Naseem Jamnia: Of Colonial Supremacy & Second Worlds

In episode eight, the final ep of the season, Nicole kicks it with Markowitz Award–winning and Astounding Award-nominated author Naseem Jamnia (they/them). Naseem writes speculative fiction for adults, teens, and kids. Their adult fantasy novella The Bruising of Qilwa was nominated for the Crawford, Locus, and World Fantasy awards, and they contributed to the YA horror anthology The White Guy Dies First: 13 Scary Stories of Fear and Power. A Persian-Chicagoan, former neuroscientist, and current educator and pro-library activist, Naseem currently lives outside Reno, Nevada, with their husband and four furred creatures. The Glade (May 27, 2025, Aladdin, SimonKIDS) is their middle-grade debut. Find out more at NaseemWrites.com, and join their newsletter NaseemWrites.Kit.Com/SignUp.In this conversation, Naseem reflects on their cultural identity, family dynamics, and the impact of childhood experiences on their adult life. They discuss the complexities of friendships, the challenges of navigating community, and the importance of inclusive storytelling. Naseem shares insights into their literary achievements, creative processes, and the significance of world-building in their writing. The discussion also touches on the metaphorical monsters that shape personal narratives and the role of literature in addressing societal issues.Purchase The Glade, Naseem's middle-grade horror fantasy debut, and The Bruising of Qilwa, Naseem's adult fantasy novella debut.Oracle Card: "Friendship," from the Classic Horror Oracle Deck.Chapters00:00 The Complexity of Friendships03:24 Navigating Loyalty and Boundaries06:50 Building Community and Connection07:38 Childhood Influences and Cultural Identity15:24 The Journey to Neuroscience and Writing19:56 Navigating Family Dynamics and Personal Growth20:38 Childhood Monsters and Emotional Neglect27:11 Cultural Identity and Queerness34:13 The Journey of Writing and Creative Expression51:05 The Plague's Arrival in Kilwa52:38 Feroz's Journey and Anxieties55:48 Exploring The Glade: A Middle Grade Horror Fantasy57:20 The Process of Writing The Glade59:59 Inclusive World Building in Fantasy01:12:56 Crafting Secondary Worlds in Speculative Fiction01:20:03 OF MONSTERS Rapid Fire QuestionsOf Monsters: A podcast with Nicole Shawan Junior features intimate chats with speculative fiction masterminds and the characters they create. Spread love. It's the Brooklyn way. Follow the podcast. Share it on your socials. Comment on what you hear. Find Of Monsters on IG. Written and performed by Nicole Shawan Junior, the Of Monsters intro music was created by Ben Ford, produced by Caits Meissner, and engineered by Tatenda Dizha.