BookSwell Intersections bookswellclub

The coronavirus crisis can't stop art!
Cody Sisco interviews Yodassa Williams about her debut fantasy novel, The Goddess Twins, coming of age and finding one's voice, black girl magic and creativity, and the revelatory experience of going to Burning Man.

 
We did it! We made it through the beginning of 2020 and now we're back with Season 2 of the BookSwell Intersections literary podcast.
 
This episode was recorded in the Rare Bird offices in DTLA in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Host Cody Sisco is joined by co-host Dan Lopez, special guests Viva Padilla from Dryland Lit, Julia Callahan from Rare Bird Lit, and interview guest Xochitl-Julisa Bermejo of Women Who Submit. We discussed #DignidadLiteraria and the fallout from American Dirt, barriers to inclusivity and equity in publishing, and how writers and publishers are navigating the changing literary landscape.
 

Happy New Year to all of our listeners! This week, we're here to help you get a jump start on your 2020 TBR list, with recommendations from our panel.  Managing Editor Cody Sisco, along with Co-Hosts Rachelle Yousuf and Irene Yoon recap their year in reading and discuss what they'd like to see in the literary landscape next year.Cody sits down with local LA author Carla Sameth to talk about her recent release, One Day on the Gold Line. They delve into religion, addiction, and the writing process, as well as their shared appreciation for the LA writing scene.If your New Year's Resolution is to attend more literary events, Shannon Eagen has you covered with events for the whole family in early January.

The BookSwell Crew has been hard at work producing our Intentional Intersectionality reading and discussion as a part of the 2019 Lambda LitFest.
This week, we’re doing a debrief and recap on the somewhat stressful but deeply rewarding process of putting together a live literary event.
We’ve also included excerpts from the talented artists that Managing Editor Cody Sisco, Intersections Co-Host Rachelle Yousuf and BookSwell Advisor Sakae Manning gathered together at the Armory Arts Complex, including B.A. Williams, Evan Kleekamp, Reuben Hayslett, and Roxana Preciado. Enjoy the poetry and prose of these vital voices.
Finally, Shannon Eagen rounds out the episode with recommendations for literary events in the next two weeks, including a star studded event you should buy your ticket for ASAP!

As temperatures are dropping and kids are going back to school, BookSwell Intersections co-hosts Cody, Dan, and Rachelle journeyed to the Central Library to take advantage of the wonderful facilities in the Octavia Lab. They catch up on recent literary events, the books they’ve been gravitating towards lately, and the exciting event that Cody and Rachelle have been hard at work planning, alongside Sakae Manning. They also discuss the legacy of Toni Morrison, and the silver lining of resurgent interest in the works of recently departed authors.
After that, Cody chats with Tori Eldridge as she prepares for her first published novel, The Ninja Daughter. She examines how her heritage and cultural legacy informed her contemporary LA Noir, and the circuitous route she took to becoming a novelist after being an actress, dancer, and fifth-degree black belt in To Shin Do Ninjutsu.
Finally, Shannon gives a rundown of some of the events we’re most excited about in the upcoming 3rd Annual Lambda LitFest.

First BookSwell shares highlights from the inaugural Little Literary Fair, or LITLIT where Managing Editor Cody Sisco was joined by co-host Rachelle Yousuf for this "pop-up book fair" at Hauser and Wirth in DTLA to chat about what they've been reading lately. Cody also conducted a series of flash interviews with Rachel Wills, Candace Miller, and Katelyn Keating at LITLIT that are short, sweet and packed with information. After that, Cody sits down for a longer conversation with author, activist, and artist Sehba Sarwar. Sehba's novel, Black Wings, was finally released in the US earlier this year, after originally being published in Pakistan in 2004. Keep up with all of Sehba's readings, art performances and publications on her website. Rounding out the episode, Shannon Eagen discusses some upcoming literary events that will be particularly appealing to writers and creators of their own content.