Femme On

Alyson and Lori Arend (writer, professional amateur historian) talk about the Red scene from the 2002 Zhang Yimou film Hero. The Red scene follows Nameless (Jet Li) and his journey to an esteemed calligraphy school to track down two assassins in a long term and incredibly complicated relationship, Broken Sword (Tony Leung) and Flying Snow (Maggie Cheung). The relationship only gets more intense and potentially lethal upon Nameless’s arrival. They talk about the beauty of the scene and the whole film and how it stands the test of time. Come check it out!

Alyson’s Twitter and Instagram: @byalysonshelton 

Alyson’s Website: www.alysonshelton.com

Banned Books Conversations: Where Radical Readers Discuss Prohibited Prose

Banned books are works that have been removed from a library shelf or school curriculum. Over the course of Banned Books Week, this series will cover seven different books, the reasons they were banned, and the value in reading them.

Steven Skenandore: A cop for 15 years, currently supervising investigations for Las Vegas. When asked where to find him, he joked ‘call 911.’

Ron Smith: Former college professor in Atlanta. He curates concerts, works with soul and jazz artists, and executive produces albums. Current project is The Soul Symphony, Feb 16, 2024 Morehouse College backing five soul and jazz artists. Find out more at https://thesoulsymphony.com/

Alyson Shelton: Co-host at Femme On, also a writer of screenplays, essays, and host of the “Where I’m From” IG Live Series where she hosts writers and creatives. Find her on Insta @byalysonshelton.com and at www.alysonshelton.com

Summary
Tonya hosted a discussion with Steven, Ron, and Alyson about 'The Hate U Give' by Angie Thomas. In addition to Starred reviews from Book List, Kirkus, and the School Library Journal, The Hate U Give won numerous awards and sat atop the NYT Bestseller List for 50 weeks. It is
consistently one of the most challenged books in America.

Ron feels connected to this book due to his experience teaching Urban Economics and shared that many of the currently challenged books are his favorite from childhood. Alyson is drawn to books that are banned because they are always interesting and she’s curious about what is
threatening in them. She especially loved the ‘code switching’ in this book, how (protagonist) Starr navigates presenting herself differently in different parts of her life. Steven pointed out that when you see a powerful company or government putting a thumb on the scale you know how powerful the book is. Although he doesn’t say he is offended, he highlighted the misrepresentation of Native Americans in history books. He believes we must not fear talking about difficult topics.

They agreed on the importance of not banning books, even those with offensive or harmful content, as they can be tools for growth and understanding.

Host: Tonya Todd
Video Producer: JP Butler
Audio Producer: Ria Carrogan
Graphics: Mike Burton

Catch the video version at https://www.youtube.com/@mstonyatodd

Banned Books Conversations: Where Radical Readers Discuss Prohibited Prose

Banned books are works that have been removed from a library shelf or school curriculum. Over the course of Banned Books Week, this series will cover seven different books, the reasons they were banned, and the value in reading them.

Content warning: This episode contains descriptions os sexual assault and violence. Although this is an important discussion, please make sure you feel safe when listening to this episode.

Please take the time to listen to these two podcasts about Out of Darkness including an interviewing author Ashley Hope-Pérez: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thats-novel-reading/id1674694930?i=1000631558303

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rogue-librarians/id1650426238?i=1000630017004

And find out more about author Ashley Hope-Pérez on her website: https://ashleyperez.com/

Vogue Robinson: Former poet laureate of Clark County. Author, writing Consultant, and advocate for the arts everywhere she goes. Works at Left of Center Art Gallery in Las Vegas.

Susan Joslyn: Writes software and technical articles, beginning to write fiction, essays, and memoir.

Summary
Tonya hosted a discussion with Vogue and Susan about 'Out of Darkness'. Tonya, Vogue, and Susan held a discussion about banned books in conjunction with Banned Books Week. They expressed their concerns about the increasing trend of banning books, which they perceived as indicative of an authoritarian shift in society. They emphasized the importance of reading books that expose us to different people and experiences. The conversation covered a range of topics, including changes in language, the impact of offensive or outdated terminology in
literature, and the importance of diversity and inclusivity in publishing. They also shared personal experiences with books that offended or surprised them, and the responsibility of authors to consider the impact of their work on readers. The group also discussed the importance of education about the content of books and the potential for art to perpetuate stereotypes. The conversation concluded with Vogue sharing her experience with a book that offended her as a child, and how she navigated this.

Catch the video version at https://www.youtube.com/@mstonyatodd

Host: Tonya Todd
Video Producer: JP Butler
Audio Producer: Ria Carrogan
Graphics: Mike Burton

Banned Books Conversations: Where Radical Readers Discuss Prohibited Prose

Banned books are works that have been removed from a library shelf or school curriculum. Over the course of Banned Books Week, this series will cover seven different books, the reasons they were banned, and the value in reading them.

Wendy Wimmer: Fiction author by night, technical editor by day. Her book Entry Level is a short story collection that won the Autumn House Press fiction award. Find her at www.wendywimmer.com

Spider-Dan: Swing over to https://www.spiderdanandthesecretbores.com/ for some wacky, weird, controversial, and even sometimes banned films and comics.

Ada McCartney: Actor, poet, and teaching artist at the intersections of art, community organizing, and education, Poetry Theatre with the Femme On Collective. Collaborates on publishing projects with the Wisdom Body collective. Find her at www.aamccartney.com

Summary
Tonya hosted a discussion with Wendy, Spider-Dan, and Ada about Charlotte's Web. Spider-Dan says he never stays away from controversial, tends to run to it, and likes to study what makes things controversial when they were published and currently. Wendy is most interested in who gets to do the banning. She remembers when she and her fellow high school students succumbed to the Satanic Panic because the book was sold as non-fiction. She thinks it is important for readers to be alerted about what they are going to read, but nothing should be banned. Ada feels it is important to keep people reading and that criticisms are never about the stories or the ideas in it, instead recycled criticisms. For her it is critical to decide for herself and model that for students.

Host: Tonya Todd
Video Producer: JP Butler
Audio Producer: Ria Carrogan
Graphics: Mike Burton

Catch the video version at https://www.youtube.com/@mstonyatodd

Banned Books Conversations: Where Radical Readers Discuss Prohibited Prose
Banned books are works that have been removed from a library shelf or school curriculum. Over the course of Banned Books Week, this series will cover seven different books, the reasons they were banned, and the value in reading them.

Guest Panelists - Guest Links and Information

Veronica Klash - Primarily short format writer, anything from flash fiction to personal essays, articles, etc. Associate editor for Okay Donkey. Find her work at Veronicaklash.com. She's @veronicaklash on social media.
 
Brenna Thummler - Author of the Sheets Series from Only Press. Graphic Novelist.
Find her at Brennathummler.com, social media @brennathummler

AR Farina/Tony Farina - Podcaster, writer, and teacher. Find him at ARFarina.com. The second book in the Austen Chronicles series out in October, 2023. Original work (his and others) fortnightly on the podcast Sonic Salon.

Summary
Tonya led a discussion on banned books with guests Brenna Thummler, Veronica Klash, and Tony Farina. They explored the importance of reading banned books, the fear often underlying attempts to ban them, and the need for ongoing conversations about these issues. The book under discussion was "This One Summer" by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki.

The group also discussed the accessibility of books in schools and libraries and the impact of banning books on readers. Brenna expressed concern about parents restricting their children's access to books, suggesting a warning system to inform parents about book content.

Veronica, Tonya, Brenna, and A.R. discussed the influence of literature on children and the concept of the "slippery slope" in relation to book banning. The discussion ended with Tonya noting a pattern in the themes that get books banned, prompting reflection on societal progress.

The group also discussed the shifting power structures in society and the resistance to progress. They touched on the importance of reading books that may be considered offensive, as they offer the opportunity for empathy and understanding. The conversation also delved into the challenges of writing about mental health in literature and the responsibility of writers to educate themselves to avoid unintentionally using offensive statements. Veronica and Tonya emphasized the importance of anti-racist practices, including actively doing the work to avoid offense, rather than relying solely on intentions.

"This One Summer", a graphic novel published in 2014 is a coming-of-age story, won several prestigious awards including an Eisner award and an Ignatz award. Brenna first discovered it in a thrift store in 2015 and was drawn to it due to its beautiful illustrations. The book influenced her to work on her first graphic novel, "Anne of Green Gables.” A.R. was one of the first to receive an advance reader copy (ARC) of "This One Summer" from Net Galley, and after reading it, he's been a fan ever since. Veronica was also attracted to the graphic novel format, as it was a type of literature she enjoyed in her childhood.

Host: Tonya Todd
Video Producer: JP Butler
Audio Producer: Ria Carrogan
Graphics: Mike Burton

Catch the video version at https://www.youtube.com/@mstonyatodd

Banned Books Conversations: Where Radical Readers Discuss Prohibited Prose

Banned books are works that have been removed from a library shelf or school curriculum. Over the course of Banned Books Week, this series will cover seven different books, the reasons they were banned, and the value in reading them.

Host: Tonya Todd
Video producer: JP Butler
Audio producer: Ria Carrogan
Graphics: Mike Burton

Guest panellists

Sherry Rosenthal: Professor of English at the College of Southern Nevada. She's working on a novel and is the author of nonfiction books, short stories, poems, & essays.

Books on amazon; contact about panels [email protected]

Ria Carrogan: Communications professional by day, the rest of the time podcast producer of Femme On. The podcast at Femmeon.show, Instagram @femmeoncollective

Amanda Skenandore: Author of 4 historical novels, soon to be 5 and is a registered nurse. 

Find her at Amandaskenandore.com

Summary
Tonya hosted a lively discussion with Sherry Rosenthal, Ria Carrogan, and Amanda Skenandore about 'The Kite Runner.' 

Sherry said she didn't expect this sort of censorship to take root in the United States. In the past it was an idea that never seemed to happen. Books that offended her include titles by Ayn Rand, and Machiavelli but she would never support banning them, because as awful as anything might be to some, who is to be the arbiter?

Ria finds the reasons for the banned books fascinating, mainly that they are rarely what she predicted. The vocal minority is dangerous and many of their reasons seem unethical. Banning means closing the discussion and when ideas are not talked out they can become dangerous. She feels that by banning books, you are deleting history. Ria breaks her own rule for diet books.

Amanda is often surprised at the books on the banned lists, particularly this one, The Kite Runner. She is offended by casual racism in some books, but although she doesn't personally enjoy reading it, it is important to preserve these books in other times for how things were. We should not be banning any books because we need to keep them in the conversation. 

All three panelists enjoyed the conversation and agreed that The Kite Runner is an important book to read. Amanda added that reading it now gives us an opportunity to examine the twenty years we spent in Afghanistan and how we left them.

Banned Books Conversations: Where Radical Readers Discuss Prohibited Prose

Banned books are works that have been removed from a library shelf or school curriculum. Over the course of Banned Books Week, this series will cover seven different books, the reasons they were banned, and the value in reading them.

Host: Tonya Todd
Video producer: JP Butler
Audio producer: Ria Carrogan
Graphics: Mike Burton

Guest panelists

Lisa Rayne: Teacher, writer, and former lawyer, Princeton alum.

Lisarayne.com for books including Never Cross a Highlander featuring the first Black Highlander in romance. Scribal coaching authors how manage the business side of being an author. https://www.facebook.com/groups/scribal 

Gregory Kompes: Writer in many genres and university teacher and student.

Kompes.com where there is information about books, including the latest in the Broadway series, Obsequious and about writer's workshops. 

Find him at AWP in February 2024 paneling with Tonya about queer identity in books.

Heather Young: Co-founder of a women's empowerment platform.

Sosheslays.com and their newest podcast So She Slays Presents The Hangover, unfiltered and unapologetic discussions about our adult struggles, dating, pop culture, and social faux pas, and hopefully, you will have a good laugh. 

Episode summary:

Tonya hosted a discussion with Lisa Rayne, Gregory Kompes, and Heather Young. The conversation centered around the book 'Nineteen Minutes' by Jodi Picoult. The participants expressed their views on the importance of free access to literature, particularly in educational and public settings. Concerns were raised about the increasing polarization in society and the silencing of opposing viewpoints.

Gregory doesn't usually like to read about violence himself and he expected the ban to be due to violence and bullying content, or even that it could be a template for a student bent on revenge. He was surprised to learn that the ban was due to a one-page sex scene.

Lisa expressed her passion for literature and the importance of free access to it, particularly in educational and public settings. She is confounded by people's unwillingness to face reality and have good conversations about issues, especially when those conversations may save student lives. She also expressed her objections to certain classic literary works due to their portrayal of racism and the white savior complex. 

Tonya brought up an article/interview from the author Jodi Picoult, who says that she thinks often her books are banned just because others of her books are banned or because one person objects to something—like one mention of genitalia and then others jump on the band wagon but they don't actually read the book. The banning snowballs into something big based on nothing.

Heather shared her love for reading that developed after discovering the ability to visualize stories. She mentioned that by not having these conversations about difficult or painful subjects we are missing the chance to help kids think through grey areas.

Banned Books Conversations: Where Radical Readers Discuss Prohibited Prose

Banned books are works that have been removed from a library shelf or school curriculum. Over the course of Banned Books Week, this series will cover seven different books, the reasons they were banned, and the value in reading them.

Host: Tonya Todd
Video producer: JP Butler
Audio producer: Ria Carrogan
Graphics: Mike Burton

Guest panelists

Brandon Mead: Writer of queer fiction and queer personal essays. Also a bookseller, and author host in Seattle, WA.  Creator of Wayward pansy, coloring books that are inclusive, also Queer Books which showcases queer stories

Find him at Fiercestorytelling.com and on instagram @FierceStoryTelling

Wayne Goodman: Retired psychiatric nurse and podcast host.

Lives in San Francisco and has authored many books. Currently hosts Podcast Queer Words queerwords.org

Blake Byles: Trainee psychotherapist in London

Find him on twitter @BlakeBiles Comics in Motion Multiverse podcast

Summary

Tonya Todd led a discussion on banned books with guests Brandon Mead, Wayne Goodman, and Blake Byles. This year's first episode is 'All Boys Aren't Blue' by George M. Johnson. They discussed their views on banned books, with Brandon emphasizing the importance of freedom to read. They also talked about the need for reader advisories to caution about potentially triggering or misinformative content. The team did not reach a clear conclusion on the matter. They also discussed the pattern of themes in book banning and the implications it has for society.

Blake and Brandon discussed the target audience of a book they had been reading. Blake believed the book was written for a young adult market, particularly focusing on the college experience and the exploration of identity. Brandon agreed and added that the book, which deals with themes of gender and sexuality, could be particularly beneficial to young adults coming to terms with their own queerness or transness.

In this episode, our host Jess chats with romantic fiction author Emily Bunney about her Seattle Whalers hockey series, and the loyal following that encouraged Emily to share her work and keep writing. We talk about creating characters that readers love, writing for ourselves before writing for others and why sexy fiction can be helpful for anyone trying to understand and explore their own sexual identity and desires. 

You can find Emily on Instagram: @emilybunneyauthor

Find Emily on Facebook: Emily Bunney Author

Visit Emily’s website: www.emilybunney.com

And buy Emily’s Seattle Whalers Hockey series: https://4horsemenpublications.com/our-authors/emily-bunney/