It's Personal Podcast

In this episode, I chat with the insightful Nina Mata—author of A Place for Fire and The Legend of the Hummingbird. We dive into her journey as a writer, debut children's book NEW, the cultural roots that inspire her stories, and how nature, family, and heritage intertwine in her work. Nina shares her thoughts on crafting stories that celebrate resilience, belonging, and the magic found in everyday moments. This conversation is rich with warmth, wisdom, and the power of storytelling. 📚 A Place for Fire and The Legend of the Hummingbird are available wherever books are sold! Follow Nina Mata: 📸 Instagram: @nina.mata 🐦 Twitter/X: @NinaMataWrites 🌐 Website: www.ninamata.com [http://www.ninamata.com/]

In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant Betty C. Tang—author and illustrator of the powerful graphic novel Parachute Kids. We talk about her childhood, the real-life inspirations behind her work, and how identity, immigration, and family shaped the heart of her storytelling. Betty opens up about the emotional roots of Parachute Kids and what it means to tell stories that matter. This one's full of heart, art, and personal truth. 📚 Parachute Kids is available wherever books are sold! Follow Betty C. Tang: 📸 Instagram: @bettyctang [https://www.instagram.com/bettyctang] 🐦 Twitter/X: @bettyctang [https://twitter.com/bettyctang] 🌐 Website: www.bettytang.com [http://www.bettytang.com/]

Quartez Harris, a poet and teaching artist whose work has earned him numerous accolades, including the Ohio Poetry Association's Poet of the Year for his collection We Made it to School Alive. Quartez is set to release his debut picture book, Go Tell It: How James Baldwin Became a Writer, with Little Brown in January 2025.   Born in Springfield, Ohio, he faced significant challenges due to a learning disability but found strength in words. As a second-grade teacher, he captured his students' voices and experiences, inspiring his impactful poetry. Join us as we explore his journey, the stories behind his work, and his commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices in literature.   Listen to audio versions here:  Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/t.. [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbjY5Q2x4NElWWWozd2JFRWUxbWh6SC1Kd1Zfd3xBQ3Jtc0tra01aNFdvVXQzazE5MVBiOVpWQzAtOThMWHJ2c21VSzlid29OUWxOOWkxZEFGVEpWSFRjdm5neUMzTUZsbUN3VE9sVEgxUEZXb2lXSHJxbHFCNHdQYmVXUjZZZmFCWmlhcUwwMVFkcTZaX000S3o5SQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fca%2Fpodcast%2Ft..&v=zQcM1I9hgN4].  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2f3XyNg.. [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGxTWG1ITmU0X3lDSUloQ1kxbWNWaWhPbkthUXxBQ3Jtc0ttaXQ4TmZHUGtlSEpqNFUxeC1EbDhaa2RUU2RPTmp4WExnNmcyQkV0WE5nc0xncUZkSlZ1LWx5UHl3QlZnb1RHQnNuR0R5LWZ5NnZsc3Q1ZW5kRjdDak1sUjB1R2hPZl9qaVhXSlV1ZWJpZk93V3VjOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fshow%2F2f3XyNg..&v=zQcM1I9hgN4].  Zencastr: https://zencastr.com/It-s-Personal-Po.. [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVZpN0lmaFdhUXpTNk1iSlhpZzZwNmVNOF82UXxBQ3Jtc0tsWTd2LVhjWE5wUkZJY0RDclpmRU12NDVBU3U2Uzd6S055N1Q5cWozOFM4U1hfSndFM3FuV0FVaDd0RXJpRlc5WWo0SVp5WFBKY3NhdUdyZjhEMEdrS2VIREhmcV93WEhYTzZsZWZJN3RpY0pMS1Bybw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fzencastr.com%2FIt-s-Personal-Po..&v=zQcM1I9hgN4].

I'm excited to introduce you to Jenissa Graham, a Literary Agent at BookEnds Literary Agency. Jenissa began her publishing career at Writers House, starting as an intern and working her way up to the Subrights department as the Global Licensing and Media Rights Assistant. In 2022, she joined BookEnds Literary as an Associate Agent and Subrights Manager, where she began building her client list while also supporting the agency in Film/TV, Merchandise, and Audio. In 2024, she transitioned to agenting full-time.  As a first-generation Jamaican American, Jenissa is deeply passionate about increasing BIPOC representation in publishing and is always looking for new underrepresented authors. Currently based in New York, when she's not reading submissions, writing, or adding to her "maybe one day I'll read" pile, you can find her binging reruns of her favorite shows, fiddling with her tarot decks, or stressing over her beloved plants, Pacific, Ted, and Teddy. Join me as we explore her journey in the publishing world and her commitment to amplifying diverse voices.  Listen to audio versions here:  Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/t.. [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa1pBY1NvRXl5MEdzSURsQmZ3cWtLQXVvQnkxUXxBQ3Jtc0tsRllyZEFpRThvYmtYUVFrc1FjOWZxNjRoS1pnTzV1UXg0bXZuZXcwcFhLakN0R01uV1ZQc3VuT3FQTy16Nlk3RC1YOEU4eG9VN0dYV0FhQnplMkVJTTU3M3NUQTZpMURyMWpwM1M3TzhkallSSXVJMA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fca%2Fpodcast%2Ft..&v=9T-PBPrxNMU].  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2f3XyNg.. [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbnV5dTUtNG0yV0VTQ3UySHVFYzFJRkpFZTRMQXxBQ3Jtc0ttWjVoVW5nNFdITERsdl9JMEVnelNITkFJbUNQXzN0SzhodnNOdkJsOHJVaUtJVlZ1YlFqYm9lTjRObVpMN2dBTndhLWxWdGFGdVFEM2cxV2RBZ3RxMGo4Q2dORzlOeFhGMDhVdEwzbXZOOG1QVkg3Zw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fshow%2F2f3XyNg..&v=9T-PBPrxNMU].  Zencastr: https://zencastr.com/It-s-Personal-Po.. [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbktYUHJGdmJKNFlBUDE5LWcyUmRRNXFBanlDQXxBQ3Jtc0tuWkR5NThmTUdKOXVweE1DdDJUcFBFT2RUdC1IbXpQcjQ0OVlva0ZySVJnejlHUFVyUDRJSGVuMXBMc1NQc1E5S0lqSkU1X243T2pWYzU5a3ZFQ0hjM0xUb1BwQ255UWVYRlJrS3IwYjlKYVVwOEdGMA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fzencastr.com%2FIt-s-Personal-Po..&v=9T-PBPrxNMU].

I had the pleasure of speaking with Jess Owens-Young. By day, Jess is a public health professor, but in all her free time, she's a passionate artist. Her work beautifully captures the essence of living as a Black person in the U.S., exploring various dimensions of Black life through acrylics, oil pastels, and inks. Jess also creates digital illustrations that reflect these themes, often focusing on life in the interior, including houseplants and other living beings.  She draws inspiration from notable artists like William H. Johnson, Elizabeth Catlett, Alice Neel, Jordan Casteel, Amy Sherald, and Henry Taylor. If you're interested in collaborating or collecting some of her artwork, be sure to follow her on Instagram or reach out directly! Join me as we delve into her artistic journey and the stories behind her incredible work.  Website: https://jessowensyoung.myportfolio.com/paintings Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/truthofstrength/ Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ByJessOwensYoung