Episode #28 of the podcast is dedicated to the literary life and legacy of Jessie Redmon Fauset, the most prolific novelist of the Harlem Renaissance, and also, sadly,  the most overlooked and under-appreciated. On this episode of the Reed, Write, & Create podcast, I will be sharing Fauset’s fascinating life story, as well as four reasons why she is often sidelined and left in the shadows when it comes to conversations about the literary greats of the Harlem Renaissance. Spoiler alert: Having an affair with W.E.B. Dubois, may or may not have had something to do with it. (I'm pouring t ..read more

On episode 27 of the podcast, award-winning poet and debut novelist, Phillip B. Williams, is on the show. You might have heard about Williams because his brand new novel, Ours, was one of Oprah’s most anticipated books for 2024. Ours is an epic story about a conjure woman named Saint, who goes around destroying plantations in the south, and then freeing the enslaved workers. She then creates a magical world called Ours where the newly emancipated can live in peace because white people can neither see, nor access Ours. And if they try, they meet with a gruesome ending! It’s an epic story of Bla ..read more

On episode #26  of the podcast, I’m using the life of the illustrious Langston Hughes, to give you a pep talk on how to make a living with your writing. Even in hard times.   Did you know that Langston Hughes is recognized as the first African-American writer to make a living solely from his writing? Yes, Langston Hughes was definitely the hardest working writer in Harlem, and throughout his life before and after the renaissance. So studying his success and strategies can give us some excellent ideas about crafting a successful writing life.   Stay tuned for some innovative, act ..read more

On episode 24 of the podcast, you’re getting a pep talk about art and activism, using the life and times of the incredible Audre Lorde as our role model. We’re talking about the intersection of identity, writing, and making the world a better place.    Audre Lorde was a Black feminist writer and activist who authored several books of poetry, essays, and memoir. Some of her most popular titles include, Sister Outsider, Zami: A New Spelling of My Name, and The Cancer Journals.    This episode will leave all my BIPOC writers motivated and inspired to change the world with thei ..read more

  We’re back with season 3 of the Reed, Write, and Create Podcast!   On episode 23 of the podcast, my guest is  New York Times best-selling author, Tia Williams.    Tia is an author of both YA titles and adult fiction. She wrote the bestselling debut novel The Accidental Diva and then penned two young adult novels, It Chicks and Sixteen Candles. Her award-winning novel, The Perfect Find is currently a Netflix movie starring Gabrielle Union. Her next novel, Seven Days in June was a New York Times bestseller and Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, and her new novel, A Love ..read more

Lori is taking a break from her winter break to share an update about the future of the podcast.  The podcast is getting a new name! Find out what it is and what caused the change on this short but important episode.    New Links for all things Reed, Write, & Create. The Reed, Write, & Create website. Reed, Write, & Create on Facebook. Reed, Write, & Create on Twitter @ReedWriteCre8 Reed, Write, & Create on IG @readwritecre8 To learn more about the fascinating history of the Papyrus plant and the origin story of the book, check out the amazing book called, Pa ..read more

On episode 22 of the podcast, award-winning author, Ibi Zoboi is my guest. Ibi is the New York Times Bestselling author of the YA novel, American Street, which among other distinctions, was a National Book Award finalist. Ibi is the editor of the anthology Black Enough: Stories of Being Young and Black in America. She co-authored the Walter Award and L.A. Times Book Prize-winning novel-in-verse, Punching the Air, written with Exonerated Five member, Yusef Salaam. Her debut picture book, The People Remember, received a Coretta Scott King Honor Award. And  her most recent books include Star ..read more

On episode 21 of the podcast, I’m taking you on a tour of The Sanctuary, the new private membership community we’re launching at Read, Write, and Create headquarters. The Sanctuary is a private community for BIPOC women writers who want to get their work out into the world and who want to get paid for doing it.    I’m going to share the origin story of The Sanctuary, but I’m also going to share why writing communities are gaining in popularity, even though they are far from a new idea. So, even if you’re not a BIPOC woman writer or The Sanctuary isn’t for you, I urge you to stick aro ..read more

On episode #20 of the Read, Write, and Create podcast, my guest is Dr. Tamara Pizzoli, who shares her unconventional success story as an independent children’s book author and publisher. Dr. Pizzoli is an African-American author, curator, producer and publisher. Originally from Texas, she is the mother of four children and has resided in Rome, Italy for over fifteen years. In 2013, she opened a boutique English-language school for kids in Rome called The English Schoolhouse, which she later converted into an independent publishing house. In just under a decade, Dr. Pizzoli has published over s ..read more

On episode 19 of the podcast, I’m giving a pep-talk on the importance of writing retreats for your regular writing practice. Yes, I just ran my first writing retreat, so I’m still glowing from that amazing experience, but this pep talk isn’t about me. It’s about you and all the benefits  you will gain from adding writing retreats to your writing life.  Some of the benefits of attending writing retreats include: Increased productivity in your writing Improved self-confidence as a writer Access to a wider writing network Increased creativity energy Even our literary ancestors knew ho ..read more