Black History Month – An Interview with Aislinn Brophy, Author of How to Succeed in Witchcraft; On Crafting a Magical Alternate Reality, Theater, and Their Queer Enemies-to-Lovers Witches

Our Friend is Here! is a guest feature at The Quiet Pond, where authors, creatives, and fellow readers, are invited to ‘visit’ the Pond! In Our Friend is Here! guest posts, our visitors (as their very own unique character!) have a friendly conversation about anything related to books or being a reader — and become friends with Xiaolong and friends.

Our Friend is Here: Black History Month Edition is a month-long event at The Quiet Pond during the month of February, where Black authors are invited to celebrate being Black and Black books! Find the introduction post for Black History Month here.

If you have been craving a story in a magical alternate reality, with a queer enemies-to-lovers romance that also critiques how elite educational institutions can oppress BIPOC and poor students? Oh, and the main character is a witch? Then I’m super excited for you all to learn more about How to Succeed in Witchcraft by Aislinn Brophy, a story about a biracial teen witch who is confronted with a tough decision about risking the scholarship and future she’s worked so hard for by exposing a predator teacher.

Black History Month – An Interview with S. Isabelle, Author of The Witchery; On Her Upcoming Witchy Debut, Writing a Multiple Perspectives and Paranormal Goodness

Our Friend is Here! is a guest feature at The Quiet Pond, where authors, creatives, and fellow readers, are invited to ‘visit’ the Pond! In Our Friend is Here! guest posts, our visitors (as their very own unique character!) have a friendly conversation about anything related to books or being a reader — and become friends with Xiaolong and friends.

Our Friend is Here: Black History Month Edition is a month-long event at The Quiet Pond during the month of February, where Black authors are invited to celebrate being Black and Black books! Find the introduction post for Black History Month here.

Nothing is as exciting as picking up a good witchy book and being whisked away by a thrilling story where the witches are complex, have their own unique powers, and there’s a curse to break. If you’re nodding away at this, then allow me to introduce to you a 2022 witchy book that you absolutely need to add to your to-read lists: The Witchery by S. Isabelle!

Black History Month – An Interview with Charlene Thomas, Author of Seton Girls; On Her Dark Prep School Debut, Female Friendships, and Navigating Publishing

Our Friend is Here! is a guest feature at The Quiet Pond, where authors, creatives, and fellow readers, are invited to ‘visit’ the Pond! In Our Friend is Here! guest posts, our visitors (as their very own unique character!) have a friendly conversation about anything related to books or being a reader — and become friends with Xiaolong and friends.

Our Friend is Here: Black History Month Edition is a month-long event at The Quiet Pond during the month of February, where Black authors are invited to celebrate being Black and Black books! Find the introduction post for Black History Month here.

If you love a story set in an elite prep school that delves into themes of privilege and power, then listen up: you’re going to want to read this interview. And if you love a story with a cast of Black and brown girls who love and protect one another above all else, then you absolutely need to read Seton Girls by Charlene Thomas. When Charlene and I connected last year and she shared what her awesome debut was about, I wanted to read it immediately – and I absolutely had to invite Charlene to the Pond so we could learn more about her upcoming book.

Black History Month – An Interview with Janelle McCurdy, Author of Umbra Tales; On Writing Protagonists for Young Black Kids and Gaming Influences

Our Friend is Here! is a guest feature at The Quiet Pond, where authors, creatives, and fellow readers, are invited to ‘visit’ the Pond! In Our Friend is Here! guest posts, our visitors (as their very own unique character!) have a friendly conversation about anything related to books or being a reader — and become friends with Xiaolong and friends.

Our Friend is Here: Black History Month Edition is a month-long event at The Quiet Pond during the month of February, where Black authors are invited to celebrate being Black and Black books! Find the introduction post for Black History Month here.

For our friends out there looking for a story that will feel like the most exciting video game you know, look no further! When I heard of Janelle McCurdy’s upcoming middle-grade debut, Umbra Tales (UK title: Mia and the Lightcasters; US title: The Lightcasters), a story that gives me monster tamers vibes, has realms of light and darkness, and a high-stakes story with a Black main character, I knew I had to invite Janelle to the Pond so we – well, I! – could learn more about her awesome debut.

Black History Month – An Interview with Laila Sabreen, Author of You Truly Assumed; On Author Mentor Match and Writing the Intersection of Black Muslim Identity

Our Friend is Here! is a guest feature at The Quiet Pond, where authors, creatives, and fellow readers, are invited to ‘visit’ the Pond! In Our Friend is Here! guest posts, our visitors (as their very own unique character!) have a friendly conversation about anything related to books or being a reader — and become friends with Xiaolong and friends.

Our Friend is Here: Black History Month Edition is a month-long event at The Quiet Pond during the month of February, where Black authors are invited to celebrate being Black and Black books! Find the introduction post for Black History Month here.

I could not be more delighted to kick off the Pond’s Black History Month 2022 series with an exciting visit from Laila Sabreen, author of You Truly Assumed! I had the pleasure and honour to read You Truly Assumed last year and loved its take on activism and community through online spaces from the perspective of three Black Muslim teens. (You can read my review for You Truly Assumed here!)