BookSwell Intersections

First up, a one-on-one chat between BookSwell Managing Editor Cody Sisco and Intersections Co-Host Rachelle Yousuf, who gives the rundown on upcoming festival YALL West and great YA recommendations. Cody then sits down with author Judith Teitelman to chat about her debut novel, Guesthouse for Ganesha. It's magical realism and spiritual transformation in one delightful novel. Finally, Contributor Shannon Eagen will tease some fantastic events in the first two weeks of May.

For Episode 4, Cody, Sarah, Irene, and Rachelle gathered to chat about struggling to finish books, the nature of time and space, and escaping the LA bubble. Cody then sat down with local author and journalist Lynell George, author of After/Image: Los Angeles Outside the Frame to discuss the importance of place and community in the arts. And finally, Shannon is back to guide you through events coming up in the final two weeks of the month.

To kick things off, Cody Sisco does a lighting round book roundup with Sarah Labrie. After that, Cody interviews rising literary star Patrick Nathan, whose debut novel, Some Hell, was a New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice, and is a 2019 Lamdba Literary Award finalist. Finally, BookSwell Contributor Shannon Eagen is here to give a roundup of some of the "can't miss" events for lit fans that are looking to support underrepresented voices in our crowded literary scene.

We're back for Episode 2! Cody Sisco is joined once again by Irene Yoon, Sarah LaBrie, and Dan Lopez. Rachelle Yousuf is our latest addition to the Intersections crew. In this episode, they confess to skipping events to stay home and read, turning away from literary fiction, and admiring local authors who truly capture the spirit of Los Angeles in their work.

For our first episode, BookSwell’s Managing Editor Cody Sisco sat down with Director of the LA Review of Books/USC Publishing workshop Irene Yoon, professional book club facilitator Sarah Labrie, and local author/bookseller Dan Lopez. This week they address the best events they’ve been to recently, the March events they can’t wait for, and underrepresented authors finding mainstream audiences.