The GRAYAREA Podcast

As we sit down with Saadia Faruqi, a talented writer and advocate for diversity in children's literature. Saadia shares her inspiring journey of writing books that resonate with her daughter, with a strong desire for her to see herself represented in literature. We explore the importance of having range in writing, capturing the early years, middle school, and older ages to cater to a wide audience. Saadia also discusses her mission as a Pakistani American writer and the significance of discussing religion with children. Get a sneak peek into her new series, "Ali the Great," focusing on the early years, set to release on August 1st. We also delve into the exciting books that Saadia has in the pipeline for the upcoming years. Website: https://saadiafaruqi.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaadiaFaruqi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saadiafaruqi/

Join us on this episode of the podcast as we chat with Ekiuwa Aire, founder of Our Ancestories. Ekiuwa shares her experiences growing up in boarding school in Nigeria and how her family, especially her kids, inspired her to write books that represent African history and culture. She also discusses her biggest influence, Vasti Harrison, and how her work has impacted her own writing. Tune in to learn more about Ekiuwa's journey and the importance of representation in children's literature. Follow Ekiuwa: Website: https://our-ancestories.com/en-ca/pages/about Twitter: https://twitter.com/ancestories/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/our.ancestoriess/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/our_ancestories/

Join us on this episode of the podcast as we dive deep into the life and experiences of Antonio Michael Downing, author, musician, and speaker. Antonio shares his journey growing up in Toronto and the profound influence his grandmother had on his life and family. We explore the pressures that people of color face when creating and the challenges of letting go of control when it comes to something you've built and created. Antonio also shares his perspective on life as a bounty of creativity, and the mental health tools he uses to take care of himself. Tune in to learn more about Antonio's new book "Orphan Blue" and the powerful stories he tells through his work. Follow Antonio online: Website: https://www.antoniomichaeldowning.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/John_Orpheus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnorpheus/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/john.orpheus.3/

Jennifer Baker was named the 2019 Publishers Weekly Star Watch “SuperStar” because her “varied work championing diversity in publishing has made her an indispensable fixture in the book business.” She is the recipient of a 2017 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship and a 2017 Queens Council on the Arts New Work Grant (as well as the QCA Jr. Board Artistic Excellence Award) in Nonfiction. Her essay “What We Aren’t” was also listed as a Notable Essay in The Best American Essays 2018. On Its Personal, Jennifer chats about her debut YA, FORGIVE ME NOT, and all of its meanings. Jennifer shares her thought process around the story, and how the multiple themes within the story have an impact on today's world. Throughout this chat, Jennfier also dives into her childhood and explains some of her most memorable moments in school. Website: https://www.jennifernbaker.com/bio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jbakernyc/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jbakernyc FORGIVE ME NOT: https://www.jennifernbaker.com/forgive-me-not-novel

Nawal Qarooni is an educator, writer, and adjunct professor who supports a holistic approach to literacy instruction and family experiences in schools across the country. Drawing on her work as an inquiry-based leader, mother, and proud daughter of immigrants, Nawal's pedagogy is centered on the rich and authentic learning all families gift their children every day. Upcoming book: Nourishing Caregiver Collaborations: Elevating Home Experiences and Classroom Practices for Collective Care (Stenhouse, end of '23 or early '24). Website: https://www.nqcliteracy.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NQCLiteracy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nqarooni

Breanna J. McDaniel (she/her/hers) is the co-founder of REIYL (Researchers Exploring Inclusive Youth Literature) and an author. She’s published in myriad academic journals, an academic anthology and her debut picture book Hands Up! was published with Dial Books in 2019, while her newest picture book Impossible Moon was published with Denene Millner Books in June of 2022. She has five forthcoming picture books, one with Dial GO FORTH AND TELL: The Life of August Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller coming in February of 2024 and Cute Toot with Henry Holt Books for Young Readers in the Spring of 2024. On ItsPersonal Breanna chats about growing up in the South, hard truths about her current position with education, and her soon-to-be-published picture book, Cute Toot. A podcast conversation, you do not want to miss. Website: https://www.breannajmcdaniel.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bremacbooks/

Born the second of six cool kids. The South Bronx is where he first opened his eyelids. A land shrouded in bright-colored decay, the birthplace of graffiti and the hip-hop DJ! He paints fantasy worlds of elephants, and castles too! Accompanying this wonder is some whimsical truth. Charles has a voice that is seldom heard. A fusion of jazz, distorted guitars, and chirping birds. C.G chats never being a reader, and starting to draw in kindergarten. He also talks closely about his family, and growing up with very little during the 90s. School was not great, but his family found ways to figure it out. Author and Illustrator of "Red, Yellow,Blue and a dash of White too!"(Skypony Press) And “Boogie Boogie, Y’all”(Harper Collins)

Jamila is such a warm soul. In 2017 Jamila created a lifestyle design coaching methodology to help people find intentional, aligned, and strategic ways to transform their lives into what they want them to be. Jamila is also the host of a podcast called Deliberate and Doing it Afraid, where stories, reflections, and revelations are shared. On Its Personal Jamila talks about the art of living, growing up in the south, design, and motherhood. Website: https://jamilareddy.me/meet-jamila#about-bottomInstagram: Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamilaReddy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamilareddy/?hl=en

Charlene has always loved writing. She grew up reading Dickens and Tolkien and Bronte. When she turned to contemporary books, too many were predictable, with characters that felt like paper doll cut-outs. It took time but, through the misses, she found books full of realistic characters, who messed up like the rest of us. Those were the books she was aching for, and are the type she aims to write. On this podcast, the Canadian writer talks about her inspiration from travel (living in multiple places), growing up with brothers, adult fiction, the editing and revising process, and future writing aspirations.. Website: https://www.charlenecarr.com/about2/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlenecarrauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/charcarr1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlenecarrwritinglife

Ashley Franklin is a professional chaser—of ideas, dreams, and, most often, her kids. She is the author of Not Quite Snow White and a contributor to Once Upon an Eid, a collection of brilliant Muslim voices and stories. Ashley lives in Arkansas with her husband, Michael, and her children, Bilal and Mikhail. You can visit her online at www.ashleyfranklinwrites.com On the podcast, Ashley talks about raising boys and being a momma, the gifted and talented program, book deals (including The Little Mermaid), and some of her most personal writing struggles. Website: https://ashleyfranklinwrites.com/ Instagram: ashleyfranklinwrites Twitter: twitter.com/charcarr1 Facebook: www.facebook.com/ashleyfranklinwrites

Sarah Roughley talks about growing up in Southern Ontario writing stories about freakish little girls with powers because she secretly wanted to be one. Sarah is also an educator/professor , and has her PhD in English. She prides herself on wiring pieces on writing pieces about young girls that have super powers!. On ItsPersonal, Sarah talks what she does outside of writing, storytelling in the Black and African culture, and how fantasy allows us (the world) to imagine something different. Website: https://sarahraughley.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s_raughley/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/s_raughley

Danielle Murrell Cox is from Montreal Quebec. She is a creator of all things. She graduated from Dawson College in 2011, and is now a graphic designer, illustrator, freelancer, and business owner. Danielle is best know for her self-published coloring books Black Queens and Black Kinds, which went viral on social media and gave her the opportunity to have a segment on NowThisHer, amongst many other platforms. On ItsPersonal, Danielle chats about growing up in Canada, “speaking French”, her love for art, and her supportive Black momma. Website: https://dmcox.co/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dmcox_/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/dmcox_

Nadine Presley talks about her writing journey, her family, and her first book, The City of Jasmine (set for 2025). Nadine has lived in multiple places and has experienced a lot throughout her travels. During this podcast, Nadine talks specifically about how she started writing, and why it is important to create Syrian stories to represent herself and her family in today's world. Nadine takes a deep dive, in her writing process, and the inspirations behind her craft. Website: https://www.nadinepresley.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nadinepresleyauthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/nadinepresley

Janae Marks is the author of critically acclaimed middle grade novels, From the Desk of Zoe Washington and A Soft Place to Land, as well as the forthcoming novel On Air with Zoe Washington. She has an MFA in Writing for Children from The New School, and lives in Connecticut with her husband, daughter and miniature schnauzer named Cookie. Janae chats about motherhood, writing/publishing during a pandemic, growing up in New York, and new books. Website:http://www.janaemarks.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janaemarksbooks/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/janaemarksbooks

Jyoti Rajan Gopal is a writer, mom and Kindergarten teacher. Growing up, she lived in Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, India and China. Twenty-eight years ago, she moved to New York and now lives in Yonkers in a quirky old Victorian, with her husband and two daughters. Her favorite place in the house is the wrap around porch where she loves to gather with family or friends, read, write and drink coffee. Jyoti talks about her course with the Writing Barn (see link below), living in many different countries, family values, education, and new books! Jyoti, is such a treasure to the world. Listen to her share her story on Its Personal Podcast. Website: https://www.jyotirajangopal.com/about.html Writing Barn: https://thewritingbarn.com/class/perfecting-the-picture-book-i-with-jyoti-gopal/jyoti-6-week-class-graphics-square-3/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jyotirgopal/?hl=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/JyotiGopal

Jarrett has been a storyteller most his life, both on his own and in collaboration with Jerome. While their earliest work remains locked in a drawer—the key long lost for good measure—their first co-authored book, Creepy Things Are Scaring Me, was published by HarperCollins in 2003. Jerome is a designer, illustrator, and writer, originally from Houston, TX. He studied graphic design at the Art Institute of Austin and has worked as a technical writer, freelance graphic designer, and illustrator. Together the brothers talk about growing up with influential parents, and 4 brothers. A busy house, made with a lot of love. We take a deep dive into fatherhood, and family traditions they try to continue now that they have their own families. And of course, we find out who is the favorite brother, and up and coming projects! Website: https://thepumphreybrothers.com/ Jarrett: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wjpumphrey/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wjpumphrey Jerome Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jpumphrey/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jpumphrey

Tracy Badua is a Filipino American author of books about young people with sunny hearts in a sometimes stormy world. According to her grandmother, Tracy inherited this love of the written word from her great-grandfather, a school teacher in the Philippines. To Tracy, this means writing is in her blood, and she continues this family tradition by telling stories with her own spin in an accessible, heartfelt way. By day, she is an attorney who works in national housing policy and programs, and by night, she squeezes in writing, family and pup time, and bites of her secret stash of candy. School and work brought her from California to Washington, DC, and back, and she now lives in San Diego, California, with her husband, family, and photogenic Maltese. On the podcast Tracy talks about motherhood, writing as an attorney vs middle grade, story building, and her first book (Freddie vs the Family Curse) Website: https://tracybadua.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracybaduawrites/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/tracybwrites Buy Freddie vs The Family Curse: https://tracybadua.com/books/

Dane Liu believes in the power of stories to affirm, transport, and transform. Her debut for young readers FRIENDS ARE FRIENDS, FOREVER is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, an Indie Next Pick, and a Best Book of the Year from The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books. Dane was born in China and moved to the US and Canada when she was a tween. On this podcast, we chat with Dane about living in multiple places, growing up in an immigrant family, being "good enough, biking and her most recent book, Friends are Friends, Forever! Website: https://www.daneliu.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daneliuwrites/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/daneliuwrites

Julian Randall is a Living Queer Black poet from Chicago. He has received fellowships from Cave Canem, CantoMundo, Callaloo, BOAAT, and the Watering Hole. Julian is the recipient of a Pushcart Prize. Julian is the winner of the 2019 Betty Berzon Emerging Writer Award from the Publishing Triangle. On this podcast (part 2 of 2) Julian talks about The Dead Don't Need Reminding (Essay Collection), running from a REAL tornado, the Chicago Bulls and their playoff hopes, and so much more! Apologizes for the audio on my end. It is a little muffled during the conversation. I hope it does not ruin your experience listening to Julian and his story. Website: juliandavidrandall.com/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/julianthepoet/ Twitter: twitter.com/julianthepoet

Julian Randall is a Living Queer Black poet from Chicago. He has received fellowships from Cave Canem, CantoMundo, Callaloo, BOAAT, and the Watering Hole. Julian is the recipient of a Pushcart Prize. Julian is the winner of the 2019 Betty Berzon Emerging Writer Award from the Publishing Triangle. On this podcast (part 1 of 2) Julian talks in-depth about his first published book, accepting the idea of being a "writer", family influence, and is magic just for white kids. Apologizes for the audio on my end. It is a little muffled during the conversation. I hope it does not ruin your experience listening to Julian and his story. Website: https://juliandavidrandall.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianthepoet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/julianthepoet