Written In Melanin

This episode features a discussion with author Tatiana Obey, known for her action-packed, character-driven stories featuring diverse characters. In it, C. M. Lockhart and Tatiana discuss various themes relevant to Black and indie authors, such as the importance of visibility, the challenge of receiving and giving honest reviews, and the significance of community in the indie author space.

00:00 Welcome to the Written In Me...

In this episode of the Written In Melanin podcast, host C.M. Lockhart chats with Brittney Morris, author of 'SLAY' and video game writer. Morris shares her journey from being inspired by the Black Panther movie to becoming a bestselling author and transitioning into video game writing, with projects like Marvel's Spider-Man. She discusses the challenges of writing, the importance of diversity and social justice in he...

Written In Melanin: Spotlighting Melanated Creativity, A Conversation with Indie Author Tamara Jerée

In this episode of the 'Written In Melanin' podcast, host C. M. Lockhart welcomes indie author, Tamara Jerée to discuss their experiences and writing journey, including a detailed look at their experiences with creative writing academic programs (MFA). As a black indie author, Tamara shares the inspiration and pro...

In this episode of the Written In Melanin podcast, C. M. Lockhart, chats with Celeste Harte, a fantasy writer and expert on ChatGPT. They delve into their experiences as Black, independent authors, highlighting the challenges, evolution, and inspirations along the journey. Discussing everything from online writing platforms, the process of world building, the significance of knowing your audience, to the role of AI in the writing p...

In this episode of Written In Melanin podcast, host CM Lockhart speaks with special guest DeAndréa Johnson, an educator, writer and the Writing Programs Manager at the Hurston Wright Foundation. The discussion offers an in-depth introduction to the foundation, its mission, and the many resources it provides to support Black authors. Besides sharing her own career journey from teacher to editor and program manager, DeAndréa also off...

In this episode of the Written In Melanin Podcast, host C. M. Lockhart interviews Antwan Floyd Sr., an author and publisher of Crime Fiction Media. Lockhart discusses Floyd’s journey from writing urban fiction to crime fiction, as well as the decision to establish his publishing company. Asking Floyd about his sources of inspiration, both touch on the importance of creativity and originality in a field where storylines can often be...

In this episode of the Written In Melanin podcast, host C. M. Lockhart engages in a discussion with Amanda B. Weaver (previously published under the name "Amanda Ross"), an indie author known for her work in Indie Fantasy and Horror. They discuss representation in horror and Amanda's upcoming novel, No One's Gonna Take her Soul Away. The conversation touches on the experiences of black indie authors, the racial ...

In this episode of the 'Written In Melanin' Podcast, host C.M. Lockhart engages in a deep and meaningful conversation with Omari Richards, a debut fantasy author. As they discuss Richards' newly published novel, 'The Kimoni Legacy', they explore the writing process, storytelling techniques, importance of diversity in literature, and the intricacies of creating a believable fantasy world. They touch upon the...

Welcome to a special bonus episode of the Written in Melanin Podcast. E. M. Lacey is a coffee loving author who uses caffeine to generate dark urban, dystopian, and speculative stories with diverse adult and young adult characters. She enjoys posting and collecting coffee memes, watching horror movies, anime, and reading. And when she's not nerding out, she loves to connect with readers and authors.

https://melaninlibrary.com/b...

Dana L. Davis joins me for this episode of the Written in Melanin Podcast. She is an author, actress, and voice-over artist who lives and works in Los Angeles. She has starred in Heroes, Coach Carter, Franklin & Bash, Veronica Mars, and countless other film and TV productions. A few of her animation credits include Star vs. the Forces of Evil, Craig of the Creek, and She-Ra and the Princesses of Power.

Dana is a classically trai...

Tatiana writes badass characters slaying dragons. She is the author of “A Forging of Age,” duology, and she enjoys combining action with character-driven stories that feature diverse heroes and heroines. Her debut novel, Bones to the Wind, is a 2022 BBA Award Winner and a 2022 Indie Ink Award Finalist. She once taught English in South Korea, studied abroad in Japan, and worked as a marketing specialist for a woman-owned law firm. T...

 Joelle Wellington grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where her childhood was spent wandering the main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. Her love of the written word led her to a B.A. in Creative Writing and International Studies. When she isn’t writing, she’s reading and when she’s not doing that, she’s attempting to bake bread with varying degrees of success or strengthening her encyclopedia-like pop culture knowledge.

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We're talking about character development this week y'all! Because one of the things I get asked a lot as a developmental editor, is to look at how characters are presented on the page, how they come across, and how they grow throughout the story. So, I figured I'd share some tips on how to create believable characters.

Book a session with me: https://calendly.com/writteninmelanin/coaching-60-mins

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Welcome to a special bonus episode of the Written in Melanin Podcast. Jessica Cage is an International Award Winning and USA Today Best-Selling Author of over thirty published books, host of the More Than a Plot Point Podcast, and mentor to indie authors across the world. Born and raised in Chicago, she's always been in love with writing and the art of crafting worlds. And for over a decade, Jessica has a following of readers ...

Everyone's Thinking It by Aleema Omotoni
 
Welcome to a special bonus episode of the Written in Melanin Podcast. Aleema Omotoni is a British-Nigerian author. She writes novels that center Black teens coming of age, falling in love, and navigating all kinds of contemporary and fantasy worlds. She loves musical theatre, astrophysics and rainy autumn days.

https://linktr.ee/aleemawrites
https://melaninlibrary...

Welcome to a special bonus episode of the Written in Melanin Podcast. Neka Marie is a speculative fiction author with a love for sugary snacks, too many activities, and is involved with too many fandoms. She is a former army brat, "retired" martial artist, and not-so-former-or-retired horsegirl with an affinity for holding onto random bits of knowledge. Over the years, Neka Marie has worn many hats and you may have spotte...

One of the things I've very fortunate to be able to say is that I'm a full time author. It's the dream (and / or goal) for a lot of authors, but I'll be the first to warn (and admit) that working for yourself isn't the easiest thing in the world. With all the time in the world, it becomes difficult to decide how to make the most of it. So, today I'm sharing a few things to keep in mind for managing you...

Welcome to a special bonus episode of the Written in Melanin Podcast. Today I am here with the author MultiMind. She writes books that are fairly Black, usually queer, and very much embedded in the world of Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror. Her short fiction has previously appeared in Nightlight Podcast. Her works include Dreamer, Kinetics and The Glassman.

MultiMind Publishing

The Glassman (melaninlibrary.com)

I was talking with someone recently, and they brought up the idea of judging a book by its cover. And we've all been warned against doing that but, as I've spent more time in this publishing world, I've learned that I disagree with that statement. As controversial as it may sound, I think you should judge a book by its cover and, when necessary, I think you should DNF books too. Especially if you're a self-publi...