#speculativefantasy

“My arm was wrapped and in a sling. When the wagon driver had asked, my mother told him I had broken it and she was taking me to an obeah man. I was ashamed that she had been made to sin, to tell a lie because of me. Even in my mind I could not forget how my elbow was hurting me in a funny way that wasn’t about pain. Even alone on the sick I was too afraid to touch it, to give that arm the healing power of the other one. I was afraid to touch places on me that weren’t even private. And I was going to die for it. Die for having those places. My mother held my hand, then left” ⭐️⭐️

I found so much brilliance, beauty, intimacy and connection within the reading circles I led this year and last, first with our Audre Lorde/Your Silence Will Not Protect You circle (2018) & then again with Black Feminist Praxis(2019). The writing, analysis and discussions that have sprung forth has been stellar, so I’ve decided to keep the vibes going with a new 6 month series, 🙌🏿🙌🏿

I’m launching something new in 2020 called - My Dark & Twisted Fantasy - in this one we will focus on themes of darkness, shadows, death, ancestry, witchcraft, magic and madness - all within the writing of Black women and Black non binary folks specifically.

We are reading short stories, essays and novels by Octavia Butler, Gayl Jones, Nalo Hopkinson, Akwaeke Emezi and Dorothy Roberts, for our very first session wine are focusing on stories within Tiphanie Yanique’s incredibly gorgeous and haunting collection - HOW TO ESCAPE FROM A LEPER COLONY. We will meet virtually once a month from January to June, sessions include writing prompts, rituals, and detailed discussion on each text as it relates to Black bodies and Black womanhood, all are welcome to access these sessions, via Patreon by pledging $2 or more dollars a month.

(Part of this is about reframing and reclaiming fears, sadness, monsters, so some text may be triggering!!)

Thank you so much to our sweet speculative sci fi babes over at @blfpress for sending us copies of their mystical and lovely new releases.

GOD’S WILL AND OTHER LIES, a story collection by journalist, teacher and award winning playwright Penny Mickelbury

and BLACK FROM THE FUTURE a 22 piece anthology of prose and poetry that spans across horror, fantasy, magical realism and Afro futurism all written by Black women writers.

She left her home for the stars, but found more adventure than she bargained for. A tense and and intimate coming of age story in space. Her name is Binti and she is the first of the Himba people ever to be offered a place Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. But to except the offer would mean giving up her place and her family to travel between the stars among strangers who do not share her ways or respect her customs. Knowledge comes at a cost one that Binti is willing to pay but her journey will not be easy.

BINTI by Nnedi Okorafor is a Hugo and Nebula Winner and a must read for all speculative and science fiction lovers especially. 👽👽👽