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This episode features our conversation with Nathan Alexander Moore (Speculative Fiction. Poetry. Nonfiction. Critical Theory.), which was live-streamed on November 2, 2024.

Nathan Alexander Moore (she, they) is a Black nonbinary transfemme writer, cultural theorist, and educator. Currently she is the Assistant Professor of Black Trans and Queer Studies in the Department of Women & Gender Studies at University of Colorado Boulder. Her research explores Black transfemininity, speculative fictions, and temporality. Their previous work has been published TransNarratives: Scholarly and Creative Works on Transgender Experience, Transgender Studies Quarterly, and Departures in Critical Qualitative Research. Their fiction was a Semifinalist for the 2021 Screencraft Cinematic Book Competition, as well as shortlisted for the 2022 Santa Fe Writers Project Literary Award. They were also a 2023 Lambda Literary Fellow in poetry. Her debut fiction collection, THE RUPTURE FILES (2024), is available from Hajar Press.

Across multiple worlds in upheaval, a curious cast of Black queer characters must choose between what they already know themselves to be and what they might yet become in the cataclysm. A shapeshifter learns to embrace their body as it changes through a lunar cycle. A stranger’s visit disturbs three sisters sheltering from monsters that stalk the land. An archivist hears an irresistible call to the rising ocean as she uncovers a surprising history. A mysterious fire sparks whispers of revolution in the mind of a vampire’s captive consort.

At once tender and audacious, Nathan Alexander Moore’s debut collection, THE RUPTURE FILES, tells the stories of extraordinary creatures making impossible but human decisions. Traversing apocalypses both big and small, these captivating tales vibrate with the tensions between loss and growth; self and community; precarity and possibility.

To learn more about Nathan Alexander Moore and her body of work, please visit nathanalexandermoore.com.

Find Nathan on Instagram: @sumthingmoore
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Find Black Writers Read online: https://blackwritersread.com/

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This episode features our conversation with Adrian Burks, which was live-streamed on October 20, 2024.

Adrian Burks is a director, writer, actor and producer. An ex-collegiate athlete originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Adrian has been a filmmaker in Los Angeles for over a decade. He has appeared in movies such as the Academy Award winning WHIPLASH, and the comedic cult classic FIRST PERIOD. Adrian has also appeared in television shows such as CBS: CODE BLACK, and ALL ABOUT LIZZIE. He has written 5 produced short films, has directed three, and is currently in development for a feature film he wrote and plans to direct. Adrian won 6 awards for his film AFTER LAUGHTER in which he co-wrote, co-directed, produced and starred in. He went on to get accepted and won the Sony Pictures and Independent Film Trust creative writing program: He wrote a self-help film guide book, How to Frame Success: A Filmmaker's Guide Book to Vision, Networking, and Cinematic Triumphs (April 2024) and is currently VP of production and development for TigerPig Entertainment.

Dive into the heart of DIY filmmaking with How to Frame Success: A Filmmaker's Guide Book to Vision, Networking, and Cinematic Triumphs. In this comprehensive guide, aspiring filmmakers will discover the essential tools and strategies needed to navigate the dynamic world of filmmaking. From cultivating a clear vision to effectively networking within the industry, each chapter provides practical advice and actionable tips for aspiring filmmakers. Learn how to produce your own films, maximize opportunities at film festivals, and assemble a reliable crew to bring your vision to life on screen. With insights from Academy and Emmy award winning creatives and real world examples, this book is a must-have resource for anyone passionate about filmmaking. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your career to the next level, "How to Frame Success" will empower you to achieve your dreams.

During the live-streamed broadcast, Adrian shared clips from some of his films. To see those clips and hear us talk about them, be sure to check out the interview on YouTube.

To learn more about Adrian and his body of work, please visit www.adrianburksartist.com.

Find Adrian on Instagram: @adrianburks
Find Black Writers Read on Instagram: @blackwritersread
Find Black Writers Read online: https://blackwritersread.com/

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This episode features our conversation with Dr. Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman, which was live-streamed on October 19, 2024. We chatted about her recently released poetry collections, For the Girls Who Do Too Much and The Summoning of Black Joy.

Dr. Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman is founder of the 501(c)3 nonprofit, Black Writers for Peace and Social Justice, and the current Poet Laureate of Prince George's County, Maryland. Her creative work as a poet and playwright has been showcased on prestigious stages and platforms, including Washington, DC's John F. Kennedy Center, New York's Apollo Theatre, and Baltimore Theatre Project.

Dr. Ali-Coleman is the author of the poetry collections For the Girls Who Do Too Much (2024), The Summoning of Black Joy (2023), the children's book Mariah's Maracas (2018), and co-editor of Homeschooling Black Children in the US: Theory, Practice, and Popular Culture (2022). Her poetry has been found in numerous publications, including Clarion, The Skinny Journal, and Zora's Den's first two book anthologies. In 2019, she was a Theatre Alliance playwright with work featured in Theatre Alliance's 2020-2021 season.

Dr. Ali-Coleman founded the multidisciplinary arts group Liberated Muse in 2008 and co-founded the national education research group Black Family Homeschool Educators and Scholars, LLC , during the COVID-19 quarantine in 2020. BFHES has provided vital support to over 3000 families, offering annual teach-ins and workshops.

Dr. Ali-Coleman holds a doctorate in education from Morgan State University, an MA in Mass Communication from Towson University, and a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. A recipient of numerous grants and fellowships for her writing, performance, and teaching, her accolades include awards from the Maryland State Arts Council, Prince George's Arts and Humanities Council, and Poets & Writers.

To learn more about Dr. Ali-Coleman and her body of work, please visit http://www.KhadijahAli-Coleman.com.

Find Dr. Ali-Coleman on Instagram: @khadijahonline
Find Liberated Muse on Instagram: @liberatedmuse
Find the Black Writers for Peace and Social Justice on Instagram: @blackwriters4peace
Find Black Writers Read on Instagram: @blackwritersread
Find black Writers Read online: https://blackwritersread.com/

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