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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
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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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On this episode, we welcomed back Tracy Cross (who first joined us in Season Two) for our conversation on October 5, 2024 to talk about her recently released second book, A Gathering of Weapons.

About A Gathering of Weapons

Nearly four years have passed since the events of Rootwork (the first book of The Conjure Series) and the youngest Conway sister, Pee Wee, is now thirteen years old and on the cusp of magical greatness. Ever since the tragedy of 1889, she's worked tirelessly to practice her Hoodoo and hone her conjure skills so as to right the wrongs done to her family. But as a young Black girl living in the post-Reconstruction era of the segregated South, her growing powers do not go unnoticed. Strange and malevolent forces have descended upon the small Louisiana parish Pee Wee calls home, and she must use her newly acquired conjure skills to fight back. Will she use them for good? Or will she pledge herself to the ghost of a dead Voodoo priestess and the darkness the woman serves in exchange for unlimited power and the promise of generational revenge? A Gathering of Weapons is the second book of The Conjure Series.

About Tracy Cross

Tracy Cross’s debut novel, Rootwork, explored racism, sexism, karmic justice, and the power of family and faith. Her second novel in the series, A Gathering of Weapons (Dark Hart Publishing, 2024). Her work can be found in several anthologies, including Don’t Break the Oath, Black Magick (13 Tales of Darkness, Horror and the Occult) and 99 Tiny Terrors. She has been a recipient of a grant from the Ladies of Horror Fiction and the Horror Writers Association Scholarship from Hell. She lives in Washington, DC, is an active member of the HWA and a huge Prince fan. She also enjoys disco and has an Esty page for her other artistic endeavors.

Learn more about Tracy and her work, please visit tracycrossonline.com.

Find Tracy on Instagram: @tracycrosswrites
Find Black Writers Read on Instagram: @blackwritersread
Find Black Writers Read online: blackwritersread.com

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