Signal Boost #52 — L. D. Lewis (A Ruin of Shadows) and Ebony Elizabeth Thomas (The Dark Fantastic)

In today’s episode of Signal Boost, Jen interviews L. D. Lewis, short story writer, author of A Ruin of Shadows, and Art Director of FIYAH Literary Magazine for Black Speculative Fiction! L. explains why the theme of changing allegiances after discovering the truth is something she likes to explore, how science fantasy helps her ground her world-building, her upcoming essay in Take the Mic: Fictional Stories of Everyday Existence, and what it means to be the Art Director of FIYAH and how she uses that platform to boost the work of Black artists. Then Jen talks to fangirl, Associate Professor, and KidLit activist, Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, about her new non-fiction work, The Dark Fantastic: Race and the Imagination from Harry Potter to the Hunger Games. Jen refused to cut anything because they talk about everything from the imagination gap in publishing to how Ebony’s long involvement with fandom and as a fangirl led to the critical lens through which she developed The Dark Fantastic, whether diversity in media is a moment or a movement, and so much more goodness that you just have to listen! We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: L.D. Lewis (01:00 – 22:07) L.’s Website L. on Twitter A Ruin of Shadows (GO BUY IT!) Take the Mic: Fictional Stories of Everyday Resistance ed. by Bethany C. Morrow (GO PRE-ORDER THIS!) FIYAH Literary Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction (GIVE IT ALL YOUR LOVE!) Ebony Elizabeth Thomas (22:13 – 57:53) Ebony’s Professional Bio Ebony on Twitter The Dark Fantastic: Race and the Imagination from Harry Potter to the Hunger Games (GO PRE-ORDER IT!) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Rock Thing” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.