Black Chick Lit

Episode 55: ’Everything’s Fine’ Sep 01, 2023

There's been a lot of discourse surrounding our latest pick. Everything's Fine by Cecelia Rabess has been fodder for a think piece by The New York Times, an interview in The CUT and hundreds of hot takes on Twitter.

Was the book worth all that chatter? Not really. Listen in as we discuss the "controversy" surrounding the book's marketing, what we think the author was trying to achieve and the authenticity of fake hair.

We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

Episode 55: Surviving Thrillers as a Black Woman w/ Rachel Howzell Hall Aug 11, 2023

Hi, readers!

We've got another fun interview for you this month. We chatted with author and self-proclaimed L.A. stan Rachel Howzell Hall about her new book, What Never Happened, and what it's like to be a Black woman in the thriller space — whether that be as an author or a main character.

Learn more about the plotting process and character development of thriller characters, Rachel's philosophy on plot twists and which of her books she thinks she'd survive.

(Interview begins at 12:48)

Rachel Howzell Hall is the New York Times bestselling author of We Lie Here; These Toxic Things; And Now She's Gone; They All Fall Down; and, with James Patterson, The Good Sister, which was included in Patterson's collection The Family Lawyer. A Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist as well as an Anthony, International Thriller Writers, and Lefty Award nominee, Rachel is also the author of Land of Shadows, Skies of Ash, Trail of Echoes, and City of Saviors in the Detective Elouise Norton series. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. Find her on Twitter and Instagram.

As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Bryonna, Claire, Erica, Frank, I Found This Great Podcast, Jennifer, Kat, Martel, Montara and Noelia.

If you like what you hear, be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n. And thanks to YOU for listeni

Episode 54: Celebrating Pride with Kianna Alexander Jun 12, 2023

Hi, readers! It's June and Black Chick Lit is celebrating Pride month!

Given all the mess happening in the news, the government and even at Target, we wanted to do a special episode to talk about what's going on and how it impacts Black women.

We spoke with author and speaker Kianna Alexander on what Pride means to her, her journey to finding her identity and how all of that impacts her writing and reading.

Kianna is the author of more than 40 books and her latest, Can't Let Her Go, will be released on June 20. This follow-up to her previous book, Can't Resist Her, follows Peaches and Jamie, two professional Black women, as they “push past the boundaries of friendship into something deeper.” Find her at Twitter at @KiannaWrites and Instagram at kiannaalexanderwrites.

As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Bryonna, Claire, Erica, Frank, I Found This Great Podcast, Jennifer, Kat, Martel, Montara and Noelia.

If you like what you hear, be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

Episode 53: ’Everybody Ain’t Your Friend’ Jan 30, 2023

Happy new year, readers! We're kicking off 2023 as we do every year with mess and hijinks. It's Urban Fic Month, and this year, we read Everybody Ain't Your Friend, by Tanisha Stewart.

This isn't a lesson we needed to learn, but our main character, Mia, was in desperate need of some education. How did she have so many unstable people in her life and not notice it? Why didn't she block anyone on Facebook? Why did she spell Tyreke with an "I"? So much to learn.

As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons! If you want to be among our favorite people in the world, support us over on Pateron.

We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

BCL Chat: ’Kindred’ and Black SFF Panel Discussion Dec 14, 2022

Hey readers! We're still getting hyped for FX's new series, Kindred. Last time, we gave you a refresher (or possibly an introduction) to Octavia Butler and her work. In this episode, we invited an awesome panel of sci-fi fans and creators to chat about Butler, her legacy and what we hope to see in future adaptations of her work.

Our awesome panelists are:

Isis Asare is the founder and CEO of Sistah Scifi, the first Black owned bookstore focused on science fiction and fantasy in the United States.
Damian Duffy is a cartoonist, scholar, writer, curator, lecturer, teacher and award-winning bestselling graphic novelist.
John Jennings is a professor, author, graphic novelist, curator, Harvard Fellow and all-around champion of Black culture.
Nova Sparks is a writer who grew up watching and reading science fiction, horror, and fantasy and quickly became a fanatic.

They share how they discovered her work, what science fiction and fantasy mean to Black readers and their hopes for future works. Duffy and Jennings previously worked on Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, which we chatted about before. Listen in and get nerdy.

Thanks to our sponsor FX for supporting this episode. Kindred is streaming now only on Hulu.

And as always, thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

Episode 51: An Introduction to Octavia Butler & ’Kindred’ Nov 14, 2022

Hey, readers,

We're doing something special this episode! In preparation of FX's new series Kindred, which will stream on Hulu beginning Dec. 13, we've decided to study up and learn more about the book and its genius author, Octavia Butler.

Join us as we share some cool info about Ms. Butler, including what she had to say about her ability to write the future with eerie accurateness. Fun fact: The people at NASA are some real sci-fi nerds. Our girl Octavia has not one but two(!) astronomical features named after her.

Then, we dig into Kindred, Butler's most iconic title. We've discussed a Kindred adaptation before, but this time we really get into Dana's struggle. Not only does she have to deal with one ancestor who's a racist slaveowner and another who hates her, she also has to put up with her husband's shit!

Listen in and get ready for the first-ever TV adaptation of Kindred!

Be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

Thanks to our sponsor FX for supporting us with this episode. And as always, thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

Episode 50: The Color Purple (Part 2) Sep 12, 2022

Hey, readers! We're continue our celebration of Black Chick Lit with the second part of our discussion of the Black girl classic, The Color Purple by Alice Walker. We read the book and watched Steven Spielburg's 1986 film, made famous by Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover and, the Queen of the Nineties herself, Oprah!

Be cure to check out the first part of our conversation if you missed it. We finish up by discussing the tragic story of Sophia, that time Celie got a bit murder-y and the redemption of ol' down dirty Mr. _____.

Don't forget: In celebration of our pod-iversary, we're giving away four $30 gift cards to Amazon! Treat yourself to some books or a few months of Kindle Unlimited! All you need to do is follow us on Twitter at @blackchicklit and quote tweet us sharing your favorite moment from The Color Purple.

If you want to be among our favorite people in the world, support us over on Pateron. As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Ali, Andrea, Bryonna, Catherine, Claire, Ellen, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Martel, Montara, Noella, Ruth, Therese and Whitney.

We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

Episode 49: The Color Purple (Part 1) Aug 29, 2022

Hey, readers!

We're celebrating six years of Black Chick Lit with a discussion of the Black girl classic, The Color Purple by Alice Walker. We read the book and watched Steven Spielburg's 1986 film, made famous by Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover and, the Queen of the Nineties herself, Oprah!

You know what this book is about. So, join us as we talk about Ms. Celie, THE Shug Avery, and that low-down dirty dog Mr. ______. We'll finish up the conversation in two weeks, so be sure to join us then, too!

Don't forget: In celebration of our pod-iversary, we're giving away four $30 gift cards to Amazon! Treat yourself to some books or a few months of Kindle Unlimited! Listen in for more details.

If you want to be among our favorite people in the world, support us over on Pateron. Rewards include a shout-out on every episode of the podcast and exclusive audio/chats.

As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Ali, Andrea, Bryonna, Catherine, Claire, Ellen, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Martel, Montara, Noella, Ruth, Therese and Whitney.

We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

Episode 48: A Glimmer of Death Mar 07, 2022

This winter, we got cozy with the podcast's first cozy mystery. We read A Glimmer of Death by Valerie Wilson Wesley, the first in the Odessa Jones series. We loved the characters in this book — and there are a bunch of them.

There's Charlie, Dessa's asshole boss/murder victim; Harley, her co-worker, whose innocence Dessa is tasked with proving; and Lennox, a former cop turned BBQ pit master who thinks Dessa is in way over her head. We gossip about all of them and their mess.

We also chat about new trucks, black women and fiber arts, and planes versus trains.

If you want to be among our favorite people in the world, support us over on Pateron. Rewards include a shout-out on every episode of the podcast and exclusive audio/chats.

As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Ali, Andrea, Bryonna, Catherine, Claire, Ellen, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Martel, Montara, Noella, Ruth, Therese and Whitney.

We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

Episode 47: Butterfly Feb 07, 2022

We wanted to learn more about the female half of Ashley and JaQuavis, so for this year's Urban Fic Month, we read Butterfly by Ashley Antoinette.

Did we know what was going on? Barely. This series is a spin-off of a spin-off that started with her title Moth to a Flame. Did that stop us from judging the hell out of it? Absolutely not. Is Morgan a Bad Bitch or a spoiled one? Why the hell does everyone in this book hate rich, popular, caring family-man Bash? Why are women in these books constantly putting fruit up their vaginas?? We don't find the answers to any of these questions, but we had fun asking them.

If you want to be among our favorite people in the world, support us over on Pateron. Rewards include a shout-out on every episode of the podcast and exclusive audio/chats. As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Ali, Andrea, Bryonna, Catherine, Claire, Ellen, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Martel, Montara, Noella, Ruth, Therese and Whitney.

We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

BCL Chat: The Horror Nov 29, 2021

In this episode, we're joined by a special guest, Frank, to discuss another of our favorite genres: horror! Why does it share in common with romance? What defines a work of horror? And why are people trying so hard to "elevate" the genre?

We also brainstorm the perfect romance for Frank to try and list off a dozen of different horror recs.

If you wanna be part of the cool kids club, head over to Pateron and sign up. You’ll also get access to bonus materials including video and podcast outtakes.

As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Ali, Andrea, Brittney, Bryonna, Catherine, Claire, Ellen, Emily, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Katie, Lauren, Martel, Melissa, Sylvia, Therese, Whitney and YM. We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

Episode 46: These Toxic Things Oct 18, 2021

October is here, and we're ready to get creepy.

This episode, we read These Toxic Things by Rachel Howzell Hall. It was full of creepy stalkers, ruthless serial killers, explosive family secrets and ... one big dummy of a main character. (Mickie, girl, here's some advice: don't sleep with dudes you suspect may have killed their own mother.)

We also chat about getting into the holiday spirit, that L.A. life and Rachel's expanded KU universe.

If you wanna be part of the cool kids club, head over to Pateron and sign up. You’ll also get access to bonus materials including video and podcast outtakes. As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Ali, Andrea, Brittney, Bryonna, Catherine, Claire, Ellen, Emily, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Katie, Lauren, Martel, Melissa, Sylvia, Therese, Whitney and YM.

We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

Episode 45: Loving My Wife and Her Sister Too ft. Ratchet Book Club Sep 03, 2021

This episode, we're joined by Derrik of the Ratchet Book Club to discuss Loving My Wife and Her Sister, Too by Lady Lissa and Shelli Marie.

We meet Analise (the wife), Zakiya (the sister) and Gavin (the fuckboy) and dig into the messiness (or lack thereof) of their lives. Is Gavin a predator who groomed his wife (and her sister, too)? Would Analise ever cheat on Gavin? Who the fuck even is Micaela??

We also talk about the unexplored rachetness of Kindle Unlimited, new merch slogans and other things you should and could do besides read this book.

If you wanna be part of the cool kids club, head over to Pateron and sign up. You’ll also get access to bonus materials including video and podcast outtakes.

As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Ali, Andrea, Brittney, Bryonna, Catherine, Ellen, Emily, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Katie, Lauren, Martel, Melissa, Sylvia, Therese, Whitney and YM. We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

Episode 44: The Other Black Girl Aug 20, 2021

We’re getting spooky already at Black Chick Lit. This month, we read The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris and we had … thoughts. Listen in as we discuss what makes good Black horror, hair products you need to stay away from and iffy Instagram hashtags.

If you wanna be part of the cool kids club, head over to Pateron and sign up. You’ll also get access to bonus materials including video and podcast outtakes.

As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Ali, Andrea, Brittney, Bryonna, Catherine, Ellen, Emily, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Katie, Martel, Melissa, Sylvia, Therese, Whitney and YM.

We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

Episode 43: While Justice Sleeps Jun 23, 2021

There were so many Arrested Development jokes we could have made.

We're back for take two of our discussion of Stacey Abrams' novel While Justice Sleeps. It's not Ms. Abrams' writing debut, it is the first fiction book she's written under her name since becoming a national political force.

And, to be honest, this book may be too smart for us. Along with complicated word puzzles, sophisticated chess analogies and bioengineering (wasn't expecting that!), this legal thriller dives into some pretty niche elements of constitutional law.

Listen in as we struggle to figure out just what the hell is going on. Does Justice Howard Wynn have a right to be paranoid? How did he trick a law clerk into signing a serious legal document without looking at it? Is he Black?!

If you wanna be part of the cool kids club, head over to Pateron and sign up. You’ll also get access to bonus materials including video and podcast outtakes.

As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Ali, Andrea, Brittney, Bryonna, Catherine, Ellen, Emily, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Katie, Martel, Melissa, Sylvia, Therese, Whitney and YM.

We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

BCL Chat: Back to Our Messy Roots May 31, 2021

We felt like stirring up shit this episode, so we asked you to share your messiest, no-holds-barred book opinions.

Okay ya'll - #BCLChat is BACK! Tell us your messiest, most hatin ass, I said what I said book opinion. We'll discuss answers in our next bonus ep! pic.twitter.com/2T96Kio5UH

— Black Chick Lit (@blackchicklit) May 19, 2021

Needless to say, you all delivered. Listen in as we discuss your opinions, from your distrust of certain authors to roasting entire POVs. We also talk Black authors and interracial romance, leaving YA for the teens and our thoughts on taboo literature.

If you wanna be part of the cool kids club, head over to Pateron and sign up. You’ll also get access to bonus materials including video and podcast outtakes.

As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Ali, Andrea, Brittney, Bryonna, Catherine, Ellen, Emily, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Katie, Martel, Melissa, Sylvia, Therese, Whitney and YM.

We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

Episode 42: Such A Fun Age May 17, 2021

We're digging into all the -isms in this episode, y'all. We read Such a Fun Age, by Kiley Reid, which takes a sharp look at racism, classism and all the ways they can fuck up our lives.

We read as Emira struggles to manage two flavors of problematic white people: her overcompensating, liberal #girlboss boss and her wanna-be-down love interest. They're both a mess and we hate them both!

Listen in for a discussion on the insidiousness of microagressions, the cult of motherhood and how #ZaraWasRight.

If you wanna be part of the cool kids club, head over to Pateron and sign up. You’ll also get access to bonus materials including video and podcast outtakes. As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Ali, Andrea, Brittney, Bryonna, Catherine, Ellen, Emily, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Katie, Martel, Melissa, Sylvia, Therese, Whitney and YM.

We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

BCL Chat: The Outrage Machine and Book Publishing May 03, 2021

Hey, readers. Life really came and kicked some of us in the teeth, but we're back, we got all our shots and we're talking books.

Bad news is good news, it turns out. Join us as we catch up, talk Simon & Schuster's complete lack of fucks and accept the fact that we are, in fact, nerds on a power trip. We also try to figure out what Middle Grade is and whether it's just for middle-schoolers. (Turns out, no!)

QUESTION: What are your favorite middle grade books for an 8 year old who is reading above her age?

— Black Chick Lit (@blackchicklit) April 25, 2021

Be sure to join us later this month when we talk Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid.

If you wanna be part of the cool kids club, head over to Pateron and sign up. You’ll also get access to bonus materials including video and podcast outtakes. As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Ali, Brittney, Bryonna, Catherine, Ellen, Emily, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Katie, Martel, Melissa, Sylvia, Therese, Whitney and YM.

We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

Episode 41: The Cartel Feb 02, 2021

Happy 2021, lovely listeners! It's our favorite time of the year: Urban Fic Month. (Okay, so we were still a little hungover from 2020 and this episode is a tad late. Forgive us!)

This year, we read a classic: The Cartel, by Ashley & JaQuavis. There's money, romance, murder and a lot of anti-Haitian sentiment. It's uncomfortable. There's also some "sexy" farting (or should we say queuing?), a graphic castration and a whole lot of colorism. Get the alcohol ready, because this one is wild.

Trigger warning for a mention of rape and discussion of homophobia starting at 1:07:40.

If you wanna be part of the cool kids club, head over to Pateron and sign up. You’ll also get access to bonus materials including video and podcast outtakes.

As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Adoria, Ali, Brittney, Bryonna, Catherine, Ellen, Emily, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Katie, Maria, Martel, Melissa, Montara, Sylvia, Terri, Therese, Whitney and YM.

We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

And thanks to YOU for listening! In this episode:

The Burning God by R.F. Kuang
Lead From the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change by Stacey Abrams
Our Time is Now: Power, Purpose, and the Fight for a Fair America by Stacey Abrams
Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson
Deacon King Kong by James McBride

BCL Chat: Hindsight is 2020 Dec 28, 2020

We’re wrapping up 2020 by talking about all the things we did (and didn’t do) to keep our heads above water. Sister Sistermarathon anyone?

Topics include:

Dr. Jill Biden
Booktube shenanigans
a campaign to get Dani to play Mass Effect
Mollie saying Dallinar a lot
and a reflection on our very social year

Thanks as always to our generous patrons — we’ve got a ton of extras from this episode coming your way! Shout out to Martel, Jennifer, Ansela, Therese, Melissa, Catherine, Katie, Emily, LaToya, Ali, Kat, Montara, Maria, Adoria, Frank, Ellen, Sylvia, Bryonna and Curtis.

And thanks to Suite45 for use of our theme, Jonse’n.

We’ll see you all in 2021 for Urban Lit January!

Episode 40: Cinderella is Dead ft. Colored Pages Book Club Podcast Oct 30, 2020

This month, Ako & Marci from The Colored Pages Book Club drop by to talk Cinderella is Dead by Kaylnn Brown.This episode is bringing Big Pieces (and Pisces Moon) energy, ya’ll.

We talk pig infrastructure, we sympathize with evil witches and we ask, what exactly was the plan? Also discussed in this episode:

Patsy by Nicole Dennis-Benn
Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones
Ghost Boy by Martin Pistorius
The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson
And Then She’s Gone by Rachel Howzell Hall

As always, shout out to our Patrons: Martel, Jennifer, Ansela, Therese, Melissa, Catherine, Katie, Emily, LaToya, Ali, Kat, Montara, Maria, Adoria, Frank, Ellen, Sylvia, Bryonna and Curtis, because we literally could not do this without your support.

And thanks to Suite 45 for use of our theme Jonse’n (seriously, like three separate people told me how much they liked it this past month).

Episode 39: When No One is Watching Sep 18, 2020

What’s this? Another special guest?!

This week we read When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole, and we’re not gonna lie, the discussion goes in some weird places (apologies in advance to Robo X).

This is a thriller and it’s SPOILER FREE YA’LL, so you really have no excuse to download, listen, then go read this book!

As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Martel, Jennifer, Ansela, Therese, Melissa, Catherine, Katie, Emily, LaToya, Ali, Kat, Montara, Maria, Adoria, Frank, Ellen, Sylvia, Bryonna and Curtis.

If you wanna be part of the cool kids club, head over to Pateron and sign up. You’ll also get access to bonus materials including a read-along vlog and some clips from this episode that were cut for time (wait, who is reading my period tracker?).

We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

In this episode:

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan
I Want My Hat Bac by Jon Klassen
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
This is how the robot uprising starts

Episode 38: The Boyfriend Project ft. Farrah Rochon Aug 28, 2020

We're back and we have another special guest joining us this week! (Honestly, we're not used to being so popular.)

This episode, we read The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon, and got to chat about the book with the author herself.

She spoke with us about the differences between traditional and indie publishing, how Samiah and her girls came to be and whether Daniel is too perfect a romance hero.

She also gives us a few hints about the next book in The Boyfriend Project series.

Thanks to our patrons for their support: Adoria, Ali, Ansela, Bryonna, Catherine, Ellen, Emily, Frank, I Found This Great Book Podcast, Jennifer, Kat, Katie, LaToya, Maria, Martel, Melissa, Montara, Sylvia and Therese. Join us on Patreon starting at only $2 a month and help support the podcast!

Thank you for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

Episode 37: Take a Hint, Dani Brown ft. Talia Hibbert Aug 08, 2020

We got a real treat for y'all this episode! We read Take a Hint, Dani Brown, by Talia Hibbert, and were joined by the author herself for a conversation about everything including her move from indie publishing to traditional, the Black Lives Matter movement in Europe and whether her parents read her books.

We did manage to also chat about Zaf, Dani and their hilarious romantic hijinks.

Thanks to our patrons for their support: Adoria, Ali, Ansela, Bryonna, Catherine, Ellen, Emily, Frank, I Found This Great Book Podcast, Jennifer, Kat, Katie, LaToya, Maria, Melissa, Montara, Sylvia and Therese. Join us on Patreon starting at only $2 a month and help support the podcast!

As always, thanks for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

BCL Chat: Black Lives Matter Jul 06, 2020

Hi, readers. We hope you’re doing well and are staying safe. We recorded this chat shortly after the protests began, but due to continuing health issues in Dani’s family, it just now got published.

The delay doesn’t matter, though, because the topic we discuss will never go stale: the importance of Black lives, Black joy, Black stories and Black survival.

We also talk about wtf is up with Just Kidding Rowling, how we’re too old for social media and what’s gonna happen when the ‘rona pops back up.

This episode was made possible with the help of Mocha Girls Read and The Black Cabinet: The Untold Story of African Americans and Politics During the Age of Roosevelt by Jill Watts.

Do you have a suggestion for a future #BCLChat? Email us at contact@blackchicklit.com or tweet us at @blackchicklit. And don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to Black Chick Lit on iTunes.

Ice Planet Podcast: ’Barbarian’s Seduction’ (Episode Seventeen) Jun 30, 2020

Considering the number of co-hosts who have joined me on this podcast who discovered this series through a bonkers panel hosted by historical romance novelist Sarah MacLean, I had to have her on the podcast. The podcast just wouldn't be complete without it.

In this episode, we talk about our very, very French heroine, Marlene, and her shy beau, Zennek. We also discuss the appeal of bonkers books, the future of the Ice Planet tribe and the genius of Ruby Dixon's world-building.

This is the last episode for this batch (er, season?) before the podcast goes on hiatus. It's been such a treat to talk about sex, love, romance, trauma, survival and horny blue aliens with all of my co-hosts and listeners.

This is a repost of episode seventeen of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian's Seduction. Originally published on June 30, 2020.

Ice Planet Podcast: ’Barbarian’s Beloved’ (Episode Sixteen) Jun 23, 2020

We're going back in time! In this episode, we flashback to the very beginning to see what went down when the Ice Planet's saddest woman and most emotionally intelligent hunter resonated.

Author Juno Sunbear declares Ariana the mascot for 2020 (Sad Bitch 2020) and I fawn over how great a job Zolaya does at helping her cope. We're both creeped out by their eerie kid, though.

We also talk about what's happening over at the Icehome Village. Do the new arrivals even know the Croatoan Village has indoor plumbing and heated floors? Did they get a choice before being abandoned on that beach? Justice for the Beach Tribe!

Be on the look out for the next episode when I’ll talk Barbarian’s Seduction with author Sarah MacLean!

This is a repost of episode sixteen of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian's Beloved. Originally published on June 23, 2020.

Ice Planet Podcast: ’Barbarian’s Tease’ (Episode Fifteen) Jun 16, 2020

This episode, I'm joined by author Katrina Jackson to discuss Barbarian's Tease, the 15th book in the Ice Planet Barbarians series. And, whew! Brook and Taushen really tested us in this one. They basically that one Katy Perry song.

They're also kind of dumb. 😂

Along with their antics, we discuss whether tails should be a requirement in alien romances, life in the new Icehome tribe and how Brook needs to LEAVE TIFFANY ALONE!

Be on the look out for the next episode when I'll talk Barbarian’s Beloved with erotica author Juno Sunbear.

This is a repost of episode fifteen of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian's Tease. Originally published on June 16, 2020.

Episode 36: Heaven, My Home Jun 05, 2020

Hi, y’all. A few things before we get to the episode:

Thank you for being so patient as we get episodes out. Between motherhood, a pandemic, a cancer diagnosis and failing technology, things have been rough.
This episode was recorded before the murder of George Floyd and the protests that followed, hence why there is no discussion of it. We plan to talk about it in a future chat.
Black Lives Matter. ✊🏿

Now, let’s get into. Previously, we read Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke, and we weren’t thrilled with Darren’s apparent naïveté surrounding race and law enforcement.

Well, Attica knocked us the fuck out with her follow-up, Heaven, My Home. We follow Texas Ranger Darren has he heads into Hopeland, Texas, to find the missing child of a prominent white supremacist gang member. While there, he confronts the town’s generational racism, family drama and even some fucking ghosts.

And then there’s that ending. It knocked us out.

Be sure to join us in our next episode when we fully explore the Black Lives Matter movement.

Thanks to our patrons for their support: Adoria, Ali, Bryonna, Emily, Frank, I Found This Great Book Podcast, Kat, Katie, LaToya, Maria, Montara and Sylvia. Join us on Patreon starting at only $2 a month and help support the podcast!

As always, thanks for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

Ice Planet Podcast: ’Barbarian’s Rescue’ (Episode Fourteen) Jun 02, 2020

Heyyyyyy, listeners! I hope you all are thriving and surviving as 2020 continues to 2020. I recorded this episode back in May and have finally kicked my butt in gear to share. Thank you for being so patient, 'cause I'm struggling. 🙃

But at least I'm having great conversations with funny people while doing so. This episode, I'm joined by Jenny Nordbak from the Wicked Wallflowers Club.

She and I discussed Barbarian's Rescue, also known as the one where everything gets blown up! Summer and Warrek are straight up action stars in this book ... and we skimmed all that to talk about the kissing.

We also try and figure out what is considered second base (over the shirt or under??) as well as what an Ice Planet Talent Show would look like.

Be sure to join me for the next book, Barbarian's Tease, when I'll be joined by author Katrina Jackson.

This is a repost of episode fourteen of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian's Rescue. Originally published on June 2, 2020.

Ice Planet Podcast: ’Barbarian’s Lady’ (Episode Thirteen) May 19, 2020

The series goes back to its roots in this book, with couples hiding from the tribe and making out in caves.

But things get messy (literally!) quickly for Kate and Harrec when the big blue barbarian suffers a serious injury. To complicate matters, our boy can't handle the sight of his own blood.

Ellen and Ellen's Mom from the Not Your Mom's Romance Book Club join me to discuss Ice Planet exposure therapy, Harrec's lack of game and whether the sa-khui kiss-and-tell.

Join me for the next episode when we discuss Warrek and Summer's book, Barbarian's Rescue.

This is a repost of episode thirteen of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian's Lady. Originally published on May 19, 2020.

Ice Planet Podcast: ’Barbarian’s Redemption’ (Episode Twelve) May 05, 2020

This book starts with the hero buying human slaves from intergalactic smugglers.

Big yikes!

Luckily for us, Ms. Dixon doesn't burden the story with descriptions of horrors and trauma. Instead, we follow our newly resonated couple, Bek and Elly, as they work to trust and understand one another.

Jen, from the Twitter account JenReadsRomance, joins me as we discuss Bek's surprising redemption (okay, not that surprising ... it's in the title).

Next week, I'll be joined by Ellen and Ellen's Mom from the Not Your Mom's Romance Book Club to discuss Barbarian's Lady. What debauchery have I introduced into their lives?!

This is repost of episode twelve of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian's Redemption. Originally published on May 5, 2020.

Ice Planet Podcast: ’Barbarian’s Choice’ (Episode Eleven) Mar 24, 2020

Things are tough right now. Why not avoid it all by listening to Heaving Bosoms' Melody and I talk about all the alien sex featured in Barbarian's Choice?

Our girl, Farli, is all grown up and looking for a resonance mate of her very own. Luckily for her, angsty mechanic Mardok lands on the ice planet. He's big, blue and broody. Even better, he's Farli's resonance mate.

Listen in as we answer questions you never had about sa-khui sex, anatomy and birth control.

Get ready for next week's episode when Jen of JenReadsRomance and I discuss Bek's big fuck-up in Barbarian's Redemption.

This is a repost of episode eleven of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian's Choice. Originally published on March 24, 2020.

Ice Planet Podcast: ’Barbarian’s Hope’ (Episode Ten) Mar 17, 2020

This is a heavy one, friends, so get the tissues ready. Andrea, from the Shelf Love Podcast joins me for a discussion of Barbarian's Hope.

We were impressed by all the emotional work Asha and Hemalo did to reconnect following their break up. Healthy conversations? Had 'em. Avoidance behavior? Called it out. Grief? Dealt with, but not minimized, in a productive manner. We stan a mentally healthy resonance couple.

Heads up, readers: Both the book and this episode deal with the loss of a child. Please be aware and listen with caution, if needed.

Things get even more out of this world in next week's episode, when Melody from the Heaving Bosoms podcast joins me to discuss Barbarian's Choice.

This is a repost of episode two of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian's Hope. Originally published on March 17, 2020.

Ice Planet Podcast: ’Barbarian’s Heart’ (Episode Nine) Mar 10, 2020

Erin, of the Heaving Bosoms podcast, and I discuss the tragic romance of Pashov and Stacey from Barbarian's Heart.

She loves him, but he can't remember her. It's my kryptonite, y'all.

We follow these two as they road-trip across the ice planet to the tribe's new home and try to repair their broken bond. But he keeps saying the wrong and she won't give the guy a break.

In one last ditch effort, Pashov "kidnaps" Stacey (with permission from his chief, of course) and whisks her away to a hunter cave to rekindle their romance.

Come back next week when Andrea, of the Shelf Love podcast, and I discuss Barbarian's Hope. Heads up for that one: the book contains discussion of the loss of a child.

This is a repost of episode nine of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian's Heart. Originally published on March 10, 2020.

Episode 35: Their Eyes Were Watching God Mar 09, 2020

Urban Lit Month continues? We read Their Eyes We're Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston and couldn't help but spot a few similarities between Janie Crawford and a few of other past heroines. (*cough* Zoe *cough*)

Her tragic background. Her wild and crazy man problems. Her relationship with a fast-talking man who introduces her to sex, fighting and gambling. Don't tell us this book isn't a proto-urban lit title!

We also discuss Tea Cake and his never-ending schemes, Hurston's history with the Niggerati (bet you didn't know about that!) and that mad dog who hitched a ride on that cow.

Be sure to join us next month when we read Attica Locke's Heaven, My Home.

As always, thanks to our patrons for their support: Frank, Kat, Montara, Bryonna, Ellen, I Found This Great Book Podcast, Sylvia, Adoria, Ali, Emily, LaToya and Maria. Join us on Patreon starting at only $2 a month and help support the podcast!

Thanks for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

Ice Planet Podcast: ’Barbarian’s Taming’ (Episode Eight) Mar 03, 2020

In case you didn't know, my all-time favorite gif is the one featuring Marie Kondo gleefully stating that she loves mess.

Well, Ms. Kondo, you'd love Barbarian's Taming, because our girl Maddie and her man, Hassen, are MESSY. Ana Coqui, of the Beyond the Sectors and RomBkLove podcasts, joins me as we discuss their questionable decisions.

Not only does Maddie pick the tribe's loneliest, most desperate man to have a no-strings-attached fling with (lol good luck enforcing that), she picks the dude who is exiled for stealing her own sister.

Somehow, though, these two outsiders make it work. But, will Maddie's sister ever accept them? Will Hassen be able to convince Vektal to put an end to his (admittedly mild) exile?

Turns out, none of that matters because a catastrophic earthquake destroys to Tribal Caves and puts the whole community out on the ice streets.

It's a plot-heavy read with some big consequences for the tribe. Listen in next week as I discuss Barbarian's Heart, featuring poor Pashov and his poor busted head, with Erin of Heaving Bosoms.

This is a repost of episode two of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian's Taming. Originally published on March 3, 2020.

Ice Planet Podcast: ’Barbarian’s Touch’ (Episode Seven) Feb 25, 2020

I can't believe I made it through this entire episode without making a single! Miss Cleo joke. This episode, Melinda, from Romance Sparks Joy, joins me to read about the Ice Planet's resident psychic and his alien girlfriend, Lila.

Lila gives us some of the series best character development, as she grows a timid damsel-in-distress to a daring outdoors-woman.

This books gives us a lot of series firsts, as well. We got the first mention of the fruit caves, the first hint that those creepy metlaks aren't as feral as they seem and, finally!, the series' first failed kidnapping. Hassen, buddy. Sucks for you.

Hear more about his sad punishment when I discuss Barbarian's Taming with Ana from the RomBkLove podcast and a reviewer for Love in Panels.

This is a repost of episode seven of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian's Touch. Originally published on Feb. 25, 2020.

BCL Chat: Oh No Baby! What Is You Doin'? Feb 24, 2020

2020 is about some real shenanigans. Between the brown-face fiasco Jeanine Cummins brought with her American Dirt release and the Barnes & Noble "Diverse Editions" mess, we've been facepalming since the new year began.

Flatiron Books tried to both-sides their way out of the Cummins mess with the year's worst PR statement. B&N took the classier route and just cancelled themselves.

Listen in as we stare agog at the state of modern publishing, and be sure to join us next month when we read the Black literary classic, Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston.

Do you have a suggestion for a future #BCLChat? Email us at contact@blackchicklit.com or tweet us at @blackchicklit. And don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to Black Chick Lit on iTunes.

Ice Planet Podcast: ’Barbarian’s Mate’ (Episode Six) Feb 11, 2020

We're taking it back to where it all began! This week, I'm joined by my longtime friend and cohost, Mollie, from Black Chick Lit. We discuss the very first book in the series that I ever read, Barbarian's Mate.

Mollie was there with me when I discovered the series, so it's only proper that she join me for this trip back to Not Hoth.

We had a lot of questions: How did Josie not feel that IUD slip out her pants? Where is the Ice Planet sex planet? And is Haeden actually an idiot?

The pod is off next week, but be sure to check back the following week when Melinda, from Romance Sparks Joy and the RomBkPod joins me to discuss book seven, Barbarian's Touch.

This is a repost of episode six of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian's Alien. Originally published on Feb. 11, 2020.

Bonus: Black Chick Lit takes over the Ice Planet Podcast Feb 10, 2020

We’re doing something different this month. Things are a bit busy with family and babies, so for this episode, we’re sharing a special, previously recorded crossover episode. Mollie joins Dani on the Ice Planet Podcast to discuss book six of the series, Barbarian’s Mate.

The Ice Planet Barbarians series follows a group of human women alien abductees as they adjust to life on a barren ice planet populated by big, blue aliens with heart worms. It’s a lot more romantic than I’m making it sound, I promise.

Be sure to share your opinions on the topic by tweeting us at @blackchicklit or emailing us at contact@blackchicklit.com.

Want more? Join us on Patreon and, starting at only $2 a month, get access to polls, special Patreon episodes and videos.

As always, thanks for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

Ice Planet Podcast: ’Barbarian’s Prize’ (Episode Five) Feb 04, 2020

We ruin all your favorite foods in this one.

This week, I'm joinedromance reader, blogger and Ice Planet newbie Funmi as we discuss Barbarian's Prize, Tiffany and Salukh's book.

Brace yourself, because this episode doesn't shy away from anything. Comparisons to Cinnabon icing and viscous Capri-Suns are made. Don't say I didn't warn you!

But along with that, we have a great discussion of trauma and healing after sexual assualt. We don't talk details, but you should definitely be aware that sexual assualt and rape are mentioned in this episode.

Get ready for the ultimate messiness next week when I'm joined by my Black Chick Lit co-host, Mollie, as we read Barbarian's Mate, the first book in the series I ever read!

This is a repost of episode five of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian's Prize. Originally published on Feb. 4, 2020.

Ice Planet Podcast: ’Barbarian Mine’ (Episode Four) Jan 28, 2020

Surprise, surprise: more dick talk.

This week, I’m joined by Erin from the Learning the Tropes podcast. Listen in as we discuss Barbarian Mine, the fourth book in the series featuring Harlow and mystery man Rukh.

We ask (and answer!) some v. important questions: Why do the sa-khui have spurs? What does a flaccid, plated dick look like? And just how loud do these khui scream when these couples resonate?

Please treat yo’self and check out the Learning the Tropes episode where they discuss Ice Planet Barbarians.

Next week, listen in for a discussion of Barbarian’s Prize with romance reader and blogger Funmi.

This is a repost of episode four of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian Mine. Originally published on Jan. 28, 2020.

Ice Planet Podcast: ’Barbarian Lover’ (Episode Three) Jan 21, 2020

So much talk about dildos in this one.

For this episode, I'm joined by Isabel of Romance Sparks Joy to discuss Barbarian Lover, Kira and Aehako's book.

We try and break down the real questions of this series: How do 7-foot-tall alien men romance 5-foot-tall human women? How is anyone getting any sleep in that loud fuck-cave? And why doesn't anyone care about what happened to Harlow?

This book also provided us some A+ comedy bits, highlighted by the gift of an anatomically correct bone dildo. (Bonus: here's the dildo that Isabel says would be a good stand-in for the sa-khui's junk.)

Prepare to delete your search history and join in. Next week, listen in for a discussion of Barbarian Mine with Erin of Learning the Tropes.

This is a repost of episode three of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian Lover. Originally published on Jan. 21, 2020.

Episode 34: Hold U Down Jan 20, 2020

It's the most wonderful time of the year! It's Urban Fic Month! This year, we go back home to Missouri and read Hold U Down by Keisha Ervin.

Meet Unique and her girls, Zoe, Kiara and Kay Kay, the mildest criminals the STL has to offer. They live by the code that requires them to make money, spend money and never catch feelings. They will spend the entirety of this book doing none of those things. We follow the clique as they get booed up, hang out at strip-mall night clubs and study at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

This book also competes for "Worst Sex Scene Involving a Perishable Food Item." We had to read about it, so y'all had to hear about it.

Be sure to share your opinions on the topic by tweeting us at @blackchicklit or emailing us at contact@blackchicklit.com.

Want more? Join us on Patreon and, starting at only $2 a month, get access to polls, special Patreon episodes and videos.

As always, thanks for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

Ice Planet Podcast: ’Barbarian Alien’ (Episode Two) Jan 14, 2020

Welcome back to the ice planet!

We meet Raahosh and Liz, the Ice Planet’s resident tsunderes. It’s the first of many kidnapping plots and many mispronunciations of Haeden’s name. It’s also the first of many, many, many discussions of the spur. Strap in.

For this episode, I’m joined by guests Bobbi and Ellen from The Lusty Intellectuals. They are actually the ones who retweeted that giant blue dildo photo in my Instagram feed that sort of sparked this whole thing, so it’s fitting. We’ve come full circle and now we’re all talking about blue dicks.

Thank you to everyone who listened, who shared, who tweeted, who left a comment or otherwise engaged with the podcast. I had a lot of fun putting that first episode together and I’m so happy to hear that people enjoyed listening to it.

Check out the pod next week when Isabel of Romance Sparks Joy joins me to discuss Barbarian Lover.

This is a repost of episode two of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian Alien. Originally published on Jan. 14, 2020.

Ice Planet Podcast: ’Ice Planet Barbarians’ (Episode One) Jan 07, 2020

This is happening folks! Thanks for joining me for this bonkers endeavor.

For the first episode, we go over just what the Ice Planet Barbarians series is, how I discovered (and why I can't leave. it. alone!) and dig into the very first book of the series, Ice Planet Barbarians.

We'll meet Georgie and Vektal, the de-facto leaders of the tribe; discover the joy of resonance, and, yes, the blue dicks. I know what ya'll are here for.

Sit back and enjoy! Be sure to listen in next week when I'll be joined by guests, Bobbi and Ellen from The Lusty Intellectuals.

This is a repost of episode one of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Ice Planet Barbarians. Originally published on Jan. 7, 2020.

BCL Chat: RIP, RWA Jan 06, 2020

Happy New Year, y’all! We hope you had a fantastic holiday and a wonderful start to your 2020.

‘Cause RWA certainly didn’t!

In case you missed it, the Romance Writers of America are embroiled in what the Guardian calls a "racism row." We attempt to break down what they fucked up this time and, whew, chile. It’s a mess.

FYI: This mess is currently ongoing and evolving; in fact, it was a bit out of date the afternoon we recorded. For the latest updates and wtf-ery?, we definitely recommend checking out this Twitter moment with all the details created by Romance Sparks Joy.

If you’re curious to learn more, we previously discussed the RWA’s inclusivity and racism problems in a previous episode. Mollie argued that an organization that didn’t look out for all its members was irrelevant and Dani argued that the organization served a purpose and was taking steps to amend their issues. Guess who came out the fool?

Do you have a suggestion for a future #BCLChat? Email us at contact@blackchicklit.com or tweet us at @blackchicklit. And don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to Black Chick Lit on iTunes.

And don’t forget: January is Urban Fic month! This year, we’re reading Hold U Down by Keisha Ervin. Read up, drink up (’cause you know this is our messiest episode) and join us!

BCL Chat: We Survived (and Thrived in) 2019 Dec 02, 2019

We can't believe it, dear readers, but we've made it through another year of reading, podcasting and doing both while black. The twitter dramas! The plagiarism scandals! The nacho cheese!

We take a look back and reflect on all the books read and craziness wrought in 2019. Which titles did we love this year? Which did we think was worse: Addicted or The Wedding Date? What was our favorite BCL episode of the year? Listen in and find out.

Do you have a suggestion for a future #BCLChat? Email us at contact@blackchicklit.com or tweet us at @blackchicklit. And don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to Black Chick Lit on iTunes.

And don’t forget: January is Urban Fic month! Want to pick this year's title? Join us on Patreon for only $2 a month and gain exclusive podcast voting rights.

Episode 33: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms Nov 18, 2019

Winter is coming. That means it's time for us to dive into the world of fantasy ( ... er, or into fantasy worlds).

This episode, we read N.K. Jemisin's 2010 debut novel, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. Mollie wasn't kidding when she said this was a sexy book. Gods sexing up gods. Gods sexing up humans. Humans sexing up their cousins. It's wild, y'all. But, in the midst of all the sexy times, there's a deftly crafted murder mystery that took us the majority of the episode to unspool. Listen in and follow along!

Get ready for the next episode, our annual End-of-Year retrospective. We'll chat about the bookish good, bad and the ugly. Got something you want say? Tweet us at @blackchicklit or email us at contact@blackchicklit.com.

Thanks for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. As always, thank you to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

BCL Chat: Our Favorite Diverse Kid Lit Titles Nov 04, 2019

Hey, readers! In this month’s episode we discuss the perilous world of shopping for diverse children’s books. We’re overwhelmed by how much there is to consider with presenting children with authentic representation of people of color: When was the first time we saw ourselves in literature? Does it matter who writes and/or illustrates the book? How well do books handle interracial families or inter-community topics like colorism? And is it cheating to just buy your kid a book about a bear? (Answer: yes.)

Listen in as we discuss these questions and promote a few of our favorite titles. Join us for our next episode when we read The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin. As always, thanks for listening! Be sure to follow us on Twitter at @blackchicklit or check us out on Instagram at @bclpodcast.

Links:

Just in case you missed the memo,Black people have always been around, thanks.
The Pew Research Center wants to know who’s not reading books?
I don’t know how we missed this original story, but, yes, quality genre fiction is just as good as quality literary fiction.
This chat was inspired by an article published by the School Library Journal that discussed the percentages of published children’s books featuring characters from diverse backgrounds. (A readable version of that graphic.)
Data were collected by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Episode 32: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Sep 25, 2019

The kids are back in school and we revisit a childhood favorite: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred Taylor. And, whew, boy! Ms. Taylor aimed to teach the kids the truth about racism and she went above in beyond to do so. This book had lynch mobs, roving Klansmen and three men being burned alive.

The big question is, how were either of us able to read this as kids and not be traumatized? Also, why did Stacey remain friends with the shifty-ass T.J.? And why was Papa Logan so quick to threaten to blow shit up?

Be sure to listen in on our next episode when we discuss the issue surrounding diverse kid lit. Thanks for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. As always, thank you to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

BCL Chat: YouTube and Black Booktubers Aug 26, 2019

We try to talk Booktube and get distracted by our general distrust of social media. Inspired by the HuffPost piece titled "Where Are All the Black Booktubers?," we decided to investigate the question ourselves.

What we found wasn't that surprising: Plain ol' racism is keeping many Black booktubers from thriving. Naya, of Naya Reads and Smiles (the largest channel lead by a black booktuber), also spoke on the issue in her own video. The disparity between White booktubers and Black booktubers is undeniable. “White BookTubers who garner at least 300,000 subscribers on their YouTube channels … and two out of three of them even have their own published novels. On the flip side, the most well-known African-American BookTuber to date is Naya Reads and Smiles, with only 58,000 subscribers, despite having been uploading videos for years.

In other news, we also discussed:

- Toni Morrison passed away, and Roxane Gay wrote a great piece for The New York Times about her legacy. There were also great pieces in The Atlantic, The New Yorker and Sojourners.
- Speaking of New York Times. An editor at there was demoted following multiple bad takes regarding race and his entitled behavior/harassment toward Roxane Gay.
- This bold take claiming there's no point in reading anything if it's not a classic.
- Whether this guy is an asshole for eating three feet of a six-foot sub.

Episode 31: They All Fall Down Aug 12, 2019

Happy August, readers! This month, we wanted a light beach read to help us make it through these remaining dog days of summer. Instead, we got a wild And Then There Were None-inspired murder fest where a man gets boiled alive in a hot tub. Fun.

We read They All Fall Down, by Rachel Howzell Hall, and it's full to the brim of assholes. We read as an equally asshole-y lawyer lures them to a tropical paradise where they're cut down one by one. There are guns, cocaine, poisonous sushi and, deadliest of all, the world's longest silk scarf.

Listen in as we discuss this motley crew of murderers and bandits and decide who had the best (worst?) death.

No BCLChat question this time! In our next episode, we’re trying something new. Instead of asking you guys a question and sharing your answers, we’re going to pick a topic or issue to discuss and have more structured (read: researched lol) conversations about them. More episodes like our #RITASsoWhite discussion, for example. Next chat, we’re discussing black booktubers and discuss the issues they face on the platform.

Thanks for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. As always, thank you to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

BCL Chat: Your Most Anticipated 2019 Reads Jul 21, 2019

Happy July! It's a chattier chat than usual as we dig into some book news from around Twitter and the business pages.

Angie Thomas kicks off Twitter controversy by ... asking not to be tagged in reviews?
Microsoft shut down its ebook service, meaning customers who bought books through that service lost them. This is a good reminder to us all that we don’t actually own our ebooks.
Loud, ignorant people on the internet are mad that Halle Bailey got a job as Ariel in Disney's The Little Mermaid remake.

We also asked you all what upcoming releases you're most looking forward to. You gave us some great titles to add to our TBR. Thanks to @curvyblackgeek, @almost_esq, @IamTammiJ and @charelliam for sending us their picks!

As always, thanks for listening and be sure to check out our next episode when we read and discuss They All Fall Down by Rachel Howzell Hall.

Episode 30: The Wedding Date Jun 28, 2019

This is the last time we talk about this book and this author. That's a promise.

We invite our friends from Mocha Girls Read for a special episode. We briefly talk about that crazy YA author who now has a book deal before digging into Jasmine Guillory's The Wedding Date. Spoiler alert: We're all kinds of confused. What does Drew actually look like? What happened to Alexa to make her so stupid? Do these characters ever eat a vegetable? We don't answer any of 'em, but we give it a try.

Follow Mocha Girls Read at @mochagirlsread and visit them at mochagirlsread.com. Be sure to check out #SummerSoulLit on Twitter.

As always, join us for our next BCL Chat! We want to know your most anticipated reads for the second half of 2019. Take part in the discussion by tweeting us at @blackchicklit.

Thanks for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. As always, thank you to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

BCL Chat: Who Are Your Favorite Indie Authors? Jun 21, 2019

We're celebrating the little guys (well, gals, tbh) this episode as we discuss your favorite indie authors.

Before that, we talk some book news. People keep coming for libraries, and this time it was in the dumbest way possible. Rare Bird is being sued by Natasha Tynes for $13 MILLION and their lawyer found time in his day to send this response. And finally, The Atlantic came for the Goodreads Challenge. Thanks to everyone who replied to our #BCLChat. Check out the authors and books we discussed below:

Alexandra Warren
- Baggage Claim: “I don’t need to know your name. I know your spirit. I’m more concerned with that.” Ryan and Will: Two strangers with instant chemistry on an adventure fueled by a fiery connection neither can contain. But not everything is as it seems. Or is it?
Nicole Falls
- A Natural Transition: Nyema Landry is more interested in her flourishing career as a DJ than settling down. Langston Goode is a man on the rise with his eyes on the prize, ready to finally lay his claim on Nyema’s heart. Since their first meeting, Nyema and Langston had been at odds, and they were perfectly fine with that arrangement ... until the undeniable current of desire that crackled between them was no longer avoidable.
Jacinta Howard
- Happiness in Jersey: (First book in her Prototype series) The only thing in Jersey Kincaid’s world that she has time for are keeping her grades up so that she doesn’t lose her scholarship to South Texas University, playing the bass in her band, The Prototype, and satisfying her coffee addiction. Oh, and the occasional random hook-up she indulges in to pass the time. When Jersey meets Isaiah “Zay” Broussard with his soulful gray eyes, quick wit and easy charm, she’s determined to remain aloof. She doesn't have time to get sidetracked by fleeting fantasies, even if she does feel an unexplainable connection to Zay she’s never experienced before.
Love Belvin
- The Rhythm of Blues: (First book in her Love in Rhythm & Blues series) Ragee is a successful R&B singer, music composer, and actor who shot to fame and celebrity at rocketing speed. But he has an unshakable stigma attached to his stardom that won’t seem to go away. Wynter Blue thought she was taking control of her world the day she up and quit her job. Little did she know, the day she walked out of her job was the very one she’d run into his shroud of smoke. Wynter questions if she can handle Ragee’s darkness while trying to bring him into the light of truth.

Join us in our next episode when we read ... *sigh* ... The Wedding Date, by Jasmine Guillory. We'll be joined by our friends over at Mocha Girls Read, so be sure to read up and listen in!

Episode 29: American Spy May 31, 2019

Hey, readers! We embrace our inner conspiracy theorists with our latest read, American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson. It's got everything you'd expect from a spy novel: Cold War politics, assassination attempts, missing sisters and a white dude named Ross. Listen in as we discuss this unexpected piece of African history fanfic.

We also talk about Family Matters, Jaleel White's supposedly shady past and that scene from In the Heat of the Night where Sidney Poitier slapped a racist white dude. (It's Mollie's mom's favorite scene for good reason.)

As always, join us for our next BCL Chat and let us know who your favorite indie author is. Take part in the discussion by tweeting us at @blackchicklit.

Thanks for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. As always, thank you to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

BCL Chat: Do You Reread Books? May 17, 2019

Hey, readers.

We've got another chat for you. This time, we wanted to know if y'all reread books and why. Before we get to that, however, we chat about that messy author who got in trouble for snitching, BookRiot's unusually bad romance take and whether or not it's a good idea to tag authors in negative reviews. (Tbh, I feel like that first story should answer that question. Don't be rude to people on social media, 'cause that shit can come back to bite you bad.)

We also unload all our Avengers: Endgame feelings. If you want to avoid that and all the spoilers therein, skip 43:07 to 1:11:12.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this month's chat! A majority of you said you did reread books, but a good number of you said you felt no need revisit stories you've already experienced. Check out your answers beginning at the 1:16:40 mark.

Be sure to join us for our next read. We're going to discuss American Spy, by Laura Wilkinson.

Episode 28: "My Sister, the Serial Killer" Apr 25, 2019

We get back to our literary fiction roots and read Oyinkan Braithwaite's debut novel, My Sister, the Serial Killer. This book has it all: love triangles, jealousy and, cake. Surprisingly, not a whole lot of murder. Listen in as we try to figure out just how crazy this family is. (Spoiler: We do kind of love the titular sister; she truly doesn't give a fuck.)

Also in this episode, Dani shares her adventures from KissCon in Chicago, Mollie confirms that A Goofy Movie is still the best Disney movie and we express our mutual hatred for Cousin Skeeter.

Don't forget to join us for our next BCL Chat: How often to you reread books? Does your opinion about books change after a repeat read? Take part in the discussion by tweeting us at @blackchicklit on Twitter.

Thanks for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. As always, thank you to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

BCL Chat: #RitasSoWhite and Your Unpopular Book Opinions Apr 04, 2019

This is our most scandalous episode yet. We discuss the month's biggest controversies and OMG! moments, including #RITAsSoWhite, #BagelGate and Shangela. Who exactly is RITA and what's her problem? Why aren't authors of color getting the shine they deserve? Why can't the RWA just set fire to the whole award season? We try our best to answer these questions, but tbh, we don't come away satisfied. Here are some of the resources we mentioned during the episode:

Also, earlier this month, we asked y'all to share your unpopular book opinions. And, boy, did you deliver, bringing shade for a whole bunch of tropes, books and authors. Thanks to all who answered this month's chat! Be sure to read up for our next episode, My Sister, The Serial Killer, by Oyinkan Braithwaite.

Episode 27: "Children of Blood and Bone" Mar 19, 2019

Bring the lemon and sugar, 'cause we got the tea.

This month, we read Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi and we couldn't help but notice how similar this book is to Avatar: The Last Airbender. A pair of plucky but poor siblings — one magic and one not? Check. A handsome young prince who's tormented by his father and who just wants to do right? Check. An evil regime? A magical summer solstice? A giant fluffy flying thing? Check. Check. Check.

Needless to say, we didn't love it. (But, again, at least we didn't build a website.)If you want an even more in-depth look at the book's plot, you can check out Dani's rage-y notes online via Google Drive. And if you want to learn more about writing fantasy, check out the YouTube videos by Brian Sanderson that Mollie mentioned.

We shared our shade and now it's your turn. And in celebration of our birthday month, we're trying something new! Call and leave us a voicemail at 213-259-3739 with your unpopular book opinions. Whatever book, genre, author you want! They don't have to be about books we've discussed or books by black women. You can also tweet them at us or DM us at @blackchicklit. (You can stay anonymous. Just let us know!) Get your thoughts by Friday, March 29!

Thanks for listening in and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. Thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

BCL Chat: A Chat with Beverly Jenkins Feb 28, 2019

It's finally here! We got to speak with the Queen of Black Historicals herself, Beverly Jenkins, and it was a blast. It's easy to see where Loreli's feistiness comes from.

We ask her about her place in the romance genre, her writing process and her personal opinions of men with mustaches. (Spoiler alert: She's #TeamStache.) We also learn what she's currently working on and what she hopes to achieve in the future.

(We had a slight technical glitch at 44:10. We apologize for the loss of Ms. Jenkins response! 😭)

Thanks to everyone who submitted questions for Ms. Jenkins: @MochaGirlsRead, @EveryWoman98, @unicorninkk, @srmilesauthor, @IamTammiJ and @chandrathompson.

Next month, we're jumping back into the world of YA, so don't be surprised if we get shady. We're reading Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi.

Episode 26: "A Chance At Love" Feb 14, 2019

Happy Valentine’s Day, listeners!

Love is in the air! It’s our annual romance episode, and this year, we’re reading the Slayer of Words herself: Ms. Beverly Jenkins. We read Dani’s favorite Jenkins’ novel, A Chance at Love. (Or as Mollie titled it, The Education of Jake Reed.) There are precocious children, farm animal hijinks and a marriage of convenience that ends up causing more problems than it solves. It’s basically a black historical rom-com, and we loved it.

We dig into it all, as well as sketchy Missouri hospitals, Kansas’ poor taste in mascots and our romance philosophies.

Listen in and get ready for our next episode when we speak to the Slayer herself! We get to chat with Ms. Jenkins about romance, writing and her impressive career. Any questions you want us to ask? Be sure to tweet them to us at @blackchicklit by Feb. 16.

Thanks for coming back and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. Thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

BCL Chat: Our 2019 Resolutions Feb 01, 2019

Happy New Year! Our first episode of 2019 is a chatty one as we share our 2019 reading and writing resolutions, as well as our goals for the podcast.

We also get into the increasing bougieness of the Oscars, our love-hate relationship with the Goodreads Challenge and a number of Instascams (including Fyre Festival). Listen in and share your reading resolutions with us at @blackchicklit.

February is Romance month, and this year, we’re finally reading Beverly Jenkins, a.k.a. the Slayer of Words herself. Listen in next month when we discuss her 2002 book A Chance at Love. (While Indigo is the title mentioned in the episode, we had to do a last-minute switcheroo after the recording. You should still definitely read Indigo. And then tweet Dani about it. She’s up for any and all romance novel talk.)

Shout out to everyone who took part in our poll or responded to our resolution tweets. Do you have a suggestion for a future #BCLChat? Email us at contact@blackchicklit.com. And don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to Black Chick Lit on iTunes.

Episode 25: "Addicted," Part 2 Jan 18, 2019

We're back for round two of Zane's Addicted, and the second half is as incomprehensible as the first.

We wrap up Urban Fic January with the second half of our discussion of this "erotic" book, and things are problematic, to say the least. The storyline touches on rape, molestation and murder, and none of those topics are handled well. Want a fun drinking game? Count how many times we say the words "gross" and "unsexy." Your liver will hate us.

If you're interested in seeing the rest of Dani's notes, you can find them on Goodreads.

Missed the first half of our conversation? Listen in to last week's episode.

And as always, thanks for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

Episode 25: "Addicted," Part 1 Jan 11, 2019

This is it, y'all. This is the episode that broke us.

It's January. You know what that means. Time for new year's resolutions, crash diets and Urban Fic month at Black Chick Lit.

This year, we read Zane's Addicted and raised questions we'd never thought to ask. Has anyone ever been turned on by a mural? Is a human penis sensitive enough to feel a maxi pad through a pair of stirrup pants? Why would anyone add nacho cheese sauce to a blow job?

Brace yourselves because we try and fail to answer them all in our first-ever two-parter episode. Be sure to check back next Friday to hear the end of our conversation, where we tackle the more problematic aspects of this crazy book.

As always, thanks for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

BCL Chat: We’re So Done with You, 2018 Dec 28, 2018

2018 was both the longest and the shortest year imaginable. We saw Black Panther . We mocked the Tide-Pod Challenge. And we read books. So many books.

In this episode, we look back at our year of reading and talk about the good, the bad and the very disappointing. We talk about why we may be done with the Saga series, share some behind-the-scenes secrets about the Whiskey & Ribbons episode and try and figure out just what the hell a “womanly fold” is. (Spoiler alert: It’s exactly what you think it is.)

Heads up: Major spoilers for Saga, volume 9from 32:56 to 35:20.

Shout out to @charelliam for writing in and reminding us about all the drama on BookTube this year.

Do you have a suggestion for a future #BCLChat? Email us at contact@blackchicklit.com. And don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to Black Chick Lit on iTunes.

And don’t forget: January is Urban Fic month! Join us when we read Addicted by Zane. It’s gonna be wild.

Thanks again for joining us for another year of insightful nonsense! This wouldn’t be half as fun to do without you all listening in.

Episode 24: The Good House Dec 07, 2018

We're back! And just in time to miss Halloween.

Life happened, one of us lost a computer and we got a bit behind on posting our latest episode. Hopefully, you all are still feeling a creepy this fall and a ready to dig into Tananarive Due's The Good House.

This is a big book with a lot going on, but we're able to dig into Due's great writing style, our favorite and least favorite characters, and just where in the world we think this book takes place.

For our next episode, we're looking back at all our reading in 2018 to discuss the books we loved, hated and everything in between. Be sure to join the discussion by tweeting us at @blackchicklit on Twitter.

Thanks for coming back and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. Thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

BCL Chat: 20 Questions with Black Chick Lit Oct 19, 2018

This month, we decided to ask ourselves a few of our own questions: What are our goals for the podcast? How did we meet? What’s our favorite Powerline song? (Spoiler alert: It’s “Stand Out.”)

Get to know Dani and Mollie a bit better and listen in to this extra chatty BCL Chat episode. Join us next time when we read The Good House by Tananarive Due.

Do you have a suggestion for a future #BCLChat? Email us at contact@blackchicklit.com. And don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to Black Chick Lit on iTunes.

Episode 23: Meet Addy Sep 20, 2018

We were feeling nostalgic, so this month, we decided to go back and check out our favorite kid lit titles. And if you were a little girl who loved books in the 90s, you loved the American Girl series.

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We read the first three books of the Addy series — from her enslavement on a North Carolina plantation to her eventual escape to freedom in Philadelphia. And boy, did our girl struggle. All the time. Like, this child never got a break.

This children’s series touched on all matter of topics including the breaking up of enslaved families, prejudice and colorism. But … did it need to?

We realized we’ve been here for two years and never really introduced ourselves properly to y’all. So we want to know what you want to know. About us, about books, about podcasting. Whatever. Tweet us your questions and follow us on Twitter at @blackchicklit to take part in the next #BCLChat.

Thanks for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. Thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

BCL Chat: Kid Lit and EyeSeeMe Interview Aug 30, 2018

August is our birthday month! It’s been two years of nonsense, and we’re thankful you’ve stuck it out with us.

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This year, we decided to celebrate by embracing our inner child. We talked to Pamela and Jeffrey Blair, the owners and founders of EyeSeeMe, St. Louis’ first all African-American children’s bookstore.

If you’re a parent looking to get your child reading, a teacher hoping to provide more diverse literature options to your students or an independent author looking to get your book into kids’ hands, you need to check out this interview.

Thanks again to the Blairs for taking time to speak with us! Be sure to support the EyeSeeMe by making a purchase or donating to their foundation.

Do you have a suggestion for a future #BCLChat? Email us at contact@blackchicklit.com. And don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to Black Chick Lit on iTunes.

Continuing our dive into kid lit, next episode we’ll discuss every black girl’s favorite American girl, Addy. Join us when we discuss Meet Addy, by Connie Porter.

Episode 21: Bingo Love Aug 04, 2018

This is our chattiest episode yet. Before we dig into our book talk, we find out the ending of #cockygate, fangirl over Beverly Jenkins tweets and do a quick survey of popular books we have — and haven’t — read. Don’t worry, we find time to discuss Bingo Love, by Tee Franklin, Jenn St-Onge and Joy San.

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Pop in around the 40-minute mark to hear us analyze Elle and Hazel’s romance, as well as try and figure out what Jake’s big secret is. (Also, what’s going on with his wonky colored eyes???) It was a cute book that we wish we could have had more of.

In other news, we’re getting close to our second birthday! We’re planning to celebrate with a nostalgic throwback read, so tweet us your favorite over at @blackchicklit.

Thanks for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. And finally, thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

BCL Chat: What Books Are you Looking Forward in 2018? Jul 11, 2018

We told you we'd be asking this question again. It's our favorite and you all always deliver some awesome recommendations.

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Before we dig into them, though, we spend some time discussing the trailer for the upcoming The Hate U Give movie, Laura Ingalls Wilder's messiness and a bunch of surveys. We also share some follow-up information from Leesa Cross-Smith, the author of our previous pick, Whiskey & Ribbons. Thanks to @shortiegirl44, @lilpocketbooks, @Everywoman98, @MonlatReader, @LocPressedBooks and @OnlySharaeRae for their recommendations.

Books mentioned in this episode:

The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas
On the Come Up, by Angie Thomas
Becoming, by Michelle Obama
Housegirl, by Michael Donkor
Woman Trapped in the Dark, J.D. Mason
Temper, by Nicky Drayden
The Black God's Drums, by P. Djélí Clark
John Woman, by Walter Mosley
My Sister the Serial Killer, by Oyinkan Braithwaite
A Princess in Theory, by Alyssa Cole
A Duke by Default, by Alyssa Cole
An Unconditional Freedom, by Alyssa Cole
Heads of the Colored People, by Nafissa Thompson-Spires
Welcome to Night Vale, by Joseph Fink and Jeffery Cranor
It Devours!, by Joseph Fink and Jeffery Cranor
The Duchess Deal, by Tessa Dare
Forged by Desire, by Brenda Jackson
Lincoln in the Bardo, by George Saunders
Song of Blood and Stone, by L. Penelope

Thanks for listening in and join us when we read Bingo Love, written by Tee Franklin, illustrated by Jenn St-Onge, Joy San and Cardinal Rae.

Episode 21: Whiskey & Ribbons Jun 26, 2018

We're back from our unplanned summer break and ready to discuss Leesa Cross-Smith's Whiskey & Ribbons. Like ogres and onions, this book's got LAYERS and we dig into 'em.

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Why is everyone keeping secrets from Loretta? Why is Evangeline so annoying in Eamon's POV? And what the hell is Frances' whole deal?

Along with discussion of the book, we talk #cockygate and copyright law, Michelle Obama's upcoming memoir (or is it autobiography?) and the stress Stephen King's reflections on mortality keeps causing us.

This whole episode was inspired by our listeners' excitement for its release. So, now we want to know: What books are you looking forward to in the second half of 2018? As always, follow us on Twitter at @blackchicklit to take part in the next #BCLChat.

Thanks for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. Thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

Episode 20: "This Will Be My Undoing" Mar 08, 2018

We discuss some big topics this episode: colorism, what it means to be a black woman and the possible criminal actions of Steve Urkel.

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Listen in as we talk about This Will Be My Undoing: Living at the Intersection of Black, Female, and Feminist in (White) America by Morgan Jerkins, share our current reads and lament the lack of black sit-coms.

As always, follow us on Twitter at @blackchicklit to take part in the next #BCLChat. With all the great black representation happening lately, we want to know what book you'd love to see adapted for TV, film or any other medium.

Thanks for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. Thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

And special thanks to Claretta Street by Colette Barris for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about this title at MochaGirlsRead.com.

BCL Chat: What Are Your Reading Resolutions? Mar 02, 2018

Time for another BCL Chat. We asked you all to share your reading resolutions, and an overwhelming number of you shared that this year you aim to read more books written by women and by people of color.

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A lot of ya'll are also big on personal development. You're doing better than us. We've pretty much given up on that.

Thanks to everyone who shared! Got a question you’d like to see discussed? Email us at contact@blackchicklit.com. And don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to Black Chick Lit on iTunes.

Episode 19: “The Coldest Winter Ever” Jan 19, 2018

In the last episode, you may have heard us officially declare January Black Chick Lit’s Urban Fic Month. Last year, we read This Could Be Us, But You Playin’. And it was terrible. Just godawful. So, this year we decided to try a tried-and-true classic. Published in 1999, Sister Souljah’s The Coldest Winter Ever is heralded as the grandmother of the urban fic movement.

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Episode 18: We’re Finally Done with 2017 Dec 29, 2017

2017 was a long, hard year for the both of us, so we avoided it by reading a bunch of books. Join us for a double-length episode where we discuss all the titles we read — not just the ones for the podcast. We share favorites, rant about the ones that had us going “WTF!?,” and finish up with our podcast goals for 2018.

Heads up: There are major spoilers for Liane Moriarty’s The Husband’s Secret at 29:50 and Celeste Ng’s Everything I Never Told You at 33:47. You’re clear of spoilers at 36:14.

Thanks to everyone who shared their favorite books with us for this episode! Do you have a suggestion for a future #BCLChat? Email us at contact@blackchicklit.com. And don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to Black Chick Lit on iTunes.

Episodes mentioned in this episode:

Episode 17: “A Hope Divided” Dec 08, 2017

After a touch of the flu and one nervous breakdown, we finally got around to discussing Alyssa Cole’s new release, A Hope Divided. This is the second book in Cole’s Loyal League series; check out the previous episode where we chat about the first book, An Extraordinary Union.

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BCL Chat: Has a Book Ever Changed Your Life? Nov 11, 2017

Happy fall, y’all. It’s time for another BCL Chat. We asked you if a book has ever changed your life. Thanks to @ClassyGreen, @WilliamsDebbieD and @OnlySharaeRae for submitting their responses.

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Episode 16: "Sing, Unburied, Sing" Oct 23, 2017

Jesmyn Ward’s Sing, Unburied, Sing is full of heartbreak. And ghosts. And vomit. But mostly heartbreak. That’s probably why it took both of us a full month to finish it. It was worth it, though. Listen in as we break down the plot, voice and themes in this beautiful book.

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BCL Chat: Are You Doing NaNoWriMo? Oct 07, 2017

It’s time for your monthly BCL Chat. This month we asked you if you’d be attempting NaNoWriMo (that is, National Novel Writing Month). You all overwhelmingly replied “prolly not.”

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Episode 15: “Bluebird, Bluebird” Sep 12, 2017

Jinkies! We read a mystery and, boy, was it a doozy. There’s homicidal rage, alcoholism and then at some point, we actually got around to discussing the book.

Attica Locke’s Bluebird, Bluebird takes readers into the heart of a small rural Texas town where two murders have shaken up the local community. Listen in for a passionate discussion involving dumb criminals, court procedures and Scooby-Doo.

The first part of our discussion is spoiler-free. So listen in and be sure to check out Bluebird, Bluebird, which was released Sept. 12. Spoilers begin at the 38-minute mark.

Links:

“Terrence Howard’s Dangerous Mind,” Rolling Stone
Jones’n by Suite45 on SoundCloud

BCL Chat: What New Release Are You Most Excited About? Sep 01, 2017

We’ve been busy y’all.

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Episode 14: “Hunger” Aug 18, 2017

We recorded this episode the same day as the Charlottesville attacks and, boy, could you tell. We have no patience this week for racism, rape culture and body hatred. (Or for checking our own audio, apparently. Sorry, yo.)

We funnel that frustration into a discussion of Roxane’s Gay Hunger. Listen in as we talk (and try to deal with) rape culture, harmful reality TV shows and America’s overall wretchedness in 2017.

(Note: While we don’t go into detail, we do discuss the themes raised in this book, including rape and sexual violence against children. If needed, listen with care.)

BCL Chat: Book Buying with Special Guest Alysia of Mocha Girls Read Aug 05, 2017

This episode, we’re joined by Alysia, founder of Mocha Girls Read. She shares how she started her popular book club, how it has grown, and her own thoughts on book buying.

Thanks to all of you who shared you got your books! We got more responses to this question than any other BCL Chat.

Join us as we live-tweet the first two episodes of OWN’s Queen Sugar at 6 p.m. PDT/8 CDT Saturday, Aug. 19.

Read up and join us for our next episode when we discuss Roxane Gay’s Hunger.

Episode 13: “We Are Never Meeting in Real Life” Jul 20, 2017

2017’s been hard. We didn’t make things any better by reading Beloved. We needed some cheering up, so we decided to read Samantha Irby’s darkly funny We Are Never Meeting in Real Life.

Listen in for a discussion of Midwestern college life, evil cats and Dani’s aversion to strangers’ bodily fluids. Next month, read up and tune in when we discuss Hunger, by Roxane Gay.

And don’t forget to share your thoughts in the next bonus episode. We want to know: How do you acquire the books you read? Buy new? Buy used? Library? Other … less legal means? Share your thoughts by tweeting us at @blackchicklit.

Thanks for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes.

Giveaway Winner Announcement

Congratulations to giveaway winner Charell! She received a free copy of Queen Sugar and an Amazon gift card courtesy of Mocha Girls Read. Alysia, founder of Mocha Girls Read, will be joining us at our next bonus episode. Get excited!

BCL Chat: What’s Your Favorite Adaptation? Jun 28, 2017

As we prep for our first birthday celebration (whoop! whoop!), we asked you what your favorite adaptation of a book was. We share your responses, and also have a really passionate discussion about how everyone has been messing up lately. Listen in!

Thanks to @thisonevanessa, @chanellshorter, @charelliam, @LocPressedBooks, @ellisromance and @Everywoman98 for taking part in this month’s chat!

Don’t forget: We’re celebrating our first birthday with the lovely ladies at @MochaGirlsRead! We’re going to record a special collab episode with them and have a virtual movie night/live Tweet session on Twitter.

We asked you to vote on which book-turned-movie you wanted featured. Your pick? Queen Sugar! Visit the Mocha Girls Read website, enter the special code and you’ll have a chance to win a copy of Queen Sugar and a $5 Amazon gift card. Thanks, ladies!

Links

“Getting In and Out,” by Zadie Smith for Harper’s Magazine
“In Defense of Cultural Appropriation,” New York Times

Episode 12: “Beloved” Jun 14, 2017

We finally did it, y’all. We finally read Beloved, the literary classic we should’ve read in high school. Better late than never, right? And after all that hullabaloo, what did we think of it? It was depressing af.

Join us as we try and figure out if Stamp Paid/Baby Suggs were a Thing, debate if Beloved was a legit ghost and make a special announcement: We’re celebrating our first birthday with special episode and live-tweet movie night with Mocha Girl Reads. Visit us on Twitter to vote on which book will be featured as part of the event.

Then, be sure to subscribe, listen and share your thoughts by tweeting us at @blackchicklit. Read up and tune in for the next episode when we discuss We Are Never Meeting in Real Life, by Samantha Irby.

Links

“48 Black Writers Protest By Praising Morrison,” The New York Times
“11 Haunting Facts about Beloved,” Mental Floss

BCL Chat: Tell Us Your Book Shame May 31, 2017

It’s confession time: We asked you what book you should have read but haven’t yet. The majority of you all said The Underground Railroad.

But there were more titles. So many more titles. Tune in to hear what else y’all said you need to read on the latest bonus episode of Black Chick Lit.

Thanks to @LocPressedBooks, @BangBangBooks, @Everywoman98, @IamTammiJ, @_Jayla_Rodgers, @MochaGirlReads, @fairlyliterary and @Author_DLWhite.

Got a topic you want us to discuss? Follow us on @blackchicklit and tweet us up!

Join us for the next regular episode when we discuss Beloved, by Toni Morrison.

Episode 11: “The Hate U Give” May 17, 2017

This is it: Mollie and Dani finally dig into YA. We read the hottest new release in the book world’s hottest genre: The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas.

We loved this novel inspired by the “Black Lives Matter” movement. We’re still not sure how we feel about YA, though. So many teenagers. Get ready as we discuss Tumblr, Tupac and whether or not ’00s kids care about ’90s R&B.

BCL Chat: What Was Your First Book Love? May 05, 2017

If anyone asks, we delayed this episode because we knew you’d need something to get you through the travesty that was the ChumpCare vote today.

You’re welcome.

In this episode of the podcast, we wanted to know your first book. What made you the type of person to listen to two strangers talk books on the Internet?

We share rate your responses, make enemies with cab drivers and (somehow) share our first period stories. Trust us, it makes sense in context.

Thanks to @charelliam, @whoaskedash, @havuqtefinished, @prettyjoyful08, @unicorninkk, @MonaFeesa, @LocPressedBooks and @diancalondon for their contributions!

Got a topic you want us to discuss? Follow us on @blackchicklit and tweet us up!

Join us for the next regular episode when we discuss The Hate You Give, by Angie Thomas.

Episode 10: “An Extraordinary Union” Apr 13, 2017

This episode, we switch genres and talk love, sex and awkward adjectives as we discuss Alyssa Cole’s new release, An Extraordinary Union.

Mollie decides that romance just has too many emotions for her liking while Dani shares her four requirements for a satisfying romance. Listen in and share your thoughts by tweeting us at @blackchicklit.

Links

Books Mentioned in the Episode

Diary of an Ugly Duckling, by Karyn Langhorne
Breathless, by Beverly Jenkins
Exit West, by Mohsin Hamid
Hannah Mary Tabbs and the Disembodied Torso: A Tale of Race, Sex, and Violence in America, by Kali Nicole Gross

BCL Chat: What’s Up with Whitewashed Book Covers? Apr 05, 2017

We’re back for another bonus episode. This week, we asked you all to share your experiences — either as a reader or a writer — with whitewashed book covers. We shared your responses and talked over some recent ones that have occurred in books and film. Join us for the discussion.

Thanks to @LocPressedBooks and @diancalondon for their awesome replies.

Got a topic you want us to discuss? Follow us on @blackchicklit and tweet us up!

Episode 9: “Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation” Mar 29, 2017

We read the recently released Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, by Octavia Butler, Damian Duffy and James Jennings. Mollie (finally!) gets the opportunity to school us all on what defines a graphic novel while Dani drinks in the background. Listen in and share your thoughts by tweeting us at @blackchicklit.

Links:

‘Kindred’ Artist John Jennings Talks About Adapting Octavia Butler in Comic Form, by Noah Berlatsky
How John Jennings and Damian Duffy Transformed Octavia Butler’s Kindred into the Most Powerful Graphic Novel of the Year, by Brigid Alverson
The Joy (And Fear) Of Making ‘Kindred’ Into A Graphic Novel, by Tanya Ballard Brown

Books mentioned in this episode:

Exit West, by Mohshin Hamid
Daughters of a Nation: A Black Suffragette Historical Romance Anthology, by Alyssa Cole, Lena Hart, Piper Huguley and Kianna Alexander
The Shining, by Stephen King

BCL Chat: What Book Must Every Black Woman Read? Mar 22, 2017

School, work, birthdays. Life hit us hard, y’all. Octavia Butler’s Kindred is next on our schedule and we’re recording this week. To make up for the loooonnnnnnng delay, we’ve got our first-ever bonus episode! Earlier this month, we asked you what books should every black woman read.

We want to hear from you! What book should every black woman read? #BCLchat

— Black Chick Lit (@blackchicklit) March 2, 2017

Join us for a messy, wine-inspired episode where we discuss the titles you said were required reading for all black women. Thanks to Twitter users @IamTammiJ, @amariescully, @LocPressedBooks, @dr_1908 and @createandwrite for contributing.

Got a topic you want us to discuss? Follow us on @blackchicklit and tweet us up!

Episode 8: “Binti” and “Binti: Home” Feb 22, 2017

This episode is a two-for-one special. We read both Nnedi Okorafor’s Binti and Binti: Home.Listen in for a discussion about diversity in sci-fi, the power of lotion and Steven Universe. We promise it all makes sense in context.

Got a book you think we should check out? Tweet us at @blackchicklit. Also, be sure to rate, review and subscribe on iTunes.

Links:

“On that Rabid Puppies thing and my Hugo Award-winning novella Binti,” Nnedi’s Wahala Zone Blog
“The Pixar Theory of Labor,” theawl.com

Books mentioned in this episode:

The Case Against Sugar, by Gary Taubes
Forbidden, by Beverly Jenkins

Episode 7: “There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé” Feb 01, 2017

Did you know only 6.7 percent of Americans have read poetry in the past 12 months? We’ve joined these exclusive few and sit down to discuss Morgan Parker’s There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé.

It moved us, y’all. So much so, that we’ve declared that this year’s going to be “blacker than ever.”

Got a book you think we should check out? Tweet us at @blackchicklit. Also, be sure to rate, review and subscribe on iTunes.

Links:

“Poetry is going extinct, government data show,” The Washington Post
“The Poetry-Free Inauguration Makes a Comeback,” The Atlantic
Carrie Mae Weems, The Kitchen Table Series

Books mentioned in this episode:

White Teeth by Zadie Smith
Swing Time by Zadie Smith
The Case Against Sugar by Gary Taubes

Episode 6: “This Could Be Us But You Playin'” Jan 18, 2017

We kicked off 2017 by diving right into genre fic. Specifically, urban fiction. We read This could Be Us But You Playin‘ by Cachet. Mollie lays out the plot, Danielle remains bougie and bitter, and in the end, we take up that age-old debate of art vs. commerce. All in all, not a bad way to wrap up this book.

Have you read This Could Be Us But You Playin’ or another urban fic title? Want to contribute to the debate? Got a book you think we should check out? Tweet us at @blackchicklit.

Links:

“Urban Fiction Authors Could Be Big Winners in New Publishing Era,” Buzzfeed
“17 ‘Urban Lit’ Books That Are Doing the Absolute Most,” Buzzfeed

Books mentioned in this episode

Indigo, by Beverly Jenkins
White Teeth, by Zadie Smith

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