Imagine being a child who loved writing so much that you wrote books recreationally. You consider the written word to be your only talent. Unsurprisingly, you gravitate towards journalism and decide to make it your major in college. You submit your first assignment for your introduction class; when you get it back, you a see a F written in red along with a note to speak with your professor after … Read the rest
Interview With “How to Be Remy Cameron” Author Julian Winters! (Part 2)
Do you ever wonder what your favorite authors talk about with other authors? LGBT novelist Julian Winters revealed in part 2 of our interview that their conversations are widespread. Sometimes the topics are, of course, book related, but not always. “We can talk about things we struggle with—like I really struggle writing a synopsis and I remember having a full-on conversation with five other authors about writing synopses and … Read the rest
Interview (Part 2) With “A Good Kind of Trouble” Author Lisa Moore Ramée!
When we have a passion, it is easy to become consumed by it. But it is important to make sure that we don’t ignore the other experiences that life has to offer. For example, if you are a writer, don’t literally spend all of your time writing. “Some advice I would give to other writers is find something else that you do,” Lisa Moore Ramée tells So Booking Cool… Read the rest
Interview With “Behind the Bullet” Filmmaker Heidi Yewman!
If you are a filmmaker or aspiring, you’ve probably received a variety of advice such as taking a class, networking, finding authentic stories, overcoming fear and rejection, etc. But how often have you been advised to take care of yourself, particularly when your film covers a dire topic? Heidi Yewman, the director and producer of the debut feature documentary, Behind the Bullet, believes the emotional well-being of the … Read the rest
Interview With Afro-Pop Singer FATi!
Some people prefer to keep their goals private. Recording artist FATi is one of those people. Despite having musical ties in her family (she is related to jazz singer Senabella aka The Bronzeville Diva and her (FATi) great-grandmother was a respected jazz artist during the 1940s), FATi chose not to disclose her musical aspirations. The reason is simple: she wanted to protect her dreams. “When something is dear to your … Read the rest
Interview With Literary Publicist, Lathea Williams!
Lathea Williams might not have initially chosen book publishing as a career, but the driving force for why she chooses to remain in the industry is due to history. “There was a point in time where as a black person, we weren’t even given the opportunity to read. We were chastised for it. So I’m very much aware of my history and that’s one of the main things that keeps … Read the rest
Review: Renaissance Man: The Lin Manuel Miranda Story, An Unauthorized Biography By Marc Shapiro
RENAISSANCE MAN: THE LIN MANUEL STORY, AN UNAUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY, Marc Shapiro. Riverdale Avenue Books, $18.01 (200p) ISBN-13: 978-1626014480
Publication date: May 10, 2018
From the New York Times bestselling author and veteran entertainment journalist, Marc Shapiro, comes his newest biography of a high-profile talent: the self-made Lin Manuel Miranda’s story. Unlike some unauthorized biographies, Renaissance Man is anything but salacious and scandalous. Shapiro doesn’t go for the … Read the rest
Interview With D.B. Moffatt, Author of “The Misbirth”!
For D.B. Moffatt, the author of The Misbirth, the heart of his novel is to transform a negative experience into a positive. “In the case of fate, you’re dealt with a situation that is bad. You can go one of two ways. The first way, in which I ultimately chose, was rationalizing to myself ‘okay, bad circumstance, however, ain’t my fault, but I have to deal with it … Read the rest
Interview With Michelle Staubach Grimes, Author of “Pidge Takes The Stage”!
Literacy has always mattered to Michelle Staubach Grimes, the daughter of the legendary record-breaking, two-time Super Bowl champion, Roger Staubach. She saw firsthand the value of determination and hard work. Her commitment to literacy was fueled after she attended the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy a decade ago. “That’s when I learned about the literacy crisis and how many kids can’t read, how many adults can’t read…it … Read the rest
Interview With Allen Maldonado and Kellon Akeem About Their New Film “A Father’s Love”!
So Booking Cool recently had the pleasure of discussing storytelling in the form of film with Allen Maldonado and Kellon Akeem who premiered their new movie, A Father’s Love, at the American Black Film Festival (ABFF). The short film, which centers on a teenage couple dealing with intense circumstances, was met with positive reception at the 22nd annual event. “What we … Read the rest