234: Sirens and Black Voices (with Bethany C. Morrow)

We’re joined this week to talk with author Bethany C. Morrow about her novels, using “speculative” fiction to tell the truth, how Black sisterhood is lifesaving, and decentralizing fantasy and mythology.    A Song Below Water spoilers from 54:33 to 57:02.   Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of racism, violence against women, doxing, inciting violence, white supremacy, ableism, self-harm, transphobia, QAnon, doctors/medical treatment, medical racism, death, homelessness, imprisonment/the prison industrial complex, stereotypes, respectability politics, and slavery.    Guest Bethany C Morrow is an Indie Bestselling author who writes for adult and young adult audiences, in genres ranging from speculative literary to contemporary fantasy to historical. She is author of the novels MEM and A SONG BELOW WATER, and editor/contributor to the young adult anthology TAKE THE MIC, which was the 2020 ILA Social Justice in Literature award winner. Her work has been chosen as Indies Introduce and Indie Next picks, and featured in The LA Times, Forbes, Bustle, Buzzfeed, and more. She is included on USA TODAY’s list of 100 Black novelists and fiction writers you should read. Her upcoming releases include A CHORUS RISES (June 2021), SO MANY BEGINNINGS: A Little Women Remix (September 2021), and CHERISH FARRAH (2022).   Housekeeping - Recommendation: This week, Julia recommends the podcast Hey Riddle Riddle. - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books - Call to Action: Check out our previous virtual live shows, and information about our future virtual live events at multitude.productions/live.    Sponsors - Stitch Fix is an online personal styling service that finds and delivers clothes, shoes, and accessories to fit your body, budget, and lifestyle. Get started at stitchfix.com/spirits for 25% off when you keep your whole box! - Skillshare is an online learning community where you can learn—and teach—just about anything. Explore your creativity at Skillshare.com/spirits and get a two week free trial of Premium Membership. This week Julia recommends “Artivism: Create Inspiring Art for Change” with Nikkolas Smith.  - Function of Beauty is hair care formulated specifically for you. Save 20% off your first order at functionofbeauty.com/spirits   Find Us Online If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us @SpiritsPodcast on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads. You can support us on Patreon (http://patreon.com/spiritspodcast) to unlock bonus Your Urban Legends episodes, director’s commentaries, custom recipe cards, and so much more. We also have lists of our book recommendations and previous guests’ books at http://spiritspodcast.com/books. Transcripts are available at http://spiritspodcast.com/episodes. To buy merch, hear us on other podcasts, contact us, find our mailing address, or download our press kit, head on over to http://spiritspodcast.com.   About Us Spirits was created by Julia Schifini, Amanda McLoughlin and Eric Schneider. We are founding members of Multitude, an independent podcast collective and production studio. Our music is "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.