My dear Froomies.

It is Friday, everyone's favorite day, and we are back to spotlight another author that is near and dear to my heart.

Drum roll please..........

ANALEIGH SBRANA!!!!!!

It truly should not come as a shock to you that I adore Analeigh. I've written analysis of both Lore of the Tides and Lore of the Wilds, both are published on here, and I have a book tree that is just her books. Safe to say, she is one of my favorites.

The moment I picked up Lore of the Wilds, or it picked me as my friend gifted me a physical copy, I was unaware that this book would spark an obsession. That I was going to be served a beautiful fantasy narrative that is imaginative, full of heart, and something that all book readers should be exposed to. We are exposed to the world of Lore through her eyes, and from the beginning, we are met with two facts:

1. The inhabitants of her town were ripped away from their world to Alytheria, and cannot leave.

2. Lore loves books and and has a vast collection of them.

While those two points may not connect on the surface, it becomes apparent to the reader that the stories are of high value because they are used as ways to teach the youth of what life was like in their rightful land. Given that this is black fantasy, the practice of elders retelling stories and becoming storykeepers is something that is important within Black History, preserving them through oral means to be used as celebrations and warnings. Beautifully described by Analeigh, we follow Lore as she carries the narratives and history throughout the first and second novel, making choices in order to make a place for her people where they can be safe.

In her second novel, we see the growth in Analeigh's writing, as well as seeing Lore through devastating lows, that also mirror Black history.

"To every Black reader who grew up looking for themselves on the fantasy shelves, this one's for you"
-Analeigh Sbrana

That is the quote that I needed in my life, and Analeigh is an author who understands the need for Blackness in Adult Fantasy. Around 6% of traditionally published authors are Black and the number is even smaller within the fantasy space. Which is abysmal.

We need more authors like Analeigh, more people like her, who fill this space with their words, creating an impact where it needs it most.

Hey loves!

We are starting a series called Flaunt It Friday. A day where I shout out and spotlight author and upcoming releases that I am looking forward to!

We are starting out with one of my FAVORITE authors, Kimberly Lemming.

If you found yourself on Booktok around 2021 like I did, you were also served an influx of books and genres, probably ones that you have never encountered before. While monster romance was not out of my comfort zone, I had only dipped my toes into vampire and shifter romances, aka romances where it was centered around the more human attributes and the fact that they were a monster was second nature. I also never saw books that were unabashedly black female center within Monster romances and romance as a whole. When I was served one fine morning a video of a content creator who was talking about this book (that would soon become my whole personality) I did not know that my life would change.

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved A Demon.

What in the world was this title? The art was also cartoonish in a way that felt fun and lighthearted, and the promise of spice, all of those factors had me saving that video to add it to my TBR pile. Then one book became two. Two became getting an arc for the third, and it all culminated into me crafting a space that is just Kimberly Lemming dedicated.

Kimberly has a way of bringing characters to life that feel so real. Like I could walk down the road and encounter Brie or Cinn and hang out. They are relatable in a way that feeds to the soft/badass black girl experience, one that seems to be lacking in the publishing world. All crafted in a world that, while purely fantasy, the humor and the romance certainly feel real.

So, I hope I can persuade you to read any and all the books by Kimberly Lemming. I for one am also excited for the next release in her Cosmic Chaos series "I Punched an Alien and Now We're in Couples Therapy" set to be release in August of this year! By the title alone, I think this one is also going right to the Kimberly shrine.

I adore these titles so much!

Happy Wednesday my froomies and friends!

We are halfway through the week and, at least where I am, the temperature is starting to climb up. I certainly do not want to jinx it, because Midwestern weather can be finiky!

BUT we are heading into the later part of the week, and I wanted to do a check in!

Words Written: 605

Is it mostly just formatting and working on the framework? Yes, but I am still counting it! I have been in the weeds of some SERIOUS writers block and, when that usually happens, I start writing a new story.

Soooo.... I am writing a modern sapphic romance between a single mother in her late 30s and a nonbinary content creator. I have never written a modern romance, other than the short I did for the One Page, One Love Anthology I was published in. But I am stepping out of my comfort zone and so far, I am loving the details I have so far!

Mushroom Brigade will be getting more in depth talks about this one!

Books Read: 3

The blockage has also hit my reading, but I am getting some done! Graphic novels seem to be the sweet spot and I have taken a liking to one in particular. It was called Cardboard Kingdom! I plan to do a review on it as well!

I hope you guys are having a wonderful week so far! We're almost there!

Happy Monday and the start of the work week! I hope you don't have a bad case of the Mondays! Although, eating loads of lasagna and relaxing like Garfield would be great!

Yesterday was a blast celebrating the Benito Bowl with my friends and having a huge PR feast. It was also a beautiful rendition of the Black National Anthem by Coco Jones. Both of these displays of what truly makes America what it is warmed my heart and made me feel a bit more reflective in my choosing of hopefuls for this week.

Here they are:

Air & Essence by Mikayla D. Hornedo

Now I was enamored and enthralled by the first book when I listened to it on the way to renfaire last year, and I have been CRAVING to jump back into the world of Dayanara and her people.

The Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay by Ryan Douglass

I am a lover of reimagined period pieces, especially when they are queer and Black centered. This is a retelling of the Great Gatsby, documenting love, joy, and the pursuit of happiness when society deems it as wrong. The moment my friend told me about this book, I knew that it was going to be something that would resonate with me!

Becoming Boba by Joanna Ho

This is a book that I am absolutely planning to read, since I will be doing a read aloud at the school I work at. Becoming Boba is a story about self love and being true to who you are. It also touches on Asian identity and knowing if you are enough. I thought that this book would also be great for Chinese New Year

Those are my hopefuls for the week. We will see what I add to it or how far I get through it!

Also ALSO, I am excited that Bindery is getting an Android App set to be released tomorrow! AHHHHHHH! So if you are an android user like myself, we will be able to use Bindery as an app!

Getting back to a routine to my posting, here is a schedule that I plan to implement starting Sunday! So this is what I'm hopefully looking at!

Sunday: Recap and Reflection. This is a quick recap as to what I have been reading or any updates!

Monday: Posting my weekly hopefuls!

Wednesday: Wellness Wednesday. A mid week check in with you guys!

Friday: I hope to bring back fantasy Friday. Or to potentially rebrand it to include other works of fiction! Either way, this is the day I am spotlighting a single book and author and hyping them up!

Saturday: Snippet Saturday. I am bringing it back so that my Mushroom Brigade can get snippets as well as more in depth discussions about my writing!

I am planning for Tuesdays or Thursdays to be more of a chill day where I might either go live or just have those days off.

I can't wait to get back into the swing of things with you!

Hello my dearies, froomies, and lovlies!

How are you? I hope all is well for each and every one of you. I am doing well, things are starting to slow down and not be as hectic for me, but one thing that has plagued me is..

I am in a HUGE reading slump.

I have started so many books, ones that I have adored, only for them to disappear back onto my TBR shelf to be admired from afar. There is nothing wrong with the books, but I just am struggling to find something good that will stick.

Until I remembered, I work in a library.

For those who do not know, I work at an Elementary School library, so I find myself being surrounded by books 8-3 Monday through Friday. And it got me thinking.

Why am I not counting the books I read on occasion to the students?

I feel like there is a stigma, whether enforced or not, when it comes to what people count towards their goals. Hell, it is apart of that recycled (and incorrect) thought about if audiobooks count. I think that also extends towards books that are originally meant for children as well and, whether I want to or not, I have unconsciously been adhering to forgetting that these books do count and doing myself a disservice.

And I have adored the books I have been reading to the children.

It is a constant reminder to myself how much of a sponge kids are. How in love with learning, and experiencing different narratives. It is a wonder to see kids with braids see the history of how cornrows and other styles paved the freedom trails in stories like Freedom Braids. How perseverance lead Mary Walker, a formerly enslaved woman, to learn how to read at the age of 116 and making her the oldest student to learn how to read! How they learn how much change and remaining undefeated can grow their confidence to face the world, no matter the adversity. and long for change.

I truly think that we are doing a disservice to children's literature and how poignant and impactful it can be. For both kids and the inner child that sometimes gets lost as we grow up.

Hey my lovebugs,

Wooo... it has been a long couple of weeks for me, and that is just in my personal life. I got into a car accident, if you didn't know, and it's been stressful picking up the pieces together. I am okay physically, it just has been rough.

I also went to Book Harvest in Chicago this past weekend. I had a blast meeting author friends as well as making some new ones. I was fortunate to be a PA for my friend Rae Douglas! (If you haven't read a book by them and you like soft mafia dark romance, then you absolutely should). I also bought SOOO MANY BOOKS that I plan to do a video about soon!

I also got a new job as a Elementary School Librarian Assistant! So I am constantly around books and loving it!

Also, on Thursdays I am hosting movie nights 6CST/7EST PM! We will be watching on watch2gether. I have provided the link in my Discord (Which you should absolutely join if you have not already!)

I think that is all the updates for now. Thank you for being so patient with me. I know my posting schedule has been a bit hectic, but I am grateful for each and every one of you!