159. The Tea with Bri and Jamila M

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Welcome to the Tea with Bri. I'm your host, Bri. Thanks for listening. The Tea with Bri podcast is focused on deep, honest and vulnerable conversation. Each week I sit down with a different guest in order to have those conversations. Every week, I'll start my guest's bio, an intro to how we know each other, and then we'll go into a deep dive conversation about whatever topic they brought to me that week. This week, I'm joined by my guest, Jamila Monroe. Jamila Monroe, who uses she her pronouns, writes southern gothic supernatural thrillers that feature haunted water, ancestral spirits, and black queer woman as the main characters. Her current project, haints, follows a detective investigating a decades old cold case as a murdered woman spirit returns to settle the score herself. It's a story about justice, memory, and a sapphic love that's allowed to be complicated, adult and real. Jameela is represented by Rita Varis at Rosecliffe Literary, and she's on the long winding path to publication. She is a Scorpio and if given the opportunity, would be a Scorpio in every lifetime. [00:00:59] Speaker B: Sure. Yeah, baby. [00:01:02] Speaker A: When she's not writing, she's reading, contemplating, and waxing poetic about astrology to anyone who will listen. She's also building a small, creepy corner of the Internet for exactly the readers this book was written for. Hello? Yeah, what's up, friend? I am so excited, friend. Well, before we start, we have to give a shout out to Pam, who is my cousin, my second cousin, but my cousin. And she reached out and she's like, hi, bring back the podcast. I have your perfect guest. And I was like, oh, tell me more. So she sent me your profile, like, set it up. Let's roll. We gotta talk. [00:01:39] Speaker B: I love books. [00:01:40] Speaker A: I love being queer. I love being a black woman. I love to read. I love everything you were about. Like, sign me up. Let's roll this out. So shout out to Pam before we do anything else, because she needs. She needs it. [00:01:53] Speaker B: I have to give love to my girl Pamela. I always call her by her government name. She's so sweet, she's so thoughtful. And we've been friends for like a year. So I'm a big fan fiction girly. I will beat the drum for fan fiction all day. And I had written this story and she loved it. And when you're a creative and someone gives you feedback, real feedback, it is so beautiful because, like, it's great to get any type of feedback of, like, oh, this is great. This is well written. I love this. Whatever. Pam would leave, like a thesis. You Know, and it would be this, this, this, it would break it down. And I felt like she wasn't just seeing the story, she was seeing my intention. So we ended up exchanging emails and we were chit chatting and stuff. And I was like, Pam is so cool and she's a Pisces. I always like click with [00:02:45] Speaker A: Pisces gang. [00:02:46] Speaker B: Pisces water sign gang, baby. We always, always connect. And she's just so sweet. And so I've been telling her the last couple of months, like, oh, you know, I'm on this journey, I'm trying to figure. I don't know what I'm doing, y', all, so just put that out there. Yeah. [00:02:59] Speaker A: Fake it. Do you make it? It's fine. [00:03:00] Speaker B: Exactly. And so she said, well, I talked to my cousin about you. I hope you don't mind. I was like, hope I don't mind, please. Yes. So thank you, Pamela. [00:03:09] Speaker A: The. The full government is sending me Pamela [00:03:13] Speaker B: every time I do it to get [00:03:15] Speaker A: on her nerves because she's so not like a full name person. So that's what's sending me, like, that's when people call me Brian. I'm like, no, no, Brie's fine. Brianna means I'm in trouble. I owe you something. Like, please, like. And my family called me Brianna. I feel like, just to upset me now. I'm like, I'm 36. Come on. [00:03:33] Speaker B: Yeah, Okay. [00:03:35] Speaker A: I know we're not here to talk about astrology, but we will have to have you back because. [00:03:39] Speaker B: Oh, I could talk all day and all. [00:03:41] Speaker A: I saw one. A lawyer. I have an LSAT book sitting in on my dresser. Cuz I was like, maybe now's the time. [00:03:48] Speaker B: We could talk about that too. [00:03:49] Speaker A: We'll talk about that another time. Astrology. I was like, my people. Because yes, water sign. I know my full chart. Like deep, deep dive. [00:03:58] Speaker B: Sorry, sorry. I have to know now. What are your big three? [00:04:00] Speaker A: Thank you for asking. Pisces sun. [00:04:04] Speaker B: Okay. [00:04:05] Speaker A: Sag moon, which I know chaotic. I love a sag to Taurus rising. [00:04:11] Speaker B: Okay. All right. Got a little stability, a little wild thing, a little spirituality. I love it. That's. I love when people have like a mix. Yeah. [00:04:21] Speaker A: Listen. [00:04:21] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:04:21] Speaker A: My third eye be knowing that Pisces intuition unmatched. [00:04:25] Speaker B: Oh, I already know. Nobody's more psychic than a Pisces. Thank you. No, it's true. [00:04:30] Speaker A: The dreams, the deja vu. People look at it. [00:04:32] Speaker B: My brother and I are super close. He texts me every day about a dream and a deja vu every day. And I'm like, please Dream up some lottery numbers. Can you do that? [00:04:41] Speaker A: The mega million. Anything. Wait, what are your big three now? I need to know. [00:04:45] Speaker B: Scorpio, Sun. Leo Moon, Love. Gemini rising. [00:04:52] Speaker A: See that? You had me tell that Jo. [00:04:58] Speaker B: I know. I know. My thoughts are with you because they should be. [00:05:03] Speaker A: My. One of my best friends is a Gemini son. And I'm like, I don't know how you survive your day to day, girl. [00:05:07] Speaker B: Listen, she. [00:05:08] Speaker A: And then her other two big three are both water. I'm like, how do you get anything done? [00:05:15] Speaker B: And I have no earth, so how do I get anything done is a mystery. But I have a lot of fire and so. Okay. [00:05:23] Speaker A: Yeah, I'm gonna think about you next time. I read my astrology for the week. [00:05:28] Speaker B: I'm like, put me on the prayer list. [00:05:32] Speaker A: Everything. [00:05:32] Speaker B: Because. [00:05:34] Speaker A: Okay. We are here today to talk about you. Your writing number one. I re. Like I told you before we got on. I reread your prologue today as a book nerd. I'm upset because. How dare you. [00:05:49] Speaker B: Right? [00:05:50] Speaker A: I. From, like the first three paragraphs, I was like, oh, I'm in. Like, drop the book today. Like, I have no words. Like, the. The way you describe the scene. I was there. I feel like I was like in a swampy body, but also like the forest and like the way you described her coming out of the water. And the guy and the thing and the. I could see the ring of her girl. I need this book yesterday. Then that's just from the prologue. So how does me. [00:06:29] Speaker B: Very excited. [00:06:30] Speaker A: How did this book idea come up? How did you get into writing? What's the process been to writing this? Like, tell them this is your. Your space for the next hour. Because you could just talk at me. Because I just need to know how you came up with this idea, the whole thing. Because. Deep breath. [00:06:47] Speaker B: Because, well, Leo Moon, all the. All that praise really just. [00:06:56] Speaker A: I got more where that comes from. But yes. [00:07:00] Speaker B: So the book is inspired by Lake Lanier. So you're in. [00:07:04] Speaker A: You're in Connecticut. [00:07:05] Speaker B: Okay, so I'm in Georgia. And there's a haunted lake here. Everybody knows it's haunted. [00:07:10] Speaker A: I know of Lake Lanier. [00:07:11] Speaker B: Okay. Most. Most of us do. You know that it used to be a black town, and they ran the black folks out, killed the black folks, put this water on top of the town. So there's like graveyards and. And bits of town underneath it. And without fail, somebody always goes missing there. Somebody just went missing, like two weeks ago. They found. [00:07:32] Speaker A: That's how I know about Lake Lanier. Like, there's so many people who go missing on that lake. [00:07:36] Speaker B: Yes, they go, and it's the ancestors. Everybody knows it's the ancestors. And so for a very long time, I had had this idea that I wanted to write a story about it, but I don't know. I think when the idea really came to me, I was newly in the law. I had two young kids, so there was a lot going on that just couldn't focus on creativity. You know, you need a space to be creative. You have to have the time to be in your world and in your la la land. And the last, like, the last year and a half, I thought, okay, I'm ready to get serious about writing again. And actually, it was when he who Shall Not Be Named got elected, which was on my birthday, which was on my birthday, and said, you know what? Art is part of the resistance. Like, I have some friends who are on the. Who are out on the streets. And I was like, that's what they're supposed to be doing. I don't think I'm supposed to be on the streets at this point, because I still have kids. Maybe when I don't, I'll be out there. But I was like, but I have. I have something to contribute because I'm an artist. I'm a writer. And so I thought, I don't know what I should write about. I came across this prompt, and the prompt was, you know, 10 words, maybe 10 words or less, that somebody was in a store and they were dead on the floor, whatever. I don't even remember. But I was like, that could be a really good opening for this story that I've been thinking about for years. So I wrote a very short 1300 words, that's like three pages, maybe four, and submitted it to this competition. And I won the competition. And so I thought maybe I should take my writing seriously. I mind you, I had been writing fan fiction for 25 years. Before that, I had been writing the whole time, but it was like a hobby. I wasn't taking it seriously. [00:09:16] Speaker A: Also, quick pause. You won the competition. Let's not go over that. I did. [00:09:21] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:09:23] Speaker A: Okay, continue. [00:09:24] Speaker B: Thank you. So. And that's when I thought, a little bit of validation. That's nice. And I was thinking maybe I would do well with scripts, because how you were describing the script scene and all that, I like to get to the meat of it. I don't want to spend 15 pages talking about the trees. Like, let's set the scene and let's do the drama. And with scripts, you have to get to the point, because you have to say a lot in a little bit of space. So I wrote a 20 page short story which also won a competition. Well, it placed in a competition. It placed in the Austin Film Festival. And I was like, huh. Then I. After that 20 page script, I still still felt like I had more to say. I am someone. I have so many ideas. That's the Gemini. I have so many ideas. I'm not that great about seeing them to completion a lot of times. And with this story, I wrote the short story and I still had something left. I wrote the. The short script. I still had something left. I turned it into a TV pilot and entered into two more competitions, placed in those. And I was like, okay, this story. Something about this story still wants to be told. And it's still. I'm somebody who believes that the universe hands stuff out if you're open for it. Have you seen Michael? [00:10:38] Speaker A: No, not yet. [00:10:39] Speaker B: Okay, I won't ruin it. There's this. There's this line he says, and I'm like, that's exactly how I feel about it. That, you know, if you don't do it, somebody else will do it. So I still had an idea for this story. And after the 60 page TV pilot, I thought, okay, it's time for me to turn this into a book. I spent the next six months writing it as a book. And I knew when it was over, I was like, this is it. I had. I had written books before. I have tried. I queried agents before. I didn't get an agent. Those books weren't ready, but I knew this one was. And so when I sent it out, I was like, I knew I was going to get an agent. And not trying to be funny, I just felt it. You knew? Yeah, Yeah, I knew. [00:11:24] Speaker A: Well, if you need someone to read this book, I am available. And I think it's too like the. I was writing as. As you were talking of, like the representation of it. And I think, again, sorry that he was elected on your birthday because my heart goes out as a. As a social justice, like, protester, public speaker. Like, did a lot of work when I was living in Texas, but again, single, no children. So like I, like you were saying, like, I had that space to do that. And yeah, it shifted now that I've moved back home and I'm trying to think what the next move is. But anyway, and my friends and I've been talking about this, like, what is your version of resistance? What are you doing in this fight? And so this. What, again, they're Gonna get sick of me saying that. Pro. Just the prologue of. I feel so much historical connection to the kid. Is it Pearl? Is her name that. That connection to her and in our people who and what we had to go through. And like the way, like, we have had to find our own justice in a way. And like, also like that supernaturally feel of it too. As a person who has half watched the Supernatural series, like the CW series, it felt like an episode of that, but like from a black woman's lens and for us to be centered in it. I was just like, again, as a person who reads a lot of books, for me to be like three paragraphs and I was like, I need. I would probably sit and read that book today. Like, I didn't need to know anything else. I just needed those first two pages and like, fine. And it is. It is such a beautiful way to use your art as like telling stories that are still important and pertinent today. And like, for you to talk about the connection to Lake Lanier and everything, you know, black people have had to deal with near water. Like, I think about the slave trade. I think about Nolan Wells. I think about like all the things that our people and like this stereotype of like black people, cancer. I was like, no, no. We have had to learn to survive near water specifically because of all the things that, you know, we have been traumatized around water and what does that meant and done for us. And so like, the way this character is now a part of water and the way she, like, lures him. Ah, girl, I. Your Leo Moon is gonna love. Like, I just would devour. I cannot wait to devour this book. I'm like, I'm gonna buy copies for people. Like, everyone needs to read this. Like, what that did for my brain as a book reader, as a person who's very visual. I would die for this to be a TV series based off. If that was just the prologue pitch, please, like, it was just it. And it just felt so irreverent of being a black woman. And like I said before, like, having to get your own justice and move forward and the tenacity to continue to follow through. And I'm sweating like, just thinking about, like reading this book. I'm so excited. I'm so excited for you. Like, what was the process of like, you finishing knowing it is done and like going forward to then find a publisher for. For this book? Because you could have self published. So what, like, made you go and take that next step? [00:14:51] Speaker B: I felt like this was bigger than me like, it was a bigger. I was the vessel for a story, and I was open for it, and I wanted to do it justice. And, you know, a publisher may not buy it then that. That might. I might have to end up publishing it myself anyway. But I just felt like I had the ancestors with me, and something I kept thinking about when I was writing it. I do a lot of notes, kind of like affirmations for myself, and I pin them up, and one of them that I pinned up was, this is for my ancestors by blood and my ancestors in blood, because the by blood are my people, but the in blood, like, this is still my people as well. I'm not related to the people at Lake Lanier, I don't think. But I'm a writer, and I'm black, and, like, I know I care about this, and I'm open. And so this, I felt like, was my assignment, and I was happy to do it. As far as the process, guess what? That prologue I rewrote at the 11th hour, that is not what it was before. [00:15:52] Speaker A: Really? [00:15:52] Speaker B: Yeah, before, it was much more graphic, and it was more based on her pain. And when I reread it, I was like, this isn't what I want to tell. I want her to be in the position of power. She's not the victim here. She is the bad bitch coming to check and wreck some people. And so it just. It felt better when I redid it. So, you know, people say writing is rewriting. That's true. You write it. You kind of do. Like, this dump of all the ideas, and then you get to know the characters as you go. And you'll see this when you read the whole thing. Every. Most of the people are black women. Most of the central characters are black women. And I had one character that I had written as a black man throughout. And every time I graded myself, like, that was part of my process. You asked about the process. When I was finished with something, I would read it back to myself and. And every chapter with him in it. I was like, something is not right. The minute I changed into a black woman, he came alive. [00:16:48] Speaker A: Wow. [00:16:49] Speaker B: Okay. Yeah. [00:16:51] Speaker A: Do you. Do you know why that is? Or you just felt like it was more of a black woman story? [00:16:56] Speaker B: I think I was trying to fit representation in that. I didn't really feel. I think that's what I was trying to do. Like, this isn't just for black women. I was like, no, actually, it is. [00:17:08] Speaker A: And that's okay. [00:17:09] Speaker B: And that's totally okay. And I was. I had an idea of who this character was. And it just was kind of flat. And then when I changed it to a woman, she just. I was like, I hear. That's how I, like, get information. I hear it and I see it, and I can visualize it. Yeah, she just came alive. And I was like, that was better. That was a good switch. [00:17:28] Speaker A: The grading is so funny. [00:17:30] Speaker B: Giving yourself a. I'm very. I have a sixth house, Scorpio sun. So Virgo tendencies. So grading. Yeah. I have spreadsheets. I make worksheets. I rating. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. [00:17:46] Speaker A: I always laugh, like, as you talked about, like, the. The process of writing and rewriting and TV pilot. One of my really good friends is in film school right now, and so we talk about, like, film and movies a lot. And, like, she's really helped me change the way I look at film and television. And so she'll laugh at me because, again, I devour books. And we just watched his and Hers. The Netflix show that just came out is an adaptation of Alice Feeney, who's one of my favorite authors. What the heck? People can't let me be great as an adaptation of Alice Feeney's book. His and by the same title, his and Hers. She's one of my favorite authors. I think she's British, if I'm not mistaken. But I was so mad at the adaptation, um, because it completely changed it for television, which irks me because I'm like, it's tv. You have time. What are we rushing for? What are you changing? And so, like, that makes me think of. Of this process, too, of, like, writing and just, like, the fact that it went from TV pilot back to book, like, the. That. That transfer back. Also, I'm manifesting this for you. When it does get picked up for television, I want you to be the adaptator and stick by it, because I'm tell. I'm telling you, that prologue alone was just so good. And I was recently talking to another friend about how, like Reese Witherspoon, for example, like, when she finds a book she loves that then becomes like, a Reese book, she'll option that. Like, she automatically options the. The television production of it or the movie adaptation of it. So, anyway, I'm manifesting for you that when this book gets picked up, you'll also be the adaptator. Because I just trust the artist more than the person who's going to take it. Because I, as a. As a book nerd who has read fantastic books that then turn into wretched movies and television, I know I am. I may be your biggest Fan right now of this. This book based solely off this prologue. Yes, Please take it. And I, like, I cannot get past it. [00:19:47] Speaker B: And. [00:19:48] Speaker A: And like you were saying, like, when you did the rewrite of, you went from, like, that. More like, descriptive version or like, maybe like you said, like, a violent version to this. As a person who loves true crime but hates horror, Don't. I don't know. In my brain, it makes sense. [00:20:03] Speaker B: No, yeah, it does make sense. [00:20:04] Speaker A: I was like, I don't know why. I don't need to see the gore. I don't need, like, whatever the. The way you didn't have to do that and still pulled everybody. And like, the way you describe her features and like, the way you describe, like, when they first see her, and like, the way the two different characters who see her first have such different ways of seeing her first. And I'm like, oh, like, I have a lot of feelings about this book already. And I. Again, that small little piece, I was like, oh, this is. This is. This is it. So I hope. I hope you feel proud of this. Like, this is. I can't even imagine what the rest of this book looks like. [00:20:45] Speaker B: And, yeah, I think. I think you'll like it. [00:20:49] Speaker A: Don't do that to me. I can't wait. I know you mentioned the detective. [00:20:54] Speaker B: Is. [00:20:54] Speaker A: There's a detective in this book trying to solve this cold case. Is he also black? [00:20:58] Speaker B: She is black. [00:21:00] Speaker A: She is black. This is gonna be my favorite book of all time. [00:21:05] Speaker B: I already know she is black. Yeah. Oh, she's the main character, so it's really that. Oh. [00:21:17] Speaker A: Because obviously we don't meet her in the prologue. So I'm thinking it's Pearl's the main character in this whole. [00:21:24] Speaker B: It's about Pearl, but the main character is the detective. [00:21:32] Speaker A: I'm so excited. Someone needs to publish this book today, you guys. Today I need it. Oh, my gosh. I'm so excited. This is, like, unreal to me. Okay, when you think about this, what do you want, like, people to feel? What do you, like, what is the outcome? Like, I know some people. I think about some of my favorite authors who, like. I think about James Patterson. I think he's just, like, staying up on just, like, writing books to write books at this point. [00:22:00] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:22:00] Speaker A: When I think of, like, some of my authors who, like, write such different books, like, who are still, like, great. I love a plot twist. I also love stories told from different perspectives, which I think I'll get with your book. It sounds like, too. So I'm always wondering, like, what do you want people to feel what is, like, the motive of this writing? Like, what? Where. Like, where. Where do you see the human connection coming from? Who is your book for? Like, I. So many questions. I will pause for an answer. [00:22:30] Speaker B: Everything you have said is the reaction I want. Everything. Because you are excited to see yourself represented not perfectly, but positively and. And powerfully. And so one thing my agent said when we were talking about it, she was like, these characters are not perfect, but they're compelling. And I prefer that we're not perfect, and we could get off into a whole conversation about what that looks like. But, you know, I know some people were upset about Perfidia. Beverly Hills in what. [00:23:04] Speaker A: What is it? [00:23:04] Speaker B: The Leo DiCaprio movie. One battle after another. [00:23:08] Speaker A: Yep. [00:23:10] Speaker B: With Tiana. And my thing about Tiana's character was I was so glad she was not perfect, because I think black women have either been. Been portrayed as totally evil or totally perfect, and neither of those is real or good. We are. We are humans just like everybody else. So every reaction you've had so far is very much what I hope people feel of, like, ooh, I'm excited to hear about this person. And the other person is also black. And there's this kind of, you know, power of power in it of getting your own justice, if necessary. Yeah. [00:23:47] Speaker A: And I think that's what. When you talk about compelling versus perfect and, like, the way that, like, when you. And when you start with Rose and, like, that prologue, I'm sorry, both Pearl and that continues through and what happens at, like, towards the end of it, I'm like, yes. Like, it is not what people, like, deem correct. But I'm like, she got hers. Like, I can see. I can be aligned. I'm like, yeah, girl, you got your own justice. And I just think about our people and, like, what we've had to do to get our own justice. And, like, again, like, to think of what Nolan Wells's family is going through right now. Like, this is not. We had, like, had to hire their own lawyer, how to get their own autopsy. Like, all these things to be like, this is not an accident. Like, this was. And if it is, we'll figure that out. But don't just deem it that because it makes your life easier, because you can't think of blaming these group of kids. When I'm like, anything could have happened. Like, and also, like, as an armchair detective who, like, thinks she can solve, I'm still gonna solve the. Solve the JonBenet Ramsey case. Okay. That's the one I Know, it's been almost 40 years. I think I know who did it, but I'm not about to get sued. [00:24:54] Speaker B: Listen, you know who I'm still trying to solve Jack the Ripper, so. [00:24:57] Speaker A: Oh, well, I not talk about him. Last week, I was like, excuse me. We still don't know. There was a cold case out of Austin called the Yogurt shop murder. They just solved that. Like, you guys, I was so close. Like, I was right there. I wasn't. I don't have my own lab. But, you guys, I feel like, give me 20 minutes in a book, and I can figure anything out. But, like, thinking about that part, like, she was so compelling. And, like, when you talk about characters, like, obviously automatically think of Shonda Rhimes and what she did for characters, like, I think about Olivia Pope and Annalise Keating of, like, these two black women who are both smart, who are both attractive, who are both successful, who are both imperfect. Like, I think about Annalise specifically. That bitch will read you for filth, and her closet is filthy itself, like, she is. And, like, when they. When those two, like, duked it out, like, who do you root for? Like, they are both just. And I think about Olivia Pope, like, her monologues that. What is it, 20 years since scandal came out? And we still know the monologues and who did what and how she said things. And so I am, like, very much like, no, Like, I support black women's wrongs and black women's rights because we. Like you're saying. And, like, in the. In the show with Olivia Pope's dad, we had to be twice as good to get half as much. And, like, I think of Pearl's character already of just. Like, I was thinking about, like, when I finished rereading it today, all I could think about was her family. Where is she? What happened to her? When was this? Like, there's just so many different things. And that through line of, like, that's still happening today. It might just look a little different. And, like, still, like, what are we doing? How do we get justice? What does that look like? What do the families who are left behind have to do? So, listen, if you need someone to come on you with a book tour, I'm available for. [00:26:47] Speaker B: You'll be number two after Pam. I already promised her. [00:26:51] Speaker A: No. If I have to be second to anyone, I am proud to refer it to the. Pamela. [00:26:56] Speaker B: Pamela. [00:27:00] Speaker A: Hold on. I have more questions. Please hold. [00:27:02] Speaker B: I wrote something else down. [00:27:03] Speaker A: Oh. When you had said. When you, like, kept writing and kept rewriting and Then, like, you were like, I'm good. Like, I. I feel good about this. [00:27:12] Speaker B: I. [00:27:13] Speaker A: And you mentioned something else. And I wrote down the line of, like, the universe makes space for your. For your gifts. And I heard a podcast. I listened to Warrior Girls. It's Tiffany and Taryn. And Tiffany said it one day, like, because she. Her whole career story, like, she owns her own PR business now. [00:27:29] Speaker B: And, you know, she has a farm now. [00:27:33] Speaker A: Yes. And her best friend, Tiffany. [00:27:35] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:27:36] Speaker A: And Tiffany, who's from Florida, like, I was working in real estate. I didn't like it. I moved to New York on a whim. And now she started her own PR company. And she said, like, her and her mom were talking one day. Her mom's like, the universe makes space for your skills. You just have to be brave enough to say, I'm here. I am ready to take it. I'm ready to, like, take that leap. And you know the saying, like, the universe provides. I deeply believe that of, like, we all have so many skills and talents, and it's just like, are we brave enough to share it and not take in the naysayers and not take in the. In the other people's opinions on it? And I think about when I started this show. It was truly just, like, I. Like you mentioned in your. In your notes before we recorded. Of, like, I just love people's stories. And so that's how this show came to be. Of, like, I was meeting so many amazing people, and my mom passed when I was 15. And so, like, for me to have voices and videos and, like, stories and just deep conversations about what people are talking about, and I find a lot of things interesting. So, like, let's just be open and so creating that space for this. And, like, now it's been. I've had this show since 2019, not every week, but, you know, when. When I get my life together, it happens, and it goes really well. And it's. You know, I've had people from all over the world who have been on and we've talked about, you know, all different topics, and just thinking about that of, like, my gift is talking to people and hearing their stories and sharing their stories. And so I'm just so excited for, like, people to see this story because I think so many people are going to resonate. And I think too, like, the representation of, like, having a black. So many black women in the store, like you're saying, and that representation of, like, I think for so many people still, like, I pick up books that just interest me. I don't really care about what the character looks like. But it was really exciting for me to know that it is a black woman character in this book in, like, this suspenseful thriller detective case. Because I'm like, that's the kind of books I love to read. But I rarely see that written or it doesn't get fed to me on, like, my Goodreads or in ads. And so I'm like, fix that algorithm. Send me. Send me stories written by my people so that I can really, like, feel connected to it. Because I'm just like. I just. I feel like books and stories in general are like, what is going to like, branch us and. And bring us closer together. [00:29:57] Speaker B: I agree. And, oh, there's a lot of things you said that I wanted to touch on. First of all, Shonda, please. Shonda is, like, the blueprint, right? Like, hello. One of my best friends. She's also a Scorpio and also a writer. Hey, Tamika. She has an agent, and she is published. Okay. And we were public defenders together. And when we were public defenders, scandal was out. And we used. I say we. I used to be in her office so much that my boss stopped looking for me in my office and just went to hers. And we were talking about Shonda Rhimes, always about scandal. As we should, right? Hello. And we were like, I think Shonda had done some interview, and she was saying how I know I'm in a story when I'm dreaming about the characters. And so now that's, like, our benchmark. Like, did you dream about them? Yeah. And my oldest daughter, who's 12 now, I have a whole wall of, like, note cards and, like, ideas. I got, like, 1500 notes in my. In my phone, in my notes app. And she came in there one day, and I was talking to myself and looking crazy. And she was like, whenever you're done with all that, let me know about. She's a Sagittarius. [00:31:06] Speaker A: Okay. Back later. [00:31:09] Speaker B: She's like, I see you're in the midst of something. And I was. Yeah. And I was like, see, this is my. I'm on my Shonda, right? Because, like, I'm so in this world that my daughter is like, when you're [00:31:20] Speaker A: done with that, she saw you mapping. She saw the string. She said she's in. [00:31:25] Speaker B: I know I had red strings and everything. [00:31:28] Speaker A: I knew you did. [00:31:28] Speaker B: I sure did. [00:31:30] Speaker A: I saw myself in you, and I knew we had string girl. Absolutely. [00:31:36] Speaker B: But also what you mentioned about. I also am a true, true crime girly. And I love detectives. I love columbo. I love Perry Mason. I love Mission Impossible, all that old stuff that I used to watch with my mom. But there are no black people, and there are certainly no black women. And when I was writing this, the. The Detective, to me, she's kind of like a hard boiled film noir kind of detective, because that's what I love. But there are no black women. Like, well, let me not say. No. I don't know of any. [00:32:02] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:32:02] Speaker B: And so I was like, that's. That's who she's gonna be. Because we. I think there's a group of us that loves this kind of character, but we don't get to see that reflected. We don't get to see ourselves reflected in that. [00:32:14] Speaker A: Yeah, I don't. You're absolutely right. Like, I can't even, like, name a show right now that, like, would have, like, a black female detective. Like, I can't think of one in my brain even right now. [00:32:26] Speaker B: I can't either. [00:32:28] Speaker A: Like, I watch Chicago. I used to watch Chicago PD and, like, that had Kevin Atwater, a black man, and in that. [00:32:34] Speaker B: But. [00:32:34] Speaker A: And then I think about right now, not an ad, but I do love it. Like, the reboot of With Kathy Bates. Oh, Matlock. The. Oh, that Matlock reboot. Because my girl sky is a lawyer. Like, a black woman lawyer. I'm like, not my girl. Like, I have loved sky down for a long time, and I'm like, listen, anything she's done, I'm going to watch it. But I think about that, like, she was just playing. Like, she played a black female doctor on Good Sam. And then, like, she got this, and I'm like. And I just think about, like, all the different roles that are just never cast for us. [00:33:09] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:33:09] Speaker A: And then we get them, and it's like, you knock it off the park, right? [00:33:12] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:33:13] Speaker A: Like, in my brain, no one else could be Olivia Pope. No one else. Annalise Keating, like, that is like, that. And then I think about, obviously, Mariska, like, my white auntie Mariska, the other Olivia who we love. But, I mean, think about what that would do for, like, Law and Order. Like, an actual, like, black female cop in New York City. And, like, I think one of the. The biggest things that got me as a true crime girl is, like, they just did. It's like Homicide New York on Netflix, and they have a Latina detective and, like, to see. To, like, been able to, like, listen to her talk, like, to recount the store. Like, there's cases she worked and, like, the connection she had to, like, specifically this family of two Hispanic boys, like, lost their mother really tragically. And, like, for her, like, to talk about, like, how much that case stood, like, stayed with her. Like, those kids were, like, five and six and now, like, almost 40. And, like, she stayed in touch with them this whole time because the case was just so poignant in her career. And I think about those stories with us. So, like, we have detectives and folks and lawyers who do that work with our community, who then, you know, obviously do that work with us. Like, I think about, is it Crump who took on Nolan's case right now for his family, or, like, yeah, Tyler Perry's paying, like, the funeral cost of their family, like, the communal part of, like, something so big happening and our people coming together. And so, like, I am also thinking about, like, that representation, too, like, seeing what it would mean for a black female cup, especially during such a poignant time in being in America. Like, one of my friends I saw last week, him and his twin brother, both black men, are about to both be sergeants or detectives in, like, their respective precincts. And I'm like, we. I need y'. All. I'm like, I need to sit and talk with y' all for a day because I. I have a lot of feelings about policing. And, like, to hear from a black man, I think would really help with. With perspective, because I'm like, I can't even imagine the, like, loops that y' all go through every day doing the work you do with a system, with the system that you're in. [00:35:19] Speaker B: So, yeah, lots of thoughts. [00:35:22] Speaker A: Lots of thoughts. Lots of feelings. Yeah. [00:35:24] Speaker B: And I think it's. I do. I think it's important to see ourselves in regular stuff. You know, it is not. Yes. You could tell from the prologue there is some trauma. Yeah. But there's also just some regular. We're just regular folks who have regular problems just like everybody else. It's set in this time and in this space that is specifically difficult. But that's because the black history of America is a horror story. Right? Like, you can't actually talk about our history in a nice way. There's nothing nice to say. Right. It is a horror story. And so anytime that you're reaching back is horrific. But what I wanted to do and what I hope I did was okay. But we're going to fix that. We're going to address that. We are going. We're not going to stay victimized. [00:36:10] Speaker A: That's. [00:36:11] Speaker B: That's my goal always, is we're going to have some power in these stories. [00:36:16] Speaker A: Is there a Certain time period that this story is set in. Because I couldn't really tell from the prologue, which I also loved. I was like, oh. [00:36:23] Speaker B: So it goes back and forth. [00:36:25] Speaker A: Okay. [00:36:26] Speaker B: It's mostly in the present. It's a couple of little dots in the past that just give some background, but it's mostly set in the present. Okay. [00:36:34] Speaker A: That. That changes the prologue perspective for me a lot. I did not. I did not see it being current. Current. So that's really interesting. [00:36:46] Speaker B: Okay, now. [00:36:47] Speaker A: Now I have to reread it from, like, a different perspective, which is good. I'm gonna read this book. [00:36:50] Speaker B: Like, please do. [00:36:51] Speaker A: Because, like, the way it describes it, like, what I think is also, like, really poignant, too, for you to say that and, like, knowing the interaction with Pearl and Charlie and the description she gives of, like, the people he was with and it. For it to be now. Ish. Is so much more. [00:37:11] Speaker B: No, that the prologue is the past. [00:37:14] Speaker A: Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. [00:37:15] Speaker B: And then the next chapter, which starts with the detective is in the present. Oh. [00:37:21] Speaker A: Oh, okay. Okay, okay, okay. [00:37:22] Speaker B: Because it's a cold case. Exactly. [00:37:24] Speaker A: So I was like, girl. I was like, okay, okay, okay. We're back. We're back, everybody. That was a sidebar, everybody. So sorry. Okay, next. So I was like, girl, we gotta discuss some things, because that felt very back then. [00:37:35] Speaker B: So one would hope, right? [00:37:37] Speaker A: One would. One would hope. [00:37:38] Speaker B: That's. But look where we are. [00:37:40] Speaker A: That's what I'm saying. It could honestly still be. There's modern versions of that happening. So, like, for you to say that, like, for you to. For you to have to explain to me like that for when y' all read it, you'll understand. But, like, that. That's like, we gotta really quickly sidebar to understand where this is. Because it could have been. That's why I asked, like, what time period is it set in? [00:38:01] Speaker B: Because it's unfortunately timely. Right? It's unfortunately timely. And just how you were talking about with our relationship to water. Yeah. Anywhere. Water signs. I'm drawn to water. Always. Always. Yeah. Like, I have the windows open right here because it's raining here. And I'm like, I love that. I need that. [00:38:30] Speaker A: I got literally stuck in, like, a torrential downpour on Fourth of July. Like, the skies just opened up, and I just stood outside in the rain. I was like, thank you. [00:38:36] Speaker B: I was like, I do that all the time. I do that. [00:38:39] Speaker A: Cleanse me. That's fine. I came in the house. I live with my family right now. I'm. I'm soaking wet. Everyone's Like, I'm like, I'll mop it up after. Like, you can hear me coming down the hallway like a little lockless monster. Like, this is what I need. And everybody just. Life was just life. Like, life has just been life. And I'm like, the rain can just [00:38:56] Speaker B: wash it all away. [00:38:58] Speaker A: Wash it all away. And. And I think that's like, a big reclaiming, too, of, like. Like, we were talking about in the very beginning of, like, how water has been so traumatic for us. And, like, I think specifically as water signs. Like, using it as, like, a cleansing or, like, a grounding. Listen, my. My water sign and my earth sign really be working overtime together. Like, hey, girl, don't you want to just, like, literally touch? [00:39:19] Speaker B: Actually, yeah. [00:39:20] Speaker A: I would love to be, like, shoeless outdoors, everybody. Thank you so much for asking. Yeah. I. I am the hippie aunt. I'm like, it's just water. [00:39:29] Speaker B: Oh, my goodness. [00:39:30] Speaker A: So. [00:39:31] Speaker B: So am I. I'm the hippie aunt. But instead of. Because I have no earth, it's never dirt. It's always like, would I like to go out and get rained on? Yeah, I would. I would. Yeah. [00:39:42] Speaker A: I like mud. If it's mud, I'm like, little messy, but we can make do. Like, we can make it. I have a clay mask here, and everybody, like, anyway. Okay, let me see my notes. I have notes. Oh, I also was wondering, too, of, like, what do you hope this does for black creatives? Because, like, for me, I have now accepted that I am a writer. It took me a long time to get there. Good for you. [00:40:13] Speaker B: Thank you. [00:40:13] Speaker A: It's been a big step forward the last, like, year and a half. I like to also wax poetic. I just have a lot of thoughts and feelings constantly, which is why I have a podcast. I'm like, sometimes I can't write it. I need to, like, say it out loud. [00:40:26] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:40:26] Speaker A: But lately I've been. I've been in my writing era once again, and I used to do it a lot when I lived in Texas, specifically during, like, 2020. There was a lot of going on. [00:40:37] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:40:37] Speaker A: Between, like, I was about to my 30th birthday, deep in that Saturn return, struggling, barely holding it together. And I decided I had just ended two relationships the year before. And so I was like, I'm going to be single in 2020, in January. Like, I was like, I think I want to be a mom. What does that look like for me? So I interviewed and, like, sat with friends who were like, single moms, people raised by single moms, people who had Been adopted. People who had adopted in like interracial like adoptions. Like all, like I did through, I went through a lot of sociology degree was, was at its finest that year of just like talking to everyone. And then like my birthday rolled around and then 2020 happened and then you know, everything and I was just writing so much about everything and I was like, Instagram captions. I'm sorry. Like, this is, we're gonna, I know we're gonna fight about the character allowance, but we're gonna figure it out. Like writing a blog now. I have a sub stack. Like, I just, there's just so many. Writing has always been the way I've expressed either writing a song or writing again a blah. A dissertation about my thoughts that day. And so as a person who obviously reads and likes to read other people's stuff, what are you hoping, like this does for black creatives? Like, aside from what we've already talked about, like, what do you hope that they get from this as well? [00:42:01] Speaker B: Permission. I hope that other black creators get permission because as you can tell from the prologue, this is a. I'm not holding back. And the rest of the book is very similar. And some of the people that I queried that I got feedback from, I could just tell they were like, girl, you doing too much. You know, they didn't say that obviously, but I can, I can read between the lines. [00:42:26] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:42:26] Speaker B: And I was like, then you're not for me. This is really that simple. You're not, you're not for me and I'm not for you. So I recently turned 40 and something about turning 40, I was just like, you know what? After this, I'm gonna do what I want. I have, I have done enough people pleasing. I've also been in therapy, so I shout out, shout out to my therapist, Dr. Ike. What up, girl? And. And she really kind of was like, you don't need permission to do anything. You can do whatever. And this was the story I had to tell. And I told it and I was like, the right person is going to love this. And she did. And even if she didn't, I'll do it myself. Like, there's nobody can hold me back from what I want to do. So I hope what other creatives get from it is permission. Tell your story, write your song, write your essay, whatever is your truth, tell it because it is true. Because it's true for you. And it's probably true for many other people as well. Yeah. [00:43:24] Speaker A: Yeah. That per you saying permission is, is the perfect works. I, I Think about. I didn't. I didn't get that at all from your store. I was like, this is dope. Like, I think. And I think just because it's so honest and it's not running from the things we've been taught to suppress and ignore for so long based off black people's history in America. [00:43:44] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:43:44] Speaker A: Which we can talk about reparations ag nauseum in another podcast episode. But I think about that of, like, we're not asking to sugarcoat it. Like, that's what I think. That's why I felt so connected to it. Of, like, this is the. The way that, like, you. Pearl's determination in that moment and watching it. Because there's. Again, there's two characters in that scene, and the other character is kind of. She's like, you're not my priority, girl. You all right. Bounce on out of. But the way in, like, the. The way that the. The character that stays in her interact and, you know, the conversation they end up having. And like, the way that at the end, like, the. That closing of that scene, I just think about how, like, we as black women are either. There's a lot coming up for me in that. In that scene of, like, one. Like, the way she silently approaches. Like, she just kind of appears. And I think about, like, for a long time, black women. And even still now, like, black people. Black women are ignored. [00:44:53] Speaker B: Like, we. [00:44:53] Speaker A: Again, like Malcolm says, the most disrespected woman in America is a black woman. Like, we are just. We are there when it's convenient for you. Like, I literally just got a book that was, like, talking about how black women are going to save us. I'm like, we're exhausted. Y' all had your chances. [00:45:05] Speaker B: Like, we collectively checked out after this election. [00:45:11] Speaker A: Yeah, sure. [00:45:11] Speaker B: We didn't have to send a memo. Everybody knew. You know what? Good luck. Your turn. [00:45:16] Speaker A: Voted for this again. And I always tell people I'm on. I'm back on the dating apps. Ick. And I always ask people, how'd you vote in the last three elections? The last three? Don't play in my face. In the last three, that man has been on that ballot three times. And I need to know how you voted in every single one. And if you say not politically and if you did not vote at all, I got things to say. Because nothing upsets me more than people. Like, I'm non political. I'm apolitical. Your whole existence is political. Everybody. The food you eat, the air you breathe, where you live, how you live, the job you can get. [00:45:49] Speaker B: But that's. [00:45:50] Speaker A: That's a soapbox for another day. Back to what I was. [00:45:52] Speaker B: But I'm totally with you on that. [00:45:56] Speaker A: We can circle back in a second. But I think about, like, again, how she arrives on the scene. The. The. The. The fact that it's. The. The other character is a woman who notices her first. I was like, oh, okay, that's. Yes. And then that gets deeper. [00:46:14] Speaker B: I can't wait. [00:46:16] Speaker A: Iconic. When you said sapphic and queer, I was like, ah, my people, black and queer and a woman. Give me this book now. Pump it into my veins. And then like, their interaction, her interaction with. With the white male character and how that moves through that scene too, of like, he couldn't help himself answering. So I was also like, what is that about? I was like, don't tell me. I want to know when I read the book, because I feel like it. That felt supernatural. Like, he just was. He could not ignore her power. And I was like, oh, that felt. That healed something in me because I was like, oh, life. Like, what a. What a. What a power move. What a. What a thing to see of like this. This woman is that she has him that badly that he can't not answer her. [00:47:11] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:47:11] Speaker A: That's also healing as well. So. Oof. See, you wrote this book for me. Thank you so much. [00:47:20] Speaker B: You know, like, all the content people like, who's your ideal reader? I think I just found her. [00:47:25] Speaker A: I'm gonna do one of those things, like, record yourself while you read it. Because I'm like, this is. If I could have recorded myself when I read the prologue. Because I was making. I was at my desk, I was like, let me reread this. My co worker goes, what are you doing? She's like, your face for like the last five minutes. Like, girl, we cannot talk. Donna. I got things occurring. I'm going through it right now. Okay. But yeah, I just. That, that, that the permission and the power that I think a lot of creatives and book readers and people who just. Who just love stories will. Will feel in that. And thank you. Just thank you for this book. I'm ready again. I'm like, thank you. Because [00:48:06] Speaker B: my agent will be happy to hear that. [00:48:09] Speaker A: Tell her she could call me. I. I will. I will be one of like, the little reviews in the back. Unknown Brianna Jenkins. A must read now. Start a book club just for this book. Like, what are you doing? A book for everyone. And if it's not, you should still read it because it's that good. Like, it was just. I Was. [00:48:29] Speaker B: Oh, my heart. [00:48:30] Speaker A: I have. I need you to know I have never wanted a book more. I can't even imagine, like, what the back of the book's gonna say if that's the. Just the prologue alone. Like, I think, like, that's how you know I'm a book nerd. I'm like, what's the inside jacket gonna say? It's like, what do you imagine the front looking like? [00:48:47] Speaker B: Like. Oh, I have, like, vision boards, so [00:48:50] Speaker A: I. I knew you did. You didn't have to tell me. [00:48:53] Speaker B: Me, I had, like, a person in mind the whole time I was writing it. Oh, yeah. [00:48:59] Speaker A: We'll talk. When? Once it's out and about, we'll have you back to talk about it again. I'm like, I need to know. I want to know every single detail. [00:49:07] Speaker B: Pamela knows, if you want to ask. Pamela, no. If I told you who it. If I told you who it was, you'd be like, girl, yes. [00:49:14] Speaker A: Now I want to know. Now I'm torn. Why would you do this? Okay, tell me, and then I'll bleep it out. Okay, tell me. I'll bleep it out. [00:49:22] Speaker B: The detective. [00:49:23] Speaker A: Mm. [00:49:29] Speaker B: Right. [00:49:31] Speaker A: I gotta go. I gotta hang up. I gotta literally hang up this phone. That's what I was gonna say. Like, now that. That. Okay. I hope she's available. She better be available. Actually, wasn't she a detective in there? She was the one we had. [00:49:50] Speaker B: The one we had. [00:49:51] Speaker A: Because I want to go rewatch. That was such a good show. [00:49:54] Speaker B: Oh, I loved her. They did her so dirty. [00:49:56] Speaker A: That was such a good show. [00:49:58] Speaker B: Can we take two seconds to talk about how dirty they did her and how dirty they did Bonnie Bennett on the Vampire Diaries? I will never forgive those people for that. Are you serious? Bonnie was far and away the most interesting person on that story, and they treated her like a slave. [00:50:13] Speaker A: Let's just call it what it is to deal with it. Let a black woman be good at her job and a favorite. Please, please. [00:50:22] Speaker B: She's pretty, she's competent, she's loyal, she's magical. She's powerful. And they just threw her to the side. [00:50:28] Speaker A: They're like, that's enough of that. That's enough for why I loved that show. [00:50:35] Speaker B: And I forgot about. [00:50:36] Speaker A: You mentioned it right now. [00:50:37] Speaker B: I did too. [00:50:38] Speaker A: She would be fantastic. She is fantastic. [00:50:44] Speaker B: Yeah. I loved her so much. [00:50:45] Speaker A: She's great. [00:50:46] Speaker B: Ugh. [00:50:47] Speaker A: I have so many feelings. Have you thought about people for the other characters now? Now I'm locked in. [00:50:51] Speaker B: Yes. There is another character who you haven't read yet. Okay, I'm gonna give you those two because the other ones, when you read them, we'll talk about it later. [00:51:06] Speaker A: Okay. I'm gonna text you. We're gonna be texting. Get ready. Okay. Other two. I'm ready. [00:51:15] Speaker B: I want you to read it. I want you to read it first. [00:51:17] Speaker A: Okay, I'll wait. Okay. So now I'm thinking, like, how are you gonna make her look like that? Because I think about when I first. When you first meet her. I'm like, oh, interesting. I am locked in. I'm about to cancel. Call out of work, let this book drop. I can't work until I finish this book. Everybody, do not disturb. I'm gonna time myself, like, 13 minutes. I finish this book. [00:51:43] Speaker B: So excited. I'm so excited. [00:51:46] Speaker A: You. I'm excited. You gotta. [00:51:50] Speaker B: You're gonna love it. [00:51:52] Speaker A: Okay, what are. What are the updates? What are we waiting for? What's the next steps? [00:51:56] Speaker B: How's next steps work? [00:51:57] Speaker A: Because you have an agent. [00:51:59] Speaker B: I do have an agent. So the next step would be to try to get a publisher, you know, an editor. And they went by it. They might not. So we'll have to see. So I'm kind of in that limbo stage of that's what's going to be next. And then even when they have it, who knows how long that takes for that kind of decision? I know. So you know what I've been doing in the meantime? It's time to start thinking about the next book. And I've also been writing on substack. [00:52:24] Speaker A: We'll link it in the bot in the show notes because I'm tuned in. I need to. Big Brie, you've had. You've done nothing at work. I've been reading everybody. [00:52:36] Speaker B: Hello. [00:52:36] Speaker A: Look it up. [00:52:37] Speaker B: More important, obviously. [00:52:39] Speaker A: What do you mean? A job, a social life. When books exist. When this book exists. Please. Okay. What's the next book? [00:52:51] Speaker B: I don't quite know yet. I have an idea. I have an idea. Or do you have, like, a. I have, like, a spiritual practice with my ancestors. And so one of the things is I can't talk about stuff when I'm working on it. [00:53:03] Speaker A: Absolutely. [00:53:04] Speaker B: Okay, I get it. I have an idea. And you will also love that. [00:53:10] Speaker A: I'm glad you know me already. [00:53:12] Speaker B: You will. [00:53:12] Speaker A: Thank you so much. Yeah, like, I. There's a couple things I've applied for, and, like, this thing I'm, like, thinking about. So again, like, you guys, I will tell. I tell, like, three friends. I'm like. Because I. It's only people who I know will Be supportive. Like, I do not. And I always laugh because, like, right now, it's like a person who's, like, trying to grow her social media presence because I'm like, I just feel like there's something I'm going to do in the next couple of years that I need a bigger platform for. I don't know what it is. It's just like, it's just a feeling. And I know and I am, like, very big about, like, I know a lot of people. I don't have a lot of friends, and I hold that close to the vest. Like, I'm 36 and I have deep understanding of who I am as a person and who is for me and who is not for me. [00:53:53] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:53:54] Speaker A: And so it's like three friends. I will often tell about my things, and they're like, anything else. Like, that's all I want to share right now. This is what I feel. Good. Or like, social media, like, people like their parasocial relationships. I'm like, you will never know that I have a partner until I post, like, a wedding picture. Like, that is the most in my. I mean, like, back of heads. Maybe just a ring on my finger. Like, I am. There are just some things that I'm like. I'm very, like, close to the chest, to the vest. Whatever they say of just, like, some things just need to be protected. So I'm totally aligned because I do believe in, like, the evil eye. I do believe in, like, people not wishing you well. So we're aligned. Just know I'm adding you to my little candle lighting ceremony. Oh, please do. [00:54:38] Speaker B: Thank you. I love that. [00:54:42] Speaker A: Listen, this is my new favorite book. I'm already calling it now. I already know. [00:54:46] Speaker B: And the next one will be your next favorite. [00:54:49] Speaker A: I've been your favorite author, everybody. Nobody be alarmed. Your favorite author. She's a black queer woman. I can't wait to, like, get shirt. I need merch, please. I already have thoughts. I already have so many, so many feelings. [00:55:02] Speaker B: We're gonna have to hang out in person. [00:55:04] Speaker A: I'll come to Atlanta. [00:55:06] Speaker B: Bring your cousin. Bring your cousin Pamela. [00:55:11] Speaker A: She yells at me already because I always go to New York without her. I'm like, pam, I just be moving girl. Like, I don't. I don't check. I don't. I just be out here. So she gets mad at me for that. But I'm gonna. Yeah, we'll come. [00:55:22] Speaker B: We're gonna. We'll pay you a little visit. [00:55:24] Speaker A: We'll plan it. [00:55:25] Speaker B: You should. [00:55:27] Speaker A: Okay, well, thank you for this. I will Be listening to this convo over and over again and I think about this book for the rest of my life and then rereading it for. I'm gonna. When this book is public and, and published and I can give it. It's going to be a birthday gift for everybody every birthday. Like, have you read this book? [00:55:44] Speaker B: I love that. Thank you. Look, and I. You'll like my sweatshirt too. [00:55:47] Speaker A: Oh, I already saw it. Please, please. Hi, everybody. We re in this relationship. We read and talk about books. [00:55:55] Speaker B: Correct? [00:55:57] Speaker A: What do we do? My. My friend and I, we just read the Last Letter by Rebecca Yaros. That was like our book club book. And I made. I like, I was like, oh, you made me read this so we could trauma bond. Because that was the saddest book in my life. I can't even think about that book without crying. And I'm like, I'm a crier as it is. I was like, this book isn't gonna get me weeping. Weeping. I said, girl, she's like, well, what about this book? I was like, I don't take any more wrecks from you. I was, I was across my bed for two days after that. But girl, I got a life. I can't. So I'm gonna make her read this book. And like, we go back and forth. She's like, you don't read really sad books. I'm like, yeah, girl, I'm trying to solve crimes. [00:56:37] Speaker B: Hello? Hello? We all know solve crimes and get justice. That's what we're trying to do. [00:56:43] Speaker A: Listen, we all know who killed JonBenet, so. But I'm not trying to get sued. We'll talk about it offline. I can't get right this contents of her stomach, how she was found, how they let everybody trips to that crime scene. Lick the walls, take your shoes off. Like, they did not care. They were trying to get DNA everywhere. The, the quote, ransom note, the mom's phone call. I was like, girl, play with somebody else. This is like, clue, be real. Who am I? All right, but that's one of the cases that always gets me like, you [00:57:19] Speaker B: guys, I know who did it. [00:57:21] Speaker A: I just can't prove it right now because I can't afford the fees. So there's that. Also, did you ever. We could talk true crime all the time. That could be our next episode because I have so many cases in my brain that again, my friend Kelly's always like, what does your life make? I just need to solve all these. Like, I think I know who did them. Like, if I had my. If I this is why I'm not a multi millionaire. I would just solve unsight unsafe cases all the time because I think I know who killed hey Min Lee which is why Edna said is in jail. I know who did that one. Listen, I'm telling you I can't tell you how to solve for X but I can tell you about true crime cases. [00:58:00] Speaker B: Who killed this person? [00:58:02] Speaker A: Last one like two decades. Like I don't know how to do any math but I can give you the whole lineup to the Central Park 4 so. [00:58:11] Speaker B: Okay, yeah, we'll have to add that because I, I'm also my friend and I decided when we retired when we're like 80, we're gonna open up an old ladies investigation unit and we're just going to solve cold cases. [00:58:22] Speaker A: Sign me up. [00:58:22] Speaker B: I here. [00:58:23] Speaker A: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah I always like if I, if I do go to law school it would be because I want to work on wrongful conditions. [00:58:30] Speaker B: Yeah, we could talk about that too. [00:58:31] Speaker A: Law school terrifies me. Cluster sentences ruined my self confidence and I'm wrong school. [00:58:39] Speaker B: What can I say about law school without getting fired? [00:58:44] Speaker A: We'll delete this, don't you worry. [00:58:46] Speaker B: Law school is a racket, girl. [00:58:49] Speaker A: It's a racket. We have a family friend that I call Uncle Jim. He's like this 67 year old Jewish man. Two of his, two of his three kids are lawyers. The other one is a gay theater kid. And I was like amen. [00:58:59] Speaker B: I thought you were just going to leave it at he's a gay. [00:59:02] Speaker A: Also that he's a gay. He's a gay theater kid. Their daughter a lesbian, lives in D.C. lawyer. Their son married, lives in Chicago. Lawyer. And I had dinner with him and his wife, Aunt Sandy a couple weeks ago and I was like I think I'm going to law school. He goes, I love you so much and I encourage you to do anything you want. [00:59:18] Speaker B: He goes, I wouldn't go to law school now. [00:59:21] Speaker A: I was like Uncle Jim. He goes, he goes, you should like run for congress, be a politician. He look, because you don't take anybody's and I feel like you'd be great at that. He's like law, law school. He's like just a bunch of people arguing. He goes, you could do that every day, Brie. I was like fine, Uncle Jim. He said you could do that without having to spend tens of thousands of dollars becoming a lawyer. I was like, that's fair Uncle Jim. [00:59:42] Speaker B: So I'm gonna have to agree with him. [00:59:44] Speaker A: Yeah, fine. Okay, okay, listen is reading it. I haven't opened that LSAT book since December when they hurt my feelings. It's. It's in the closet, like, in a bag. [00:59:56] Speaker B: I'm like, yeah, I gently discourage it. [01:00:00] Speaker A: Thank you. [01:00:01] Speaker B: You're welcome. [01:00:01] Speaker A: You know, this is what I needed. I needed a black woman. [01:00:04] Speaker B: Lord, girl, every lawyer I know wants to be something else. [01:00:10] Speaker A: Fair. [01:00:11] Speaker B: I can't tell you how many lawyers I know that are writers or actors on the side or whatever. There's always some passion that's something else. [01:00:20] Speaker A: Side project. Yeah. Noted. Okay. Thank you. [01:00:24] Speaker B: You're welcome. [01:00:26] Speaker A: Different. Different dream to realize hearing, which is fine. [01:00:30] Speaker B: Yeah. I mean, if you. There are some people who genuinely love it. Like, that is their calling, and you can tell. And I feel like if it's not your calling, don't waste your time or your money or your sanity. [01:00:44] Speaker A: My issue is I think I have undiagnosed ADHD, so I have, like, 14 different jobs I want to do. [01:00:49] Speaker B: Also, you're a Pisces, so also, I'm a place. [01:00:51] Speaker A: Very dreamy. Okay. [01:00:53] Speaker B: Very, very dreamy. [01:00:54] Speaker A: But my. That Taurus rising. I get things done. [01:00:57] Speaker B: I believe it. [01:00:58] Speaker A: That's the problem. So I was like, I think I'm gonna go to law school. Got the LSAT book that night. Like, ordered it. I ordered a copy of the Constitution. [01:01:04] Speaker B: Oh, look at you. [01:01:05] Speaker A: I was like, we're gonna just. You might as well burn that up. [01:01:07] Speaker B: That don't matter anymore. Let me not say that. [01:01:10] Speaker A: Oh, kindling. Great. Because this means nothing. Ridiculous. [01:01:15] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:01:15] Speaker A: Any hoodle. Okay, we're gonna have you back to talk about law school, to talk about astrology. Astrology. Girl, we're gonna have to talk. I'm gonna send you my chart, and I need you to do a full little moment because I feel like you're gonna. [01:01:31] Speaker B: Nothing I love more. Thank you. [01:01:35] Speaker A: And then the books, when the book is out, and then when the second book is done. [01:01:41] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:01:42] Speaker A: I'll link everything in the show. Notes, how to find you on Instagram and social media, your sub stack, all the things. [01:01:48] Speaker B: Yes. [01:01:49] Speaker A: The final question we have at the end of every episode is, what is the best advice you were ever given? Or what's a piece of advice you would give to your younger self? [01:01:58] Speaker B: Okay, so the best advice I was ever given was not really advice. It was a way of thinking. So when I was in, like, maybe fifth or sixth grade, something like that, we had some assignment about the guy who was credited with coming up with the Alphabet. You know, like, I. I don't. [01:02:15] Speaker A: I don't. [01:02:15] Speaker B: It was kind of silly when you think about it, but that's what the assignment was. And the question was something like, well, what would we have done if this guy hadn't come up with the Alphabet? You know, I'm a K. You're thinking pretty linearly. And I was like, oh, I guess we wouldn't have words or something ridiculous. And my dad, who always was very. Made us think for ourselves. Like, he just never accepted silly answers like that. And he just looked at me, he said, no, if he hadn't come up with it, somebody else would, or we'd use a different language or whatever. And I think about that all the time because I think that even comes out in this book, right? Like when we were talking about being a vessel and being open, that somebody else will do it. And so if this story has been handed to me by the ancestors, by the universe, whomever, I better write it, or it'll go to somebody who's willing. So that. That type of thinking of, like, when the door is open, when the opportunity presents itself, take it and nobody is so important that the thing couldn't get made without them, right? There's no idea that's so amazing that somebody else wouldn't have eventually come up with it. So that way of thinking I carry with me, and I teach it to my kids as well. [01:03:32] Speaker A: Okay, that's it. I'm going to stop the recording.