More AAPI Supernatural Recommendations for Fans of Disney’s ‘So Weird’

May 3, 2022May 3, 2022 Lauren Lola

Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month everyone! Last year, to acknowledge both this annual commemoration of contributions from the AAPI community and the ever-present following of the ’90s Disney Channel original series, So Weird, I compiled together a list of supernatural recommendations, created by and about people of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

Books, Interview

Ibi Zoboi on Writing a Biographical Constellation of Octavia Butler

February 16, 2022February 17, 2022 Shannon Gibney

Award-winning author Ibi Zoboi has penned a “biographical constellation” of the late, great Black feminist sci-fi writer Octavia Butler. Called Star Child (Dutton, January 2022), the book contains poems, short essays, and actual fragments of Butler’s own writing and musings.

Books, Podcasts

Southern Fried Asian: Jamie Ford

January 30, 2022January 29, 2022 Southern Fried Asian

For this episode of Southern Fried Asian, Keith talks to his friend, the New York Times-bestselling author Jamie Ford, and learning about his southern roots in Arkansas. Consider this Southern-adjacent Fried Asian.

Books, Interview, Star Wars

Emma Mieko Candon on Continuing ‘Star Wars: Visions’ in New ‘Ronin’ Novel

October 12, 2021December 3, 2021 Lauren Lola

Emma Mieko Candon likes to write stories that pull from her love for ‘90’s action movies. Being a fan of film franchises like The Mummy and Star Wars, she likes stories that can be quippy and fun, but she also cleaves on philosophical angst. As a new author on the scene, she wants to write action adventures, filled with a lot of queer people of color and an underlying current of a fraught metaphor.

Books, Interview, Sci Fi1 Comment

Author Katrina Olan Discusses the Making of Mecha-Centric Sci-Fi Novel, ‘Tablay’

August 27, 2021August 27, 2021 Lauren Lola

In the fall of 2019, sci-fi and comics fans in the Philippines were transported to the 22^nd century in Katrina Olan’s novel, Tablay. War has been raging for generations between the Philippine Mech Force and hostile machine life called aswangs. When a mecha pilot finds out that the enemy is creating a super weapon of drastic proportions, she and her partner must find a way to stop it before it is too late.

Books, Podcasts

Southern Fried Asian: Kevin Kwan

July 15, 2021 Southern Fried Asian

Last month, the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore hosted our own Keith Chow in conversation with New York Times bestselling author Kevin Kwan as part of their “Writer’s Live” series. Because they spent a portion of their talk discussing Kevin’s childhood in Texas, we are presenting that conversation in its entirety for Southern Fried Asian!

Books, Podcasts

‘Writers Live’ with Kevin Kwan, Hosted by the Enoch Pratt Free Library

June 24, 2021June 24, 2021 Keith Chow

This Tuesday evening, I will have the pleasure of leading a conversation with Kevin Kwan, the New York Times-bestselling author of Crazy Rich Asians and Sex and Vanity. The event is part of Baltimore’s Enoch Pratt Free Library’s “Writers LIVE” series. Audio of the event will be available on the Southern Fried Asian podcast feed next month.

Books, Podcasts, Streaming

Robin from ‘Stranger Things’ is Getting a Prequel Podcast Series and Novel

June 9, 2021June 9, 2021 Sophia Soto

Robin Buckley was introduced to the world of Stranger Things in the third season and quickly became a fan favorite. Now the character, who is portrayed by Maya Hawke, will be getting her own prequel podcast and book. The news was announced at Netflix’s Geeked Week.

Books, Television

Production for HBO’s ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’ Begins in New York

June 1, 2021June 4, 2021 Sophia Soto

The new HBO Original drama series The Time Traveler’s Wife is officially in production, which is taking place in New York. David Nutter will direct the six-episode first season and serve as an executive producer. The cast includes Rose Leslie, Theo James, Desmin Borges, and Natasha Lopez.

Books, Television

Fall in Love With ‘Schitt’s Creek’ All Over Again by Reading ‘Best Wishes, Warmest Regards: The Story of Schitt’s Creek’

May 25, 2021May 27, 2021 Sophia Soto

Are you ready for the official Schitt’s Creek tie-in book by Daniel Levy and Eugene Levy? Best Wishes, Warmest Regards: The Story of Schitt’s Creek is set to go on sale on October 26! The book, which was acquired by Black Dog & Leventhal, is now available for pre-order at a cost of $40.

Books, Movies, Streaming

See the Trailer for Netflix’s ‘The Last Letter From Your Lover’

May 4, 2021May 15, 2021 Sophia Soto

The Last Letter From Your Lover is a summer romance film starring Felicity Jones, Shailene Woodley, Callum Turner, Joe Alwyn, and Nabhaan Rizwan. The extraordinary generation-spanning love story is based on the novel by Jojo Moyes and will be released on Netflix on July 23 in select territories.

Books, Movies, Streaming

Get a Glimpse of Netflix’s Newest Thriller, ‘The Woman in the Window’

May 4, 2021May 15, 2021 Sophia Soto

Back in April, Netflix got fans hyped with an official trailer and poster for The Woman in the Window, which is based on the best-selling novel and adapted by Tracy Letts. The film stars Amy Adams, Gary Oldman, Anthony Mackie, Fred Hechinger, Wyatt Russell, Brian Tyree Henry, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Julianne Moore. Recently, the social media accounts for the streaming platform released an exclusive clip, which has us counting down until May 14.

Books, Podcasts

The Middle Geeks Interview: Reem Faruqi and Fahmida Azim of ‘Amira’s Picture Day’

April 30, 2021May 3, 2021 Swara Salih

In the second of our interview series, author Reem Faruqi and artist Fahmida Azim join us to discuss their new book, Amira’s Picture Day, out now! We discuss the impetus for this delightful children’s book that takes place on the Muslim holiday Eid-Al-Fitr, celebrating the end of Ramadan, and what else inspired them in the creation of this wonderful story, from the beautiful art to the deeply embedded cultural elements Enjoy listening and buy your copy of Amira’s Picture Day today!

Continue reading “The Middle Geeks Interview: Reem Faruqi and Fahmida Azim of ‘Amira’s Picture Day’”

Books, Hard N.O.C. Life, Theatre

Hard NOC Life 212: Mandy Gonzalez is ‘Fearless’

April 19, 2021 Hard NOC Media

In the first of two episodes of Hard NOC Life releasing this week, Keith sits down with Broadway superstar and now, children’s book author, Mandy Gonzalez to talk about her new middle grade novel, Fearless. They also talk about her career — from originating the role of Nina for In the Heights to replacing Renee Elise Goldsberry as Angelica in Hamilton — and why being fearless has helped her cope while Broadway is shut down.

Continue reading “Hard NOC Life 212: Mandy Gonzalez is ‘Fearless’”

Books, Movies, Streaming

Amy Adams Stars in Netflix’s New Psychological Thriller, ‘The Woman in the Window’

April 9, 2021May 15, 2021 Sophia Soto

The Woman in the Window premieres on May 14, and Netflix just dropped a trailer that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Along with Amy Adams, the film stars Gary Oldman, Anthony Mackie, Fred Hechinger, Wyatt Russell, Brian Tyree Henry, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Julianne Moore. The Woman in the Window is based on the best-selling novel and adapted by Tracy Letts.

Books, Horror, Movies, Streaming

Netflix Just Dropped the Trailer for ‘Things Heard and Seen’ and It Looks Creepy

April 1, 2021May 15, 2021 Sophia Soto

Things Heard & Seen is hitting Netflix on April 29 and the trailer is leaving viewers on the edge of their seats, waiting for more. The thrilling film is based on the novel All Things Cease To Appear by Elizabeth Brundage and stars Amanda Seyfried.

Books, Streaming, Television1 Comment

Things You Need to Know Before Watching Netflix’s ‘Shadow and Bone’

March 18, 2021May 15, 2021 Laura Sirikul

In about a month on April 23, Netflix will premiere Shadow and Bone to the world. Based on Leigh Bardugo’s worldwide bestselling Grishaverse novels, Shadow and Bone have not released much information about the series, but for those who have not read the books, don’t fret. We have some information you should know before watching the series.

Books, Fantasy, Sci Fi

An Endorsement: Tim Fielder’s ‘Infinitum’

February 26, 2021August 18, 2021 Shawn Taylor

Afrofuturism is having a moment. First posited by journalist Mark Dery in the early 1990s, Afrofuturism is now a full-blown social, cultural, psychological, technological, and aesthetic movement. And never has this movement, this moment, been more fully realized than in Tim Fielder’s magnum opus, Infinitum. To call it a graphic novel would be to undercut it’s value. It is an enterprise of speculative cultural cartography.

Books, Marvel, Video Games

Brittney Morris’ ‘Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales – Wings of Fury’ Delivers

December 2, 2020June 3, 2021 Jamal Michel

There could not be a better time to grab the companion novel to Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales than now. The game dropped on PS4 and PS5 November 12 to rave reviews, as the pop cultural significance of Miles Morales seems to be losing zero steam, and rightly so.

Author Brittney Morris (Slay, The Cost of Knowing and Together, Apart) packs a ton into the prequel novel — from Miles’ dealings with police outside of his uniform, to Peter having to grapple with being a mentor to a Spider-Man whose reality greatly differs from his own. Wings of Fury delivers a story both heartfelt and absolutely action-packed that leads directly into the start of the game on consoles.

Books, Interview, Movies, Streaming

Movie Magic with ‘The Witches’ Star Jahzir Bruno

October 29, 2020May 15, 2021 Mike Manalo

Last week, Halloween came a bit early, as Warner Bros. brought the big screen home with The Witches on HBO Max. The highly anticipated retelling of the classic Roald Dahl book enchanted viewers and showcased that director Robert Zemeckis, and executive producers Guillermo Del Toro and Alfonso Cuaron, as well as Oscar-winning stars Anne Hathaway and Octavia Spencer, have exactly what it takes to make an old classic feel fresh and fun! However one of the biggest surprises the film had to offer was the discovery of its breakout young performer, Jahzir Bruno, in his debut film role!

Books, Movies, Star Wars

NOC’s Preeti Chhibber Launches ‘Star Wars’ Children’s Book: ‘A Jedi You Will Be’

October 15, 2020October 15, 2020 Patrick Strange

Heyyy! It’s Kuya P and I recently sat down with NOC’s own, Preeti Chhibber of Desi Geek Girls to discuss her latest Children’s Book release, Star Wars: A Jedi You Will Be! ENJOY!

Books, Fantasy, Interview

Shawn Speaks with Claribel Ortega, Author of ‘Ghost Squad’

August 10, 2020August 25, 2020 Shawn Taylor

Ghost Squad is a middle grade/young audiences (depending on their tolerance for the spooky) novel that does so many things right: remixes the “kids on bikes” trope, prioritizes adventuring for black and brown girls, and how adventuring doesn’t end when you get older.

Continue reading “Shawn Speaks with Claribel Ortega, Author of ‘Ghost Squad’”

Books, Interview, Television

From ‘Rise’ to ‘Shadow,’ F.C. Yee on Deepening the Story of Avatar Kyoshi

July 20, 2020July 19, 2020 Lauren Lola

Last summer, the universe of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra expanded with the release of The Rise of Kyoshi; the first young adult novel in the franchise. Written by F.C. Yee, it tells of the humble beginnings of the hardcore, justice-pursuing Avatar Kyoshi.

Now, Yee is capping off the Kyoshi duology with the release of The Shadow of Kyoshi. In the aftermath of establishing herself as a fully realized avatar, Kyoshi stumbles her way across the world, tending to her responsibilities as best she can, when a mysterious threat emerges from the Spirit World.

In an e-mail interview, Yee discusses writing The Shadow of Kyoshi following its predecessor’s positive reception, on writing a story set around the Spirit World, and also his thoughts on the recently resurged interest in the series that started it all. Continue reading “From ‘Rise’ to ‘Shadow,’ F.C. Yee on Deepening the Story of Avatar Kyoshi”