Author: Keisha Parks
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My Journal Ecosystem: 6 Months Later
It’s been 6 months of my journaling to rewire my brain and fight oppression. So let’s review how my journal ecosystem has changed: what’s new, what’s been abandoned, and how I use this journal ecosystem to move forward.
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It’s Infuriating When Folks Say, “I Read to Escape”
I know some folks want to push back on this type of intentional reading, but in 2026, we need a change. We are losing our rights and critical-thinking skills en masse, and I need folks to combat this trend. So, acknowledge this for the rant that it is as I explain why escapism must be…
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“Deep Breaths”- A Short Story
This week’s post is an original speculative short story about Sarissa, a Black teenage girl who meets several versions of herself after meditating in an attempt to figure out her future. This story is inspired by a conversation with a friend about healing and speaking life into your inner child.
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Review: The Mask of Haliya, Vol.1: Heir to the Warrior Moon
Imprint: Kwento Comics Genre: Fantasy Own Voices: Filipino mythology Audience: YA+ Creator: Cecilia Lim Writing Team: Kaitlyn Fajilan, Jenapher Zheng Art Team: Renoida Renovilla, Charlyn Duy, Kathryn Layno, Kristen Laroa, Ruth Anne Roman, Susan Bin, Justine Frany, Minerva Fox, Liezl Buenaventura, LA Guevarra, Mikaela Kaufman, Patricia Pria, Jamie Lee, Juliet H. Morin, and Haining San…
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Author Conversations in The Blerd Library: Falencia Jean- Francois
I went into Devil of the Deep by Falencia Jean-Francois, not remembering the synopsis. I just knew that the story was picked up by Left Unread, an imprint at Bindery Books, and its owner, Michael LaBorn, is widely known for uplifting stories that challenge the systems as we know them. How exciting it was to…
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Octavia E. Butler Didn’t Want A Survivor Reprint
I was shocked when I heard that Octavia E. Butler’s Survivor was returning to print. For a few seconds, I couldn’t figure out what to do with my body, my hands, this news. I went to check the official Octavia Butler Website, Hachette’s website, and their social media accounts, hoping this wasn’t true. But there…
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Black Girl Magic in Watercolors by Ravynn Stringfield
“Casta Davis could fly, and no one believed her.” It hooked my attention immediately. The line is concise, resigned, and beautiful—a callback to “The People Could Fly” by Virginia Hamilton. I loved the relatability of no one believing in Casta’s magic, or even the flawed perception of no one believing in her power. I read…
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28 Black Speculative Fiction Books For Black History Month
What is Black Speculative Fiction, anyway? For me, speculative fiction has two definitions. One overarching definition includes texts that use unreal elements in a story. This includes fantasy, alternative histories, magical realism, science fiction, some mysteries, and some horror. The second definition is more genre-specific and involves texts that propose a “what-if” scenario. I typically…
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Review: On Sundays She Picked Flowers by Yah Yah Scholfield
I finally have the words to describe one of my most anticipated and favorite reads of 2025. Yes, the literary horror novel On Sundays She Picked Flowers by Yah Yah Scholfield (they/ them) was traditionally published by Saga Press on January 27, 2026, but a version of the book had been circulating for some time.…
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No, White Booktok, I Don’t Want To See Your BBC (Black Book Collection)
I don’t want to see white folks with a stack of books by Black authors for Black History Month. Every year, it’s the annual showcase of all the Black stories the white reading community plans to read in February. They morphed into a version of Vanna White, parading their Black Book Collection to the interwebs,…
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Review: Timid by Jonathan Scott
The 2024 Scholastic Graphix, semi-autobiographical Timid is a coming-of-age story that follows Cecil Hall, a black middle schooler, as he navigates his new hometown of Boston, Massachusetts, and finds a friend group that appreciates his intersecting interests and beliefs. Originally from a predominantly black town in Florida, Cecil learns about code switching in predominantly white…
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If We’re Not Human, Why Color Inside the Lines?
In October 2025, I finally decided to go to grad school. The time felt right. I was more secure in what I wanted to research and had built a solid network of friends, peers, creatives, and academic/ research idols. I was also being bullied in the best way by people I admire to get my…
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Journaling to Rewire My Brain and Fight Oppression
It’s a journal ecosystem! At least that’s the trending terminology on YouTube. Thousands of monthly and annual journal prep videos are available on YouTube, especially in the last year, as more people seek to sever themselves from society’s obsessive use of technology. It’s part of the analog lifestyle, simplifying technology to be more present in…
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The Dead Withheld by L.D. Lewis: A Sapphic Paranormal Neo-Noir Review
Neon Hemlock has another hit on its hands with The Dead Withheld by L.D. Lewis. Published in 2025, the sapphic paranormal neo-noir novella follows Desdemona “Dizzy” Carter in her quest to find the murderer of her wife, Lonnie, the Fallen Angels serial killer. Dizzy is a Private investigator and a deadwalker witch, one who can…
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Author Conversations in The Blerd Library: Lawrence Lindell
Lawrence Lindell is brilliant. Every Lindell book I’ve read manages to pull at the depths of my being, reminding me how beautiful, heavy, messy, and hilarious life can be…and so, I am deeply honored to interview Lawrence Lindell about his origin story, craft, and his family-owned imprint, Laneha House. I hope you learn about and…