Author: Keisha Parks
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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…
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Superman Smashes The Klan May Be A Favorite Read of the Year
It is with great sadness that I admit my favorite comic of the year may be a Superman graphic novel. I know. I see the disappointment etched across your face, but please, have faith in me. Know that the rare occasion of such mainstream treachery has a point founded in the social commentary you associate…
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Author Conversations in The Blerd Library: M.H. Ayinde and A Song of Legends Lost
Now that a few months have passed, I interviewed Ayinde again, after the well-deserved international praise to see how things have changed and possibly get a sneak peek into Book 2!!
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I’d rather be an Eldritch Horror: Early Morning Musings
“If given the choice, what legendary monster would you choose to become? A vampire, werewolf, dragon? As he’s listing more and more monsters, I cut him off and I say, “an eldritch horror.” Hubby pauses his actions, looks thoughtfully into the ceiling, and then looks down at me, asking, “Like a Cthulhu?”
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Next Stop: Grad School- Thoughts After the Black Book Bash
At the end of the Black Book Bash, a group of creators sat and ate one last meal together. Each of them ordered some variation of meals they enjoyed throughout the weekend, hoping to maintain the good vibes now imbued in their lemon pepper wings, mimosas, cheesecakes, and burgers. They talked about the event and…
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A Trip Around the Sun Requires Reflections of Growth and Failures
“Heeeeeeyy…How ya’ll doing???” she says nervously as she plays with her hair, hoping her beloved community didn’t take offense to her unscheduled absence. It’s been a while, but as I reflect on my 37th trip around the sun today, I wanted to give some updates (and I finally found inspiration to write while doing my…
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Your Bookshelves Tell Us Your Truth: Personal Ethics in Literature
Because who are we if not the art we consume? Literature is art. Art is political; therefore, literature is political.
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Hello God, Are You There?: The Intersection of Religion and Subversion in Godpunk
My parents weren’t particularly religious until it was time to place judgment on others. But that didn’t stop my aunt from trying to convince me otherwise. I remember one of the few times she took me to her church. We woke up before sunrise to make a trek from Brooklyn to the Bronx to an…
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‘Southern Hospitality’: A Graphic Representation of Racism and Revenge in Comics
Months later, the movie Sinners still sits with me, so I felt obligated to write about a comic short that reminded me of the film. Specifically Smoke’s last stand with the Ku Klux Klan. In “Southern Hospitality,” written by Mikhail Hardy with art and colors by Eli John and Robin L. Davis, the main character,…
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Short Story Sessions: Empathy and Identity in ‘Presence’ by Ken Liu
I chose this short story after a recent conversation about the author, Ken Liu. While sharing book recommendations and current reads, I said, “Dandelion Dynasty is the greatest series I never finished.” In fact, The Wall of Storms is easily one of the top five books I have ever read. I wanted to convince myself…
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Exploring Short Stories: A Journey Through Diverse Narratives
I have a new reading goal and want to share it with the world to find like-minded readers. For the foreseeable future, I want to read one speculative fiction short story, written by Black, Indigenous, and other Authors of Color every week and analyze them here! I have always loved short stories. As a reader,…
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Why Beginner Fantasy Readers Should Read Eve and the Faders by Berneta L. Haynes and Lornett B. Vestal: Book Review
Eve and the Faders has a complex, amazingly depicted main character in Eve Cooper. Eve is a queer woman in a Black polyamorous relationship, and I LOVED it so much. The couple (Eve, Zoe, and Gabriel) are not perfect, yet the authors explore the difficulties that can come with being in a poly relationship in…
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Harmattan Season by Tochi Onyebuchi: A Unique Postcolonial Fantasy Noir- Book Review
I wouldn’t call myself an arc reader because I rarely get to them in time, but I have two arcs I will have read and reviewed before they release! It’s the small wins in life that bring me joy these days. This first ARC is from Tor Books and is slated to be published on…
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Return of the Sistah Samurai: A Champloo Novel by Tatiana Obey Exclusive Cover Reveal!!!!!
This year, Tatiana is blessing us with the sequel to Sistah Samurai, titled Return of the Sistah Samurai: A Champloo Novel on Juneteenth, and I am so excited to share the cover with you here!!!
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Exploring Grief and Revenge in ‘The Lady Widow: Death Among the Stars’: Book Review
I saw it in a TikTok video. C.M. Lockhart was talking about her upcoming release about a woman who travels through space to get revenge for the murder of the love of her life. Naturally, I was interested. It took a while to unpack my feelings about this book, but overall, it did a great…