This bonus episode of Black & Published features an episode of the Reed, Write and Create podcast hosted by award-winning author and creative writing coach, Lori L. Tharps. On the podcast, Lori offers bite-sized sessions of creative writing coaching based on the lives and times of our BIPOC literary ancestors, and she interviews successful BIPOC authors who share their stories and strategies for a productive and prolific literary life. This episode features her conversation with author Ibi Zoboi about what it takes to make it in the YA world.

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This week on Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Arionne Nettles, author of the book, We Are The Culture: Black Chicago's Influence on Everything. A university lecturer at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism as well as a culture reporter, Arionne's book is as much a love letter to her city as it is putting the world on notice… that Chicago is the epicenter for all things culture and cool… with receipts.

In our conversation, Arionne explains why writing this book was really about asking questions people had been waiting all their lives to answer. Plus… how she balanced Chicago’s media reputation with the reality of the home she knows and loves. And… the stories she had to leave on the cutting room floor.

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IG: @blkandpublished
Twitter: @BLKandPublished

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IG: @nikesha_elise
Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise
Website: www.newwrites.com

This week on Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Julian Randall author of the essay collection The Dead Don't Need Reminding: In Search of Fugitives, Mississippi and Black TV Nerd Shit. Julian, who is also the author of the Cave Canem poetry prize winning collection, Refuse, got their start as a slam poet. In making the transition from the stage to the page they say talking to themselves instead of an audience was difficult.

In our conversation, Julian discusses how they use pop culture as a tool to evoke collective memory while also mining their own remembrances and ancestry that led them to actively chose to live.. when at times… all they wanted to do was die.

Support the show

Follow the Show:

IG: @blkandpublished
Twitter: @BLKandPublished

Follow Me:

IG: @nikesha_elise
Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise
Website: www.newwrites.com