Although the short stories in the book tend to lean towards genre-bending horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and urban tales, I want the best for my characters. I want their burning souls to rise up from the ashes of their smothering circumstances and know their existence matters.

In writing the stories for Born of Dirt & Dust, I wanted to open a lens for readers to fully experience the characters' world, how trapped they felt, how they chose to move forward, and the ripple effect of those choices.

Writing speculative fiction enables Renee Coloman to uncloak fringe characters, to remove their invisibility in our culture, our world, and shining a spotlight on their uniqueness. Their situation and characteristics that drive them to engage in choices that accepted society would label as unacceptable.

The Literary Titan Book Award bestowed upon Born of Dirt & Dust tells me that, yes --- writing these stories to widen the lens for readers to fully experience the world in which these characters, as portrayed in the book, felt trapped, how they chose to move forward, and how the ripple effect of those choices touches each of us --- there is always room in our hearts for empathy, acknowledgement, compassion and friendship.

Yesterday, I met Jason Reynolds at an author event hosted by the OC Library. Yes! It was an absolute pleasure. I took notes, listening as Jason spoke about words and rhythm and the power of sound; layers of subtext as meaningful ideas that don't have to be shouted in the dialogue or paragraphs of his stories; and his passion for the heartbeat of language, his love of Shakespeare, and his fascination with all creatures living on the land or oceans of our earth.

I don't know why she says what she says but I know she's crazy and that's why she keeps a locked chain across the refrigerator door ...

"A dark bouquet of narratives that often focus on women pushed to emotional extremes." -- Kirkus Review