In Season 2, Episode 5 of The Missing Book Podcast, Luz Maria Mack sits down with longtime friends Alanna Lewis-Ramirez and Triciah Claxton, the founders of Loc’d & Lit. Alanna and Triciah are Bronx girls, island girls, avid readers, booksellers, and literacy advocates working toward opening a brick-and-mortar bookstore in the Bronx. What began as a Bookstagram page celebrating books by Black and Brown authors has grown into a community-centered literary organization that hosts events, supports independent authors, builds meaningful partnerships, and places books directly into the hands of readers. In this heartfelt and funny conversation, Alanna and Triciah share how the lack of bookstores and literary resources in the Bronx inspired their mission. They discuss the research, volunteering, planning, and relationship-building that helped them turn their vision into action. Although Loc’d & Lit does not yet have a permanent storefront, it is already a fully operational bookstore and a trusted presence in the community. Through partnerships, literary events, book donations, and free giveaways, Alanna and Triciah work to ensure that a lack of money never prevents someone from experiencing the comfort, knowledge, joy, or possibility found inside a book. The conversation also explores the importance of supporting traditionally published and independent authors, creating safe spaces through bookstores and libraries, and giving Black and Brown children access to stories that reflect their faces, families, cultures, and communities. Alanna, Triciah, and Luz also reflect on an opportunity that did not result in a grant but still created an important conversation and gained them a new supporter. It is a reminder that success does not always arrive in the form we expect. Sometimes we do not receive the funding or opportunity, but we gain a fan, build awareness, and plant the seed for something greater. This episode is a celebration of friendship, perseverance, literacy, representation, and the power of creating the spaces our communities deserve. Follow and support Loc’d & Lit: Website: https://lockednlit.comInstagram: @locd_and_lit 🎙️ Follow The Missing Book Podcast for meaningful conversations with the authors, illustrators, educators, poets, booksellers, literary organizations, and creative visionaries who bring stories to life. These are the voices shaping books, expanding representation, and helping readers, families, and communities see that their stories matter. About The Missing Book Podcast: Hosted by Dominican-American children’s book author and filmmaker Luz Maria Mack, The Missing Book Podcast celebrates the people and organizations behind the books that inspire us. Each episode goes beyond the finished story to explore the creative journey, the challenges of publishing, the importance of representation, and the lasting impact books can have on children, families, and communities. It is a platform where stories that are too often overlooked can be seen, heard, and celebrated.
