literary success. My guest on the show, Nadia Alexis, is a poet and writer who created a launch plan and book tour that is still going strong ten months after her debut poetry collection hit the market in March 2025. Nadia Alexis is a poet, writer, and photographer born to Haitian immigrants in Harlem. She is the author of the hybrid poetry and photography collection Beyond the Watershed, which was a finalist for the Ghost Peach Press Prize. You don’t have to be a poet to use the ideas, resources and strategies Nadia shares during this exciting episode. But you do have to be willing to do the work if you want to see the unbelievable results Nadia has seen and continues to see, including getting a second print run on her book before the launch date, and finding her book in the most incredible places that even her publisher couldn’t believe. Press play, get ready to learn, and lean into your Famous Author Era. LIT LINKS FROM THE SHOW Check out Nadia’s comprehensive website ByNadiaAlexis.com Find Nadia on Instagram and Threads at NadiaLovestoCreate The Publicity Incubator Nadia attended is hosted by Poets & Writers. Author Patrice Gopo’s website was an inspiration for Nadia when making her own author website. DOORS ARE OPENING TO THE SANCTUARY AT THE END OF NOVEMBER 2025. Join the Tell Me More email list to be the first to know when we start taking new applicants to the most amazing private community for BIPoC women writers who take their writing seriously. If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, check out the Reed, Write, & Create website at ReedWriteandCreate.com. For literary inspiration and opportunities delivered right to your inbox, sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter Follow Lori on YouTube at LiteraryLori Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation via Buy Me A Coffee.

Statistically speaking, a book’s chance of making The New York Times bestseller list is less than one percent. But that’s the list most authors want to be on. Well, on today’s episode of the podcast, I’m going to offer a different, better measure for success. And this isn’t just my opinion, this is what agents, publishers and savvy authors know is true. The backlist is where you want to be if you want a long career as an author. Tune in to hear: Why it doesn’t make mathematical sense to aim for a bestseller's list. The difference between the front list and the backlist. The truth about how many authors actually earn out their advance. The lifetime financial benefits of being on a publisher’s backlist. LINKS to get LIT If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, check out the Reed, Write, & Create website at ReedWriteandCreate.com. For literary inspiration and opportunities delivered right to your inbox, sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter Join the Tell Me More email list to be the first to know when we start taking new applicants to the Reed, Write, & Create Sanctuary, our private membership community for BIPOC women who take their writing seriously. Follow Lori on YouTube at LiteraryLori Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation via Buy Me A Coffee.

On episode 62, we’re talking about how to launch a debut memoir in two different countries with journalist and author, Robin Allison Davis. Robin candidly shares everything - from finances to fashion - about how she managed her launch. Robin is an Emmy award-winning producer based in Paris, France. Experienced in all forms of media, she has over 15 years of producing and scriptwriting experience, including a News & Documentary Emmy Award. Her book, Surviving Paris: A Memoir of Healing in the City of Light, was published by HarperCollins/Amistad in September 2025. During our conversation, we discuss: The logistics of how Robin planned book events in France and the USA simultaneously. The financial requirements to launch a book in today’s market, including the extra expenses you might not be aware of but really matter. How to stand out as a memoirist when you’re not a celebrity. The joys and challenges of launching a book with a traditional publisher. And more! Get ready to take notes because this episode is full of tips and advice that can be used by any author getting ready to launch their first (or second) book! LINKS FROM THE SHOW Find all of Robin’s information on her website, RobinADavis.com Follow Robin on Instagram at Robinista. Check out Robin’s Substack and follow all things Surviving Paris: On the Other Side with Robin Allison Davis A fellow 2025 memoirist Robin recommends, Rachel Phan. Her promo plan was fire. Black Women Writers in Europe The Reed, Write, & Create Sanctuary for BIPOC Women Writers Try Rent the Runway for your Book Tour Wardrobe in the United States. For literary inspiration and opportunities delivered right to your inbox, sign up for the monthly Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter Join the Tell Me More email list to be the first to know when we start taking new applicants to the Reed, Write, & Create Sanctuary. Follow Lori on YouTube at LiteraryLori Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation via Buy Me A Coffee.

On episode 61 of the podcast, it’s time to learn a thing or two about book promotion from the 19th century Beyoncé of bookselling, Frederick Douglass. Forget everything you think you know about Frederick Douglass the historical figure, and get ready to learn about Frederick Douglass the bestselling author who sold over 30,000 copies of his debut memoir in less than five years, and made over $150,000 on his first book tour. In this eye-opening episode, you’ll learn how Douglass stood out amongst other authors of the time, and his seven top tips to reach literary super-stardom. Grab your pencils and get ready to take notes, because these tips still work in today’s literary world. If you want to read the best biography of Frederick Douglass, check out David Blight’s Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom. If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, check out the Reed, Write, & Create website at ReedWriteandCreate.com. For literary inspiration and opportunities delivered right to your inbox, sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter Join the Tell Me More email list to be the first to know when we start taking new applicants to the Reed, Write, & Create Sanctuary, our private membership community for BIPOC women who take their writing seriously. Follow Lori on YouTube at LiteraryLori Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation via Buy Me A Coffee.

When is the right time to start planning your nonfiction book launch? The answer is yesterday, but you can also start today after listening to this masterclass on book promotion with journalist and author, Ernest Owens. Ernest Owens is an award-winning journalist and CEO of Ernest Media Empire, LLC. He is the Editor of Eater Philly, Political Writer at Large for Philadelphia Magazine, President of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists, and Regional Vice President of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (Mid-Atlantic Chapter). He is also the executive producer and host of the hit podcast Ernestly Speaking! Ernest’s book, The Case for Cancel Culture was published by St. Martin’s Press in 2023. On the show, Ernest shares his brilliant strategy for marketing and promoting The Case for Cancel Culture including: Critical mindset tips Strategies any author can use to get their book seen by more people, Who to make friends with to sell more books Why your loudest critics can be a boon to book sales Why travel is a necessary part of the promotion process When to cash in your personal IOUs (Note: This episode originally aired during Season two of the podcast.) If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, check out the Reed, Write, & Create website at ReedWriteandCreate.com. For literary inspiration and opportunities delivered right to your inbox, sign up for the monthly Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter Join the Tell Me More email list to be the first to know when we start taking new applicants to the Reed, Write, & Create Sanctuary. Follow Lori on YouTube at LiteraryLori Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation via Buy Me A Coffee.

Welcome to Season Six of the Your BIPoC Writing Coach podcast. On this short intro episode, we’re sharing why we changed the name of the podcast, what you can expect this season on the show (Think, Famous Author Era!), and a quick pep talk for the moment we’re in right now. Press play to get inspired and get ready for another season of your favorite literary podcast. If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, check out the Reed, Write, & Create website at ReedWriteandCreate.com. Sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter. Join the Tell Me More email list to be the first to know when we start taking new applicants to the Reed, Write, & Create Sanctuary. Follow Lori on YouTube at LiteraryLori Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation via Buy Me A Coffee.

Episode 58 is the final episode of our special Behind the Book season. And we're going out with an inspirational bang. In order to inspire you to rise up in defense of the book, we're sharing two exciting examples of literary activists from history. We're going from Civil War era Spain, to the island of Puerto Rico. We're going from wartime, to story time, to showcase how many different ways we can all support a thriving literary ecosystem. Tune in to get educated and inspired by Spain's Alliance of Anti-Fascist Intellectuals, and by New York city librarian, Pura Belpré. *Also, hear Lori's literary updates for the summer. LINKS FROM THE SHOW Mora about the Antifascists Intellectuals in Spain and Langston Hughes Read more about librarian Pura Belpré from the New York Public Library MORE FROM REED WRITE & CREATE We need new equipment for the show. Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation to help Lori buy a new microphone and headphones via Buy Me A Coffee. If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, check out the Reed, Write, & Create website at ReedWriteandCreate.com. Follow Reed, Write, & Create on Instagram at ReedWriteandCre8 Sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter. Follow Lori on YouTube at LiteraryLori

On episode 57 we’re going Behind the Book with legendary literary agent, Regina Brooks. Regina is the founder and CEO of Serendipity Literary Agency in New York, the largest African American–owned agency in the US. She has represented and established a diverse base of award-winning clients in adult and young adult fiction, nonfiction, and children’s literature. Currently the president of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA), Brooks is also a founding member of Literary Agents of Change (LAOC) and the Black Book Accelerator. Grab your notebooks because this episode is full of truth bombs and actionable advice for writers who want to find an agent, and stand out in a crowded field. She breaks down the difference between being a good writer and a good author. Regina also gives us a true behind-the-scenes look at how agents really run their business, and she answers the question whether BIPOC writers should only use BIPOC agents. This is an episode you can’t afford to miss, so press play. LINKS FROM THE EPISODE Serendipity Literary Agency Literary Agents of Change About the Black Book Accelerator The African American Literature Book Club (AALBC) Books Regina Recommends The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze by Derrick Barnes (Middle Grade Fiction) Who Better Than You by Will Packer (Adult Non Fiction) MORE FROM REED, WRITE & CREATE Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation via Buy Me A Coffee. If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, check out the Reed, Write, & Create website at ReedWriteandCreate.com. Follow Reed, Write, & Create on Instagram at ReedWriteandCre8 Sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter. Follow Lori on YouTube at LiteraryLori

On episode 56 of the podcast, we’re going Behind the Book with Stephanie Lim. Stephanie is the co-founder of Third State Books, a new publishing house that amplifies the voices, stories, and issues of Asian America and the Pacific Islands. They publish fiction and nonfiction for both adults and children. Stephanie Lim is a publisher and marketing executive who brings an abiding love of literary classics, guilty-pleasure genre fiction, fanfic, and children’s books to her work at Third State Books. She spent over 15 years in digital marketing and operations, first as a strategist for advertising clients at Google, then leading e-commerce teams and managing multi-million-dollar advertising budgets for retail brands such as ModCloth, Bebe, and Serena Williams’s eponymous fashion label. She co-founded Third State Books in 2023. During this enlightening conversation with Stephanie we discuss: Why she left a career in e-commerce and fashion to run a publishing company. What are the unique challenges Asian-American authors face in the mainstream publishing industry. What new titles Third State Books is putting out next and why. Why she wants to see more Asian Americans getting to play the main character in books and in life. Why she wants to dispel the myth that Asian Americans only read and write literary fiction. To Find out more about Third State Books, visit ThirdStateBooks.com Follow Third State Books on Instagram. Check out these recent and upcoming titles from Third State Books Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation via Buy Me A Coffee. If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, check out the Reed, Write, & Create website at ReedWriteandCreate.com. Follow Reed, Write, & Create on Instagram at ReedWriteandCre8 Sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter. Follow Lori on YouTube at LiteraryLori

We’re going Behind the Book with someone who plays a critical role in the literary ecosystem, you! On episode 55 we’re replaying my short but important pep talk about why writers need a reading habit and not just a reading hobby. Even if you heard this episode last year when it first aired, I encourage you to listen again to remind yourself why it’s so important for you as a writer, to develop a consistent reading habit in order to up-level your writing skills. And, of course, to contribute to the literary ecosystem. I mean if we writers aren’t consuming good books on a regular basis, then we can hardly expect the industry to survive, much less thrive. You’ll learn: The difference between a reading habit and a reading hobby. How to cultivate a reading habit to up-level your writing skills. How to read like a writer. Why writers should avoid the basic book club. Let’s get a good reading habit going for the summer! Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation via Buy Me A Coffee. If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, check out the Reed, Write, & Create website at ReedWriteandCreate.com. Follow Reed, Write, & Create on Instagram at ReedWriteandCre8 Sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter. Follow Lori on YouTube at LiteraryLori

On episode 54 we’re going Behind the Book with bookseller Jeannine A. Cook, founder of Harriett’s Bookshop in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jeannine A. Cook is a self-described word worker. In 2020, she opened Harriett’s Bookshop in the Fishtown section of North Philadelphia with the mission to celebrate women authors, women artists, and women activists. In 2021, she opened Ida’s Bookshop in Collingswood, NJ, and Josephine’s Bookshop (a bookshop installation in Paris). Jeannine’s work as a literary activist has been recognized by several national and international news outlets including The New York Times, Vogue Magazine, Google, and Forbes, Inc. Jeannine is also a writer and author who writes about the complex intersections of motherhood, globalism, activism, and the arts. Her delicious debut novel, It’s Me They Follow will be released in September, 2025. During our conversation, Jeannine shares: How magic, synchronicity, and obedience to spirit play a part in her success as a bookseller. The history of word working and miracles in her own family that inspire her own literary work. Why she doesn’t worship money. The challenges she faces as a bookseller who is also a writer. What she’s working on next in honor of the late Kenyan environmental activist and Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maathii. This is a magical and motivating episode. To learn more about the amazing Jeannine A. Cook and what she’s up to, visit her website. To Follow all the fun at Harriett’s Bookstore and her sister shop, Ida’s Bookstore, visit their website and/or Follow on Instagram. You can pre-order Jeanine’s debut novel, It’s Me The Follow at the Reed, Write & Create bookstore. Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation via Buy Me A Coffee. If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, check out the Reed, Write, & Create website at ReedWriteandCreate.com. Follow Reed, Write, & Create on Instagram at ReedWriteandCre8 Sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter. Follow Lori on YouTube at LiteraryLori

On episode 53 of the podcast, we’re going Behind the Book and back in time, to meet David Ruggles, the first Black American to own and operate a bookstore for Black people. David Ruggles was a revolutionary thinker, a bibliophile, a healer, and a radical abolitionist who believed that reading and the written word would set his people free. He opened the first Black-owned bookstore, D. Ruggles Books, in 1834 in New York City. On this episode you’ll hear all about David Ruggles' incredible life, his revolutionary bookstore, and the extraordinary career pivot he was forced to make after losing his eyesight as a young man. I promise, you will love this story. And you will feel even more motivated to get your stories out into the world after listening. David Ruggles was living proof that a bookstore is a powerful weapon against oppression. To learn more about David Ruggles, visit the David Ruggles Center for History and Education website. If you want to read a complete biography of Ruggles, try this well regarded biography by Graham Russell Gao Hodges. Grab a copy of Prose to the People, an excellent book about the history of Black bookstores in the United States. *** Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation via Buy Me A Coffee. If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, check out the Reed, Write, & Create website at ReedWriteandCreate.com. Sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter. Follow Lori and her global literary life on YouTube at LiteraryLori

On episode 52 we’re going Behind the Book with Sylvia Arthur, the founder of the Library of Africa and the African Diaspora in Accra, Ghana. Remember, for Season Five of the podcast, we’re going behind the book to talk to people whose livelihood and careers depend on the free flowing circulation of books in society. Sylvia Arthur is the Founder of the Library Of Africa and The African Diaspora (LOATAD), a library, archive, writing residency, and research institute in Accra, Ghana, dedicated to the work of African and Diaspora writers from the late 19th century to the present day. Sylvia started LOATAD using 1,300 of her own books in 2017 and she has since curated six libraries in Ghana, including school, community, and corporate libraries. She is an advocate for the restitution of African literary archives to the continent, and she is a 2024 Ford Global Fellow. On this episode, Sylvia shares: How and why she started the Library of Africa and the African Diaspora. What are the unique challenges of running a library in Ghana. Why she wanted to launch a residency for Diasporic writers. Why she thinks books are transformational in the lives of marginalized people. What keeps her motivated as a one-woman show to make sure LOATAD continues to thrive. Besides reading, what kinds of activities happen in the library. I hope you enjoy this inspiring episode and you consider visiting or supporting The Library of Africa and the African Diaspora. Follow LOATAD on Instagram to see what kind of events and offerings they have. Sylvia’s last favorite read was The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates Sylvia’s suggestion for a book by a Ghanaian author everyone should read, Our Sister Killjoy by Ama Ata Aidoo, one of Ghana’s most famous female authors. Check out Lori's video about her experience as a resident at LOATAD on her YouTube channel, Literary Lori. Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation via Buy Me A Coffee. If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, check out the Reed, Write, & Create website at ReedWriteandCreate.com. Follow Reed, Write, & Create on Instagram at ReedWriteandCre8 Sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter. Follow Lori on YouTube at LiteraryLori

For Season Five of the podcast, we’re going behind the book and talking to people and reviewing the lives of our literary ancestors whose livelihood and life missions require(d) the free circulation of books in society. On episode 51, we’re going back in time to talk about literary ancestor, Arturo Schomburg. Schomburg was a bad-ass bibliophile who dedicated his life to collecting proof of global Black excellence. The majority of his collection was, of course, books. “Schomburg is arguably the most iconic Black bibliophile in American and African diasporic history,” said author Laura Helton. During the episode, you’ll hear what inspired Schomburg to start searching for “proof” of Black excellence, why he believed so strongly in the written word, and how he used books and writing to disseminate the knowledge he was collecting. I hope that by listening to Schomburg’s incredible story, you are reminded of just how important books written by and about Black people really are. We have to write them, and keep them safe. If you’d like to read more about the fascinating life and work of Arturo Schomburg, get your hands on a copy of Diasporic Blackness: The Life and Times of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg by Vanessa K. Valdés. Also, you can see the fruits of Schomburg’s lifelong labor by visiting The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, New York. FYI, March 2025 marked the 100th anniversary of Schomburg’s iconic essay, “The Negro Digs Up His Past.” Here is an article from the New York Public Library revisiting its importance and impact. Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation via Buy Me A Coffee. If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, check out the Reed, Write, & Create website at ReedWriteandCreate.com. Sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter. Follow Lori and her global literary life on YouTube at LiteraryLori

For Season Five of the podcast, we’re going behind the book to talk to people whose livelihood and careers depend on the free flowing circulation of books in society. On episode 50, our guest is Emely Rumble, LCSW. Emely is a distinguished licensed clinical social worker, school social worker, and a bibliotherapist. Committed to making mental health services more accessible, Emely specializes in the transformative practice of bibliotherapy. Emely is also the author of the exciting new book, Bibliotherapy in the Bronx. During our conversation, Emely explains: What is bibliotherapy? Why bibliotherapy works for people struggling with mental health issues. Who is the African-American ‘Hidden Figure’ of bibliotherapy. Why she wants more BIPOC authors to be aware of this powerful modality. How her experience as an Afro-Puerto Rican child who spent time in the foster care system influenced her decision to become a bibliotherapist. I hope listening to Emely’s story and her fascinating explanations about the intersections of racial identity, literature, and mental health, leave you lit. Buy a copy of Emely’s book, Bibliotherapy in the Bronx at the Reed, Write, & Create Online bookstore. Support Emily and the Podcast at the same time! Follow Emely on Instagram at Literapy_NYC If you’re interested in getting credentialed as a bibliotherapist, visit the International Federation for Biblio/Poetry Therapy. Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation via Buy Me A Coffee. If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, check out the Reed, Write, & Create website at ReedWriteandCreate.com. Sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter. Join the Tell Me More email list to get your invite to join the Reed, Write, & Create Sanctuary at the end of May, 2025. Follow Lori on YouTube at LiteraryLori

Welcome to Season 5 of the Podcast! On this brief episode, Loril will provide a quick recap about her time living in a library in Ghana, followed by a sneak peek into what we have planned for this special season of the podcast. For Season 5, we’re going Behind the Book, bringing you interviews and stories about people who depend on the free circulation of books in the world. From librarians, to agents, to activists and entrepreneurs, this season we're pulling back the curtain on the people who keep the book business flowing and growing. To learn more about the Library of African and the African Diaspora, visit their website. If you want to read more about Lori’s experience in Ghana, read this blog post about her experience. If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, check out the Reed, Write, & Create website at ReedWriteandCreate.com. Sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter. Join the Tell Me More email list to find out when we start taking new applicants to the Reed, Write, & Create Sanctuary. Follow Lori on YouTube at LiteraryLori Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation via Buy Me A Coffee.

Tune in to this brief episode for updates about the Reed, Write, and Create podcast, and some exciting news from host, Lori L. Tharps. Links for more resources and information. The Reed, Write, and Create Website Find Out More about The Reed, Write, & Create Sanctuary for BIPOC women writers. Apply to The Sanctuary HERE The Blog Post About Lori's Upcoming Trip to Ghana The Literary Lori YouTube Channel. Don't forget to subscribe by February 13.

On episode 46 of the podcast, I’m replaying my inspiring, 2023 conversation with award-winning author, journalist, professor, and poet, Jabari Asim. Jabari Asim is the Distinguished Professor of Multi-Disciplinary Letters at Emerson College. He is the author of 23 books, including Yonder, the essay collection We Can’t Breathe, and Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young John Lewis. His awards include a Guggenheim fellowship and a Pushcart Prize. His work has been included in Best American Essays and Best American Poetry. The former editor-in-chief of the NAACP’s Crisis magazine, he has published journalism in The Washington Post, The New York Times, The New Republic, American Prospect, Essence, and elsewhere. Forthcoming books include Wall of Respect, a picture book, and American Struggle: Essays on Race, Culture, and Imagination. Jabari lives in the Boston area and has 5 adult children. On the show Jabari shares: How an encounter with the poet Gwendolyn Brooks inspired him to be a writer. The practical reasons why he is so prolific. Why it’s important for writers to write in multiple genres. The best education for aspiring and working writers. (Hint: It’s not an MFA) How to stay motivated in the face of rejection. The advice he has for BIPOC writers who want to be published by one of the big five publishers. It’s an inspiring interview full of actionable advice, writing tips and a little-known fact about Langston Hughes! You don’t want to miss it. So press play. To learn more about Jabari Asim, visit his website. If you want more information, inspiration and resources for your literary life, visit the Reed, Write, and Create website. If you would like a literary pep talk + resources carefully curated for BIPOC authors delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create newsletter. No spam, just inspiration and resources to uplevel your literary life. Subscribe to @LiteraryLori on YouTube and help Lori launch her new channel. Support this independent, award-winning podcast by making an easy one-time donation via Buy Me a Coffee, or in Lori’s case Buy Me a Book.

This is our last episode of Season 4! On episode 46 of the podcast, I am so excited to share my conversation with Rebecca Carroll, whose new book, I Know What the Red Clay Looks Like: The Voice & Vision of Black Women Writers (Haymarket) was re-released on December 3, 2024. Rebecca is a writer, cultural critic, and host of the podcasts Come Through with Rebecca Carroll and the award-winning Billie Was a Black Woman . Her 2021 memoir, Surviving the White Gaze, where she shares her experiences about growing up in New Hampshire as a Black adoptee with white parents, was called “gorgeous and powerful” by the New York Times Book Review. During our conversation, Rebecca shares why she calls herself a storyteller rather than a writer; she offers advice on writing difficult memoirs with compassion; and then we dig into the incredible work that is, I Know What the Red Clay Looks Like, a collection of interviews with famous Black women writers including June Jordan, Pearl Cleage, Rita Dove, and Lorene Cary, among others. First we talk about how Rebecca wrote the book as a young twenty-something just out of college, and then we discuss how she got the book reissued 30 years later, with up-and-coming authors like Safiya Sinclair adding their voices to the collection. Stick around until the end of the episode to hear how you can win a free copy of Red Clay. To keep in touch with Rebecca Carroll, follow her on Instagram @rebeljunemarie To purchase a copy of I Know What the Red Clay Looks Like, please consider supporting the Reed, Write, & Create bookshop and independent bookstores everywhere. If you want more information, inspiration and resources for your literary life, visit the Reed, Write, and Create website. If you would like a literary pep talk + resources carefully curated for BIPOC authors delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create newsletter. No spam, just inspiration and resources to uplevel your literary life. The doors are now closed to the Reed, Write and Create Sanctuary, our private community for BIPOC women writers who take their writing seriously. But you can still add your name to the waiting list so you’ll be the first to know when we’re taking new applications in 2025. If you’re feeling generous and would like to support this award-winning, Black-woman created podcast, please consider a small, one-time donation via our new Buy Me a Coffee/Book link. Thank you & Happy Holidays!

On episode 45 of the podcast, I’m giving you a pep talk about writing as resistance. About how you can push back against oppressive systems, defy stereotypes and limitations, and leave a lasting legacy, all with the power of the written word. And I will be using the life and work of literary ancestor, Arturo Schomburg as my source material. Arturo Schomburg is most known as the founder of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City, but he was also a writer, a revolutionary thinker, and activist, who used books and the written word to defy white supremacy and glorify Black excellence and achievement. During the show you’ll learn: How one racist teacher in Puerto Rico gave Schomburg his life purpose. How Schomburg used other people’s racism to help amass his incredible collection of Black memorabilia. Why Schomburg became a writer and a collector of the written word. Why sometimes it’s necessary to tear down other people’s heroes to make a point. If you’d like to read more about the fascinating life and work of Arturo Schomburg, get your hands on a copy of Diasporic Blackness: The Life and Times of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg by Vanessa K. Valdés If you want more information, inspiration and resources for your literary life, visit the Reed, Write, and Create website. If you would like a literary pep talk + resources carefully curated for BIPOC authors delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create newsletter. No spam, just inspiration and resources to uplevel your literary life. Subscribe to @LiteraryLori on YouTube and help Lori launch her new channel. Support this independent, award-winning podcast by making an easy one-time donation via Buy Me a Coffee, or in Lori’s case Buy Me a Book.

As much as it pains me to write this, I decided now is the right time to revisit this episode of the podcast featuring two dynamic journalists, Akiba Solomon and Kenyra Rankin. Akiba and Kenrya are the co-authors of the book, How We Fight White Supremacy. How We Fight White Supremacy was published in 2019, at the tail end of the first Orange Dust presidency and it was a balm for the soul. The book is an anthology of essays, illustrations, comics and stories about how to fight white supremacy without losing your life or your sanity. I’m so sad that I have to pull this episode out of the archives for round two, but I am also relieved to have it as a valuable resource for my audience of BIPOC scribes. During the episode, not only do we have an excellent conversation where Kenrya and Akiba break down the different ways writers and regular folks can fight white supremacy, but they also share very candidly how they got a book deal from a major publisher for a book that unapologetically centers Black resistance and revolution. If you’re a nonfiction writer, who writes about social justice issues, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. If you’re looking for more inspiration and information to optimize your writing life, visit the Reed, Write, & Create website. While you’re there, be sure to sign up for our newsletter to get writing inspiration and resources right in your inbox. One more thing, the doors are now closed to the Reed, Write and Create, Sanctuary, our private community for BIPOC women writers who take their writing seriously. But you can still add your name to the waiting list so you’ll be the first to know when we’re taking new applications in early 2025. Subscribe to @LiteraryLori on YouTube and help Lori launch her new channel. If you’re feeling generous and would like to support this award-winning, Black-woman created podcast, please consider a small, one-time donation via our new Buy Me a Coffee/Book link. Thank you!

On episode 43 of the podcast, I’m going to be giving you a pep talk about how BIPOC writers can use Oral Storytelling traditions to up-level their writing practice. And I’m going to use the life and work of award-winning poet and author, N. Scott Momaday as my source material. N. Scott Momaday was the first Native American to ever win a Pulitzer Prize when he won the award for his 1968 novel, House Made of Dawn. During this episode you’ll learn: Why N. Scott Momaday is considered the founder of the Native American Writers Renaissance. Why Native Americans are the true founders of American literature. How Oral Storytelling can be a useful tool for your written work. Why BIPOC storytellers have an advantage and an obligation when it comes to Oral Storytelling. How telling the stories of your people can lead to mainstream publishing success. If you’d like to learn more about N. Scott Momaday, check out the PBS Documentary, “Words from a Bear.” If you’d like to learn more about oral storytelling, check out these resources: The Moth StoryCorps & Brightness in Black Learn Oral Storytelling from LeVar Burton If you’re looking for more inspiration and information to optimize your writing life, visit the Reed, Write, & Create website. While you’re there, be sure to sign up for our newsletter to get writing inspiration and resources right in your inbox. One more thing, the doors are now closed to the Reed, Write and Create, Sanctuary, our private community for BIPOC women writers who take their writing seriously. But you can still add your name to the waiting list so you’ll be the first to know when we’re taking new applications in early 2025. Subscribe to @LiteraryLori on YouTube and help Lori launch her new channel. If you’re feeling generous and would like to support this award-winning, Black-woman created podcast, please consider a small, one-time donation via our new Buy Me a Coffee/Book link. Thank you!

On episode 42 of the podcast, we have award-winning author Laila Lalami on the show, discussing her powerful novel, The Other Americans. The Other Americans was a finalist for the National Book Awards. Laila is the author of several award-winning novels including, The Moor's Account and Secret Son. A native of Morocco, Laila is a professor of creative writing at the University of California Riverside. On the show Laila talks about her rigorous research and writing process for her novels, why she had to decolonize her writing voice, immigration, and who belongs in America. This episode was originally recorded when The Other Americans first debuted in 2019, but since the book is about an unsolved murder of an immigrant man in America, and the story delves into the dynamics of small town-America in flux, we decided this was the perfect time to rerun this riveting episode. It's the perfect book for the moment we're in now. Lit Links for More To learn more about Laila Lalami, visit her website at LailaLalami.com. Her new novel, due out in March 2025 is called The Dream Hotel. If you’re interested in buying a copy of The Other Americans, consider purchasing at the Reed, Write, & Create online bookshop to support our show and your favorite independent booksellers. If you’re looking for more inspiration and information to optimize your writing life, visit the Reed, Write, & Create website. While you’re there, be sure to sign up for our newsletter to get writing inspiration and resources right in your inbox. One more thing, the doors are now closed to the Reed, Write and Create, Sanctuary, our private community for BIPOC women writers who take their writing seriously. But you can still add your name to the waiting list so you’ll be the first to know when we’re taking new applications. If you’re feeling generous and would like to support this award-winning, Black-woman created podcast, please consider a small, one-time donation via our new Buy Me a Coffee/Book link. Thank you!

On episode 41 of the podcast, I’m going to be giving you a quick but important pep talk about reading, because you may be doing it all wrong. You see, writers, need an intentional reading habit, not just a reading hobby. I’m going to break down the important difference between the two, and then share five easy steps, and a message from James Baldwin, to help you cultivate a sustainable reading habit that I promise will make you a better writer. RESOURCES FOR YOU: If you're looking for a inexpensive notebook/journal to use to track your reading habit, I like this one, available on amazon. If you want more information, inspiration and resources for your literary life, visit the Reed, Write, and Create website. If you would like a literary pep talk + resources carefully curated for BIPOC authors delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create newsletter. No spam, just inspiration and resources to uplevel your literary life. The doors are now closed to the Reed, Write and Create Sanctuary, our private community for BIPOC women writers who take their writing seriously. But you can still add your name to the waiting list so you’ll be the first to know when we’re taking new applications in 2025. Subscribe to @LiteraryLori on YouTube and help Lori launch her new channel. If you’re feeling generous and would like to support this award-winning, Black-woman created podcast, please consider a small, one-time donation via our new Buy Me a Coffee/Book link. Thank you!

Press play on this fan-favorite, rewind episode with award-winning author, Tracey Lewis-Giggetts. Tracey Lewis-Giggetts has written over 30 books in multiple genres. She writes fiction, nonfiction, poetry and screenplays. She is the author of the award-winning, Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration and Then They Came For Mine: Healing from the Trauma of Racial Violence. Tracey is also an award-winning, celebrity ghostwriter and has penned best-selling books for several public figures including Tabitha Brown, Yusef Salaam of the Exonerated Five, and Dr. Joy Harden Bradford of Therapy for Black Girls. During our inspiring conversation, Tracey revisits her 30+ year career as a writer and writing instructor, to share the nuggets of wisdom she’s gleaned along the way. We discuss: how she keeps going in the face of rejection, how she managed to quit her job in academia to write full time why it’s okay to write in more than one genre. Most importantly, Tracey talks about how and why she is so prolific, why she makes no apology for centering her stories around Black people and Black culture, and why it is so important to stay ready so you can be ready when opportunities arise. BTW, we’re re-airing this episode this week, because Tracey has a new book coming out on October 29, 2024. If you’re listening in real time, that’s tomorrow! The book is called The Black Joy Playbook: 30 Days of Intentionally ReClaiming Your Delight. It’s a guided journal and devotional that includes thirty reflective entries on themes like the power of our laughter, the weight of joy in the midst of grief, and embracing our everyday delights. Each section provides meditations, prompts, and actionable steps to help you unearth or reclaim joy in your life. It is a companion title to Black Joy, which we discuss in the episode. Get one for yourself and grab one for a friend for the holidays! To learn more about Tracey, please visit her website and follow her on Instagram. Tracey mentioned the following useful resources for writers: The Hurston Wright Writers Workshop is an excellent resource for Black writers. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamontt is a book for writers about writing that Tracey recommends. If you want more information, inspiration and resources for your literary life, visit the Reed, Write, and Create website. If you would like a literary pep talk + resources carefully curated for BIPOC authors delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create newsletter. No spam, just inspiration and resources to uplevel your literary life. The doors are now closed to the Reed, Write and Create Sanctuary, our private community for BIPOC women writers who take their writing seriously. But you can still add your name to the waiting list so you’ll be the first to know when we’re taking new applications in 2025.. Subscribe to @LiteraryLori on YouTube and help Lori launch her new channel. If you’re feeling generous and would like to support this award-winning, Black-woman created podcast, please consider a small, one-time donation via our new Buy Me a Coffee/Book link. Thank you!

On episode 39 of the podcast, I am so excited to share my conversation with memoirist, journalist, editor, celebrity collaborator, novelist and all around literary icon, Veronica Chambers. Based in London, Veronica Chambers is a New York Times best selling author of over 25 books, and is currently the editor of narrative projects at The New York Times. Born in Panama and raised in Brooklyn, her work often reflects her Afro-Latina heritage. Her first book, the acclaimed memoir, Mama’s Girl is read in hundreds of high schools and colleges throughout the country. Veronica has also worked on several celebrity collaboration projects, she has edited popular anthologies about Beyoncé and Michelle Obama, and she has written both adult and teen novels. During our conversation, Veronica pulls back the curtain on what has worked and what has not worked over the course of her 30+ year career. She talks candidly about money, time management and failure. She also shares useful tips and ideas about all the important, in-between actions and activities that writers can do to build a successful and sustainable literary career. We also spend time talking about the subject of Veronica’s latest book, Ida in Love and Trouble, a fascinating historical novel about the early life of Ida B. Wells. Press play to hear incredible stories, get loads of useful advice, and be inspired by Veronica’s incredible, literary life. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW If you want to keep in touch with Veronica Chambers and see what she’s up to, follow her on IG @VVChambers and/or check out her website at VeronicaChambers.com. Veronica mentioned Res Artis, a database of artist residencies to check out. You can also check out our listing of writing retreats specifically for BIPOC writers. If you want to snag a copy of Veronica’s new book, Ida in Love and Trouble, visit your favorite independent bookseller. For example, The Reed, Write, & Create bookstore. Just check the virtual shelf where we highlight books by authors who appear on this show. You can also support Veronica’s favorite bookstore in Hoboken, NJ, Little City Books. Some of the books Veronica mentioned in the episode; The Artist’s Way, Big Magic, When and Where I Enter, and Ida B. Wells: A Sword Among Lions, and Composing a Life. If you want more information, inspiration and resources for your literary life, visit the Reed, Write, and Create website. If you would like a literary pep talk + resources carefully curated for BIPOC authors delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create newsletter. No spam, just inspiration and resources to uplevel your literary life. The doors are now closed to the Reed, Write and Create Sanctuary, our private community for BIPOC women writers who take their writing seriously. But you can still add your name to the waiting list so you’ll be the first to know when we’re taking new applications in 2025.. Subscribe to @LiteraryLori on YouTube and help Lori launch her new channel. If you’re feeling generous and would like to support this award-winning, Black-woman created podcast, please consider a small, one-time donation via our new Buy Me a Coffee/Book link. Thank you!

Are you trying to write a memoir and don’t know where to start? Are you worried about oversharing, or writing about people you know and love getting mad at you for spilling their secrets? Is the idea of getting the essence of your own life down on paper overwhelming? Then stick around for this inspiring and informative rewind episode with actress-turned-author, Tembi Locke. Tembi wrote the best-selling, Reese Witherspoon anointed, From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home. During our conversation recorded right after the book debuted, Tembi and I talk about the reasons she decided to write this searing love story about life before and after her Italian husband’s death from cancer; her writing process as a new author; how she protected the privacy of her family members while writing this touching family story; why writing a story shrouded in grief, could still be a beautiful experience; and why she chose to include recipes from her Italian in-laws as part of the story. Tembi is a generous storyteller and she shares a lot about her writing journey - starting from scratch as a writer - in this delightful interview. I hope you enjoy it. Stick around to the end of the episode to hear all kinds of wonderful personal and professional updates that transpired after this interview originally aired. If you’d like to purchase a copy of From Scratch, consider buying from The Reed, Write, & Create online bookstore. We carry a diverse selection of books by BIPOC authors, for adults, teens, and kids. Check to see if the Netflix version of From Scratch is in your area. Find all things Tembi at her website TembiLocke.com If you want more information, inspiration and resources for your literary life, visit the Reed, Write, and Create website. If you would like a literary pep talk + resources carefully curated for BIPOC authors delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create newsletter. No spam, just inspiration and resources to uplevel your literary life. The doors are now closed to the Reed, Write and Create Sanctuary, our private community for BIPOC women writers who take their writing seriously. But you can still add your name to the waiting list so you’ll be the first to know when we’re taking new applications. Subscribe to @LiteraryLori on YouTube and help Lori launch her new channel.

On episode 37 of the 'Reed, Write & Create' podcast, you’re getting a pep talk about what can happen when we truly commit ourselves to our writing life. And I am using the life and work of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, a renowned 17th-century Mexican nun, as my source material. Be clear, Sor Juana was no ordinary nun. She was a renegade and a revolutionary who used #NunLife to create the literary life she desperately desired. Sor Juana, known for her poetic prowess, and advocacy for the education of women, gained fame through her literary salons and social commentary, despite facing societal and church opposition. Her writings, which spanned poetry, plays, and social critiques, continue to inspire today, and she is a pivotal literary figure we can all learn from and admire. I know this episode and the legacy of Sor Juana will inspire all of you BIPOC writers to pick up your pens and create new narratives that can change the world. If you want to read a full biography about Sor Juana, check the biography by Octavio Paz called, Sor Juana. If you’d like to read a lovely collection of Sor Juana’s most popular poems and writings, including her feminist manifesto, try this collection titled, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. Read one of Sor Juana’s most popular poems in translation, “You Foolish Men.” The meaning behind this poem still rings true today. If you want more information, inspiration and resources for your literary life, visit the Reed, Write, and Create website. If you would like a literary pep talk + resources carefully curated for BIPOC authors delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create newsletter. No spam, just inspiration and resources to uplevel your literary life. Subscribe to @LiteraryLori on YouTube and help Lori launch her new channel. If you’re feeling generous and would like to support this award-winning, Black-woman created podcast, please consider a small, one-time donation via our new Buy Me a Coffee/Book link. Thank you!

On episode 36 of the podcast, get the actual blueprint for a happy, healthy, productive literary life. Enjoy this episode from our archives with Marita Golden, award-winning author, journalist, writing coach, and living, literary legend. Marita Golden is an award-winning author of over twenty works of fiction and nonfiction. Her books include the novels The Wide Circumference of Love, and After and the memoirs Migrations of the Heart, Saving Our Sons and Don’t Play in the Sun One Woman’s Journey Through the Color Complex. Her most recent work of nonfiction is The New Black Woman Loves Herself Has Boundaries and Heals Every Day. Marita is the Co-founder and President Emerita of the Zora Neale Hurston/ Richard Wright Foundation. Marita is the recipient of numerous awards including the Writers for Writers Award presented by Barnes & Noble and Poets and Writers, the Fiction Award for her novel After awarded by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, and she is a two-time NAACP Image Award nominee. During our conversation, Marita gives a masterclass on what it takes to create a sustaining and sustainable literary life over 40 years! She talks about the importance of health, wealth, and community for writers, and more importantly, she offers actionable advice for you to put into practice right now. Besides the fact that this episode is so jam packed with information and inspiration, I also wanted to re-run it because Marita Golden has a new book coming out titled: How to Become a Black Writer: Creating & Honoring Black Stories That Matter. The book will be released in February 2025, but it is available for pre-order now. ********************* More #Lit Resources If you’re looking for more resources and literary inspiration, visit the Reed, Write, & Create website and sign up for our bimonthly newsletter. Follow ReedWriteandCre8 on Instagram Follow LoriLTharps on Instagram Subscribe to Lori’s New YouTube channel @LiteraryLori If you’re feeling generous and would like to support this award-winning, Black-woman created podcast, please consider a small, one-time donation via our new Buy Me a Coffee/Book link. Thank you!

Get ready for a pep talk that explains how perseverance, persistence and pain can lead to productivity, fame and fortune in a writer's life. When you hear about the life and work of African-American crime writer, Chester B. Himes, you will overstand what’s possible for a writer, even when confronting the worst things life can throw at you. Racism, violence, prison, poverty, chronic pain. Chester Himes experienced all of those things and more, and yet still managed to write award-winning novels, searing social commentary, short stories, and two memoirs. Press play to learn all about this inspiring yet under-appreciated writer who spent the latter years of his life in a small, seaside town in Spain, writing through his pain. MORE CHESTER HIMES If you’d like to learn more about Chester Bomar Himes, you can read his memoirs: The Quality of Hurt and My Life of Absurdity You can also read the critically acclaimed biography, Chester B. Himes, by Lawrence P. Jackson. If you'd like to see some videos and images showcasing where Chester Himes spent his final years in Spain, check out my YouTube channel @LiteraryLori because I have a video there showing my recent literary pilgrimage to Moraira, Spain where Chester Himes spent his final years. ********************** ******* If you’re looking for more resources and literary inspiration, visit the Reed, Write, & Create website and sign up for our bimonthly newsletter. Follow ReedWriteandCre8 on Instagram Follow LoriLTharps on Instagram If you’re feeling generous and would like to support this award-winning, Black-woman created podcast, please consider a small, one-time donation via our new Buy Me a Coffee/Book link. Thank you!

We’re back for the fourth season of the Reed, Write and Create podcast! On this short episode, find out what you can expect on this season of the podcast, and some exciting personal and professional updates about the literary life of your host, Lori L. Tharps. ******************************** If you want more information, inspiration and resources for your literary life, visit the Reed, Write, and Create website. If you would like a literary pep talk + resources carefully curated for BIPOC authors delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create newsletter. No spam, just inspiration and resources to up-level your literary life. Speaking of up-leveling your literary life…The doors to The Reed, Write, & Create Sanctuary are opening for new members, September 15 - 27, 2024. The Reed, Write, & Create Sanctuary is a private, global membership community for BIPoC women writers who take their writing life seriously. We bring together BIPoC women writers who are ready to dedicate themselves to achieving their writing goals, so they can get paid, get published, and make an impact with their words. We support and celebrate our writers through the entire process of the publication journey – writing, publishing and promotion – with the resources they need to achieve success. Add your name to the Tell Me More mailing list to find out when applications go live. Subscribe to @LiteraryLori on YouTube and help Lori launch her new channel.

SURPRISE! It’s a Bonus Episode. Yes, I am officially on summer vacation, working on my novel, and the podcast is on a summer hiatus. So, why am I back in your podcast feed? Because I have a special bonus episode for you! I want to introduce you to a literary podcast I love to listen to called Black & Published. Hosted by author Nikesha Elise Williams, Black & Published features interviews with novelists, nonfiction writers, poets and playwrights every week. For today’s bonus episode, I’m running a recent episode from Black & Published that I loved. This episode features an interview with award-winning author, Vanessa Riley. An engineer turned historical romance writer who always centers women of color in her best-selling books, Vanessa Riley has an incredible story of how she started her writing career, and an even more impressive story of how she got the mainstream publishing industry to take her historical romance stories seriously. This episode centers on her recently released novel about Haiti’s only queen, Marie-Louise Christophe. The book sounds amazing, and this episode is equally amazing. I hope you enjoy and continue listening to Black & Published wherever you listen to podcasts. If you want to learn more about Vanessa Riley, visit her website. If you’re looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, visit ReedWriteandCreate.com. Sign up for the monthly, Reed, Write, & Create newsletter for literary resources and opportunities delivered right to your inbox. Don’t buy your books on Amazon, support indie booksellers and shop online at the Reed, Write, & Create bookshop for a list of curated titles by BIPOC authors. If you’re looking for a better way to organize your writing manuscripts, fiction and nonfiction, consider trying Scrivener. I’ve recently become a Scrivener fan and am using it to write my current novel. Feel free to use my affiliate link to purchase Scrivener and receive 20% off by using the code REEDWRITE.

On episode 32 of the podcast, our final episode of Season 3, I’m going to share a final pep talk meant to get you to stop thinking that you have to do this writing thing all alone. On today's show, I’m going to dispel the myth of the solitary writer, sharing why it’s a myth, how it got started, why it’s a dangerous myth, who the myth actually benefits, and how we should be handling our writing lives instead. My hope is that by breaking down the faulty logic behind the solitary writer myth, you writers start to think of your writing practice in new and more expansive ways. During the episode, you’ll hear how world-famous writers, from Socrates to Shakespeare, were perceived as solitary writers, but they really weren’t. Same story for contemporary writers from Hemingway to Zora Neale Hurston. So, tune in and enjoy the episode. This will be our last lit pep talk before we go on summer hiatus. We’ll be back with new episodes in September. Until then, keep writing. ********** If you’re looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, visit ReedWriteandCreate.com. Sign up for the monthly, Reed, Write, & Create newsletter for literary resources and opportunities delivered right to your inbox. Don’t buy your books on Amazon, support indie booksellers and shop online at the Reed, Write, & Create bookshop for a list of curated titles by BIPOC authors. If you’re looking for a better way to organize your writing manuscripts, fiction and nonfiction, consider trying Scrivener. I’ve recently become a Scrivener fan and am using it to write my current novel. Feel free to use my affiliate link to purchase Scrivener and receive 20% off by using the code REEDWRITE. Write On!

On episode 31 of the podcast, I have saved the best for last. Our final author interview this season is with the incomparable, American-Book-Award-winning author, Bernice L. McFadden. Bernice L. McFadden is the author of over a dozen books, including Sugar and Glorious. Her latest novel, Praise Song for the Butterflies, was long listed for the 2019 Women's Prize in Fiction. McFadden’s novel, The Book of Harlan won the 2017 American Book Award and the 2017 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work. The New York Times selected her novel Gathering of Waters as one of the 100 Notable Books of 2012 and as an Editor's Choice pick. Glorious was a finalist for the NAACP Image Award and featured in O, The Oprah Magazine. Currently, McFadden is an Assistant Professor of English at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. During our conversation, Bernice and I discuss: The highs and lows of her decades-long literary career. How she kept writing when faced with multiple rejections and editors telling her that there was no market for Black authors writing literary fiction. Why she decided to start writing “humorous erotica” under the pen name Geneva Holliday. How Toni Morrison impacted her early career. The roles spirit and synchronicity have played in her writing practice. If you’re looking for a dynamite episode that will keep you motivated to keep writing, then press play and enjoy! To learn more about Bernice McFadden, follow her on Facebook and Instagram. Her website is currently under construction, in anticipation of her new memoir, First Born Girls due on shelves in 2025. ********** If you are a BIPOC woman writer looking for even more literary inspiration and motivation, not to mention a highly supportive community of BIPOC sister scribes, then you should apply to be a member of the RWC Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is a private writing community specifically for BIPOC women writers, who take their writing seriously. Novelists, poets, memoirists, short story writers and nonfiction writers, are welcome to apply. Inside the Sanctuary we help our members get paid, get published, and reach all of their writing goals. For more information, visit The Sanctuary page on the Reed Write and Create website. If you’re looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, visit ReedWriteandCreate.com. Sign up for the monthly, Reed, Write, & Create newsletter for literary resources and opportunities delivered right to your inbox. Don’t buy your books on Amazon, support indie booksellers and shop online at the Reed, Write, & Create bookshop for a list of curated titles by BIPOC authors. If you’re feeling generous and would like to support this award-winning, Black-woman created podcast, please consider a small, one-time donation via our new Buy Me a Coffee/Book link. Thank you!

On episode #30 of the Reed, Write, & Create podcast, we’re doing two things; we’re honoring the late, great James Baldwin, who would be turning 100 years old in 2024, and I'm giving you a pep talk about being an American writer abroad. Yes, I’m sharing the life and times of Mr. James Baldwin to offer you the opportunity to consider what travel can mean for your writing life. And by the way, if you think we’re going to mostly be talking about Baldwin’s life in Paris, think again. On this episode, we’re talking Turkey. Istanbul, that is. Yes, the country where Baldwin wrote the majority of his most important works, and the country that he said on more than one occasion “saved him,” was none other than Turkey. During this inspiring episode you’ll hear: Why James Baldwin left the United States to write. Why Baldwin spent a decade living and writing in Turkey. What made Baldwin an “American writer” despite his many years abroad. Multiple reasons why BIPOC writers should consider traveling or living abroad to enhance their writing life. What a writer should look for in a location when trying to find a new country where she can write. MORE BALDWIN Try reading The Fire Next Time, it’s quintessential Baldwin, and a perennial bestseller. There are many organizations and institutions celebrating the life and work of James Baldwin this year in honor of his 100th birthday. Here are some for your consideration: Morgan State University is having a year-long celebration of Baldwin’s life. Even in the UK, they’re celebrating Baldwin. Check out Baldwin in Bristol Check out La Maison Baldwin, an American-led organization based in France. They are planning a big centennial celebration honoring Baldwin in September of 2024, but they have programming for writers all year long. ******************************** More Writing Resources BIPOC women writers, come join us at our upcoming Open House for The Sanctuary, on May 19, 2024. (Please RSVP for the Open House here. ) The fun starts at 3pmEST and you’ll learn all about what we offer our members; community, accountability, professional development, and resources to help you get published and get paid for your work. Our members are both emerging writers and authors with multiple titles published. At the Open House, you’ll get to hear from current members who are crushing their writing goals, and we’re going to play #Lit game of literary trivia. With Prizes! Visit the Reed, Write, & Create website for more information, inspiration, and resources to optimize your writing life. Please don’t support online retailers who don’t care about authors or the future of books. Please consider supporting the Reed, Write, & Create podcast and indie bookstores across the United States, by doing your online book shopping at the Reed, Write, & Create bookstore. We have a wonderful collection of books by BIPOC authors for adults, teens, and kids.

On episode #29, New York Times bestselling author Sadeaqa Johnson is on the show sharing her inspiring author journey and her practical strategies to living a successful literary life. Sadeqa Johnson is the New York Times bestselling author of five novels, including Yellow Wife and her latest, The House of Eve, which was the February 2023 Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick. Sadeqa’s accolades include being a NAACP Image Award nominee, a 2022 Hurston/Wright Foundation Legacy finalist, a BCALA Literary Honoree, and the Library of Virginia’s Literary People’s Choice Award winner. She is a Kimbilio Fellow and teaches in the M.F.A. program at Drexel University. Originally from Philadelphia, she currently lives near Richmond, VA with her husband and three teens. Before she was topping the bestseller charts, Sadeqa was hand-selling her self-published novel, determined to prove herself to a publishing industry who wouldn’t give her a book deal. During our conversation, Sadeqa shares how she went from that frustrating place, to where she is today, working on her sixth novel, winning multiple literary awards, and teaching in a MFA program, all with no signs of slowing down. This is the episode you need to listen to for inspiration, actionable strategies for your writing life, and motivation to keep writing! ** To learn more about Sadeqa Johnson, visit her website at Sadeqa.net To follow Sadeqa on Instagram, her favorite online hangout, find her @Sadeqasays Purchase your copy of Sadeqa’s latest book, the New York Times bestseller, The House of Eve from the Reed, Write, & Create Bookshop. You’ll be supporting this podcast and Sadeqa! ** BIPOC women writers, come join us at our upcoming Open House for The Sanctuary, on May 19, 2024. The fun starts at 3pmEST and you’ll learn all about what we offer our members; community, accountability, professional development, and resources to help you get published and get paid for your work. Our members are both emerging writers and authors with multiple titles published. At the Open House, you’ll get to hear from current members who are crushing their writing goals, and we’re going to play #Lit game of literary trivia. Please RSVP for the Open House here. If you’re looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, visit ReedWriteandCreate.com. Sign up for the monthly, Reed, Write, & Create newsletter for literary resources and opportunities delivered right to your inbox. If you’re a BIPOC woman writer looking for a supportive writing community that will help you stay accountable to your writing goals, not to mention provide carefully curated opportunities to get published and get paid, apply to join the Reed, Write, & Create Sanctuary. Don’t buy your books on Amazon, support indie booksellers and shop online at the Reed, Write, & Create bookshop for a list of curated titles by BIPOC authors. Sharing is caring, so please share the name of this podcast with all of your BIPOC writer friends. Thanks!

Episode #28 of the podcast is dedicated to the literary life and legacy of Jessie Redmon Fauset, the most prolific novelist of the Harlem Renaissance, and also, sadly, the most overlooked and under-appreciated. On this episode of the Reed, Write, & Create podcast, I will be sharing Fauset’s fascinating life story, as well as four reasons why she is often sidelined and left in the shadows when it comes to conversations about the literary greats of the Harlem Renaissance. Spoiler alert: Having an affair with W.E.B. Dubois, may or may not have had something to do with it. (I'm pouring the tea, so be ready.) Tune in for a little literary history, some literary lessons you can apply to your own writing life, and the pep talk you need right now. ************* BIPOC women writers, come join us at our upcoming Open House for The Sanctuary, on May 19, 2024. The fun starts at 3pmEST and you’ll learn all about what we offer our members; community, accountability, professional development, and resources to help you get published and get paid for your work. Our members are both emerging writers and authors with multiple titles published. At the Open House, you’ll get to hear from current members who are crushing their writing goals, and we’re going to play #Lit game of literary trivia. Please RSVP for the Open House here. Visit the Reed, Write, & Create blog for more content and resources to up-level your writing life. If you’re a BIPOC woman writer who is looking for community and accountability to help you get published and get paid, apply to join the Reed, Write, & Create Sanctuary. Our members stay winning. Don’t support an online retailer who doesn’t support writers or the longevity of the publishing industry. Buy your books from independent bookstores. You can support this podcast and independent bookstores everywhere, by making your online book purchases at the Reed, Write, & Create bookstore. If you want to be the first to know what new classes, retreats, and workshops I’m offering, plus other literary opportunities to brighten your life, sign up for the monthly Reed, Write, & Create newsletter. Please don't forget to spread the word about the Reed, Write, & Create podcast. Rate & Review too.

On episode 27 of the podcast, award-winning poet and debut novelist, Phillip B. Williams, is on the show. You might have heard about Williams because his brand new novel, Ours, was one of Oprah’s most anticipated books for 2024. Ours is an epic story about a conjure woman named Saint, who goes around destroying plantations in the south, and then freeing the enslaved workers. She then creates a magical world called Ours where the newly emancipated can live in peace because white people can neither see, nor access Ours. And if they try, they meet with a gruesome ending! It’s an epic story of Black resistance. During our conversation, Phillip delivers a full masterclass on creative writing essentials.Topics covered include: How to use poetry to write better prose. What MFA programs are actually good for and who should apply Why writers shouldn’t be worried about word count What you should be reading to improve your writing Why we should be reading the works of our literary ancestors And… Why He Views Ours as Black Surrealism rather than Magical Realism Grab your pen and get ready to take notes, because this is an episode with lessons you’ll want to apply to your writing life today! To learn more about Philip B. William, visit his website and find him on Instagram Buy a copy of Ours from The Reed, Write, & Create Bookshop. Phillip has also written two books of award-winning poetry. Check out Thief in the Interior. One of Phillip’s early poetry influences is the legendary Sonia Sanchez. Try her American Book Award winning collection, Homegirls and Hand Grenades to inspire your poetry and prose. ********* If you’re looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, be sure to check out all of the amazing content at ReedWriteandCreate.com. Sign up for the monthly, Reed, Write, & Create newsletter for literary resources and opportunities delivered right to your inbox. If you’re a BIPOC woman writer looking for a supportive writing community to join, where you’ll find accountability partners, BETA readers for your work, and opportunities to get published and get paid, apply to join the Reed, Write, & Create Sanctuary. Don’t buy your books on Amazon, support indie booksellers and shop online at the Reed, Write, & Create bookshop for a list of curated titles by BIPOC authors. If you’re feeling generous and would like to support this award-winning, Black-woman created podcast, please consider a small, one-time donation via our new Buy Me a Coffee/Book link. Thank you!

On episode #26 of the podcast, I’m using the life of the illustrious Langston Hughes, to give you a pep talk on how to make a living with your writing. Even in hard times. Did you know that Langston Hughes is recognized as the first African-American writer to make a living solely from his writing? Yes, Langston Hughes was definitely the hardest working writer in Harlem, and throughout his life before and after the renaissance. So studying his success and strategies can give us some excellent ideas about crafting a successful writing life. Stay tuned for some innovative, actionable tips and motivation for your writing life. To learn more about Langston Hughes, especially his life in Spain, enjoy this blog post I wrote for ReedWriteandCreate.com. Read Langston’s wonderful autobiography (the one I read from during the episode) I Wonder as I Wander to stay motivated throughout your writing life. You might also enjoy this collection of Langston’s short stories called, The Short Stories of Langston Hughes. If you’re looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, be sure to check out all of the amazing content at ReedWriteandCreate.com. Sign up for the monthly, Reed, Write, & Create newsletter for literary resources and opportunities delivered right to your inbox. If you’re a BIPOC woman writer looking for a supportive writing community to join, where you’ll find accountability partners, BETA readers for your work, and opportunities to get published and get paid, apply to join the Reed, Write, & Create Sanctuary. When you’re buying new books, don’t support a massive online retailer that doesn’t pay authors or publishes their fair share, and puts indie booksellers out of business. Shop indie bookstores like the Reed, Write, & Create Bookstore powered by Bookshop.org.

On episode 25 of the podcast, my guest is New York Times Bestselling author, Ilyon Woo. Ilyon is the author of the new book, Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom and The Great Divorce: A Nineteenth-Century Mother’s Extraordinary Fight Against Her Husband, the Shakers, and Her Times. Her writing has also appeared in The Boston Globe, The Wall Street Journal,Time, and The New York Times. During our delightful conversation Ilyon shares: When she fell in love with storytelling. Why she’s obsessed with the Shakers. Her secrets to writing thrilling, jump-off-the-page nonfiction. How being Korean-American has impacted her career as a writer. What the descendants of Willam and Ellen Craft, the subjects of Master, Slave, Husband, Wife, think of her portrayal of their famous relatives. Her advice for other BIPOC writers who want to write beyond their own cultural stories. It’s another informative, inspiring and fun conversation with an award-winning BIPOC writer. I hope you love it! To learn more about Ilyon Woo, visit her website: IlyonWoo.com and/or find her on Instagram @ilyonwooauthor. Buy a copy of the incredible, Master Slave, Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom from The Reed, Write, & Create Bookshop. To learn more about William and Ellen Craft, follow the Instagram account started by their descendants to share their story with the world. @WilliamandEllenCraft If you want to read the book, Woo referenced during the conversation, it was Tiya Miles’ All that She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, A Black Family Keepsake. Check out Ilyon’s first book, the fascinating, The Great Divorce: A 19th Century Mother’s Extraordinary Fight Against Her Husband, The Shakers, and Her Times. If you’re looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, be sure to check out all of the amazing content at ReedWriteandCreate.com. Sign up for the monthly, Reed, Write, & Create newsletter for literary resources and opportunities delivered right to your inbox. If you’re a BIPOC woman writer looking for a supportive writing community to join, where you’ll find accountability partners, BETA readers for your work, and opportunities to get published and get paid, Sign up HERE for more information. Don’t buy your books on Amazon, support indie booksellers and shop online at the Reed, Write, & Create bookshop for a list of curated titles by BIPOC authors. If you’re feeling generous and would like to support this award-winning, Black-woman created podcast, please consider a small, one-time donation via our new Buy Me a Coffee/Book link. Thank you!

On episode 24 of the podcast, you’re getting a pep talk about art and activism, using the life and times of the incredible Audre Lorde as our role model. We’re talking about the intersection of identity, writing, and making the world a better place. Audre Lorde was a Black feminist writer and activist who authored several books of poetry, essays, and memoir. Some of her most popular titles include, Sister Outsider, Zami: A New Spelling of My Name, and The Cancer Journals. This episode will leave all my BIPOC writers motivated and inspired to change the world with their words. So, let’s go! To Learn More about the Incredible Audre Lorde Visit: The AudreLordeProject.com Read: Warrior Poet: A Biography of Audre Lorde by Alexis de Veaux Read: Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde Read: Zami: A New Spelling of My Name by Audre Lorde Read: The Cancer Journals by Audre Lorde If you’re looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, be sure to check out all of the amazing content at ReedWriteandCreate.com. Sign up for the monthly, Reed, Write, & Create newsletter for literary resources and opportunities delivered right to your inbox. If you’re a BIPOC woman writer looking for a supportive writing community to join, where you’ll find accountability partners, BETA readers for your work, and opportunities to get published and get paid, apply to join the Reed, Write, & Create Sanctuary. Don’t buy your books on Amazon, support indie booksellers and shop online at the Reed, Write, & Create bookshop for a list of curated titles by BIPOC authors.

We’re back with season 3 of the Reed, Write, and Create Podcast! On episode 23 of the podcast, my guest is New York Times best-selling author, Tia Williams. Tia is an author of both YA titles and adult fiction. She wrote the bestselling debut novel The Accidental Diva and then penned two young adult novels, It Chicks and Sixteen Candles. Her award-winning novel, The Perfect Find is currently a Netflix movie starring Gabrielle Union. Her next novel, Seven Days in June was a New York Times bestseller and Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, and her new novel, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde, will be published by Grand Central on February 6, 2024. During the episode, Tia gets real about the challenges of writing while Black in the mainstream publishing industry. She speaks openly and honestly about the obstacles she faced getting her second adult novel published, even after the success of her former titles. She tells us what race had to do it, and most importantly, how and why she never gave up on her writing dreams. In the episode we also cover: The fun and not so fun parts about writing romance. How to write a good sex scene. Why BIPOC writers shouldn’t feel obliged to center trauma in their stories. It’s a great episode to kick off Season 3, Black History Month, and Valentine’s Day. I hope you enjoy our conversation. To learn more about Tia Williams, visit her website, TiaWilliams.net Find Tia on the socials. On Instagram On Facebook On Twitter/X To purchase a copy of Tia's delightful new novel, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde, visit the Reed, Write, & Create Online Bookshop and support independent bookstores. BIPOC woman writers: We have a supportive and active writing community where we provide you with the resources, accountability, and opportunities you need to get published and get paid. Visit ReedWriteandCreate.com and click on the The Sanctuary to learn more. Emerging and Seasoned writers are welcome. Sign up for the Reed, Write and Create newsletter Visit ReedWriteandCreate.com for more resources and inspiration on the writing life. Please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. Thank you!

Lori is taking a break from her winter break to share an update about the future of the podcast. The podcast is getting a new name! Find out what it is and what caused the change on this short but important episode. New Links for all things Reed, Write, & Create. The Reed, Write, & Create website. Reed, Write, & Create on Facebook. Reed, Write, & Create on Twitter @ReedWriteCre8 Reed, Write, & Create on IG @readwritecre8 To learn more about the fascinating history of the Papyrus plant and the origin story of the book, check out the amazing book called, Papyrus: The Invention of the Book in the Ancient World. by Irene Vallejo.

On episode 22 of the podcast, award-winning author, Ibi Zoboi is my guest. Ibi is the New York Times Bestselling author of the YA novel, American Street, which among other distinctions, was a National Book Award finalist. Ibi is the editor of the anthology Black Enough: Stories of Being Young and Black in America. She co-authored the Walter Award and L.A. Times Book Prize-winning novel-in-verse, Punching the Air, written with Exonerated Five member, Yusef Salaam. Her debut picture book, The People Remember, received a Coretta Scott King Honor Award. And her most recent books include Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler, Okoye to the People: A Black Panther Novel for Marvel, and her new novel, Nigeria Jones. During our conversation, Ibi shares her unique journey to publishing success, as well as the sacrifices and compromises she had to make in order to get her foot in the door of the mainstream publishing industry. She also shares her experiences writing for a book packaging company early on in her career. If you’re a fiction writer looking to break into the mainstream publishing industry, this is an important and informative episode to listen to and take notes. Writing Resources Mentioned in this Episode Ibi mentioned a lot of great resources within this episode. Here are a few you might want to check out. Ibi Zoboi’s website VONA Writing Workshop Clarion Workshop for Sci-Fi and Fantasy Writers Forbidden Planet Comic Bookstore in New York City Nikki Giovanni’s iconic poem Ego Trippin Alloy Entertainment If you want to learn more about Octavia Butler and her work, listen to our episode of the podcast on Octavia Estelle Butler. It’s really great. BIPOC Writers, We Got You! If you are a BIPOC woman writer looking for a supportive and active writing community, where we support and celebrate BIPOC women writers who want to get published and get paid, visit ReadWriteandCreate.com and click on the The Sanctuary tab. You can also sign up for the Read, Write and Create newsletter, which is the first place where you’ll find out about my latest classes and creative offerings. Sign up on the Read, Write and Create website. The RWC Gift Guide for BIPOC writers and readers was created for you! There are some really unique gifts listed on the guide that your writer and reader friends will love, plus the guide is not too long so you can quickly find the perfect gift and then get back to writing. Be sure to visit The Read, Write and Create online bookshop, where you’ll find a whole shelf of books that make great gifts. You will also find the books of all of the guests who have appeared on the podcast highlighted there as well. Remember a purchase from our bookshop goes to support this podcast and independent booksellers everywhere. We’ll be back in February. Until then, keep writing and keep creating. Happy Holidays!