To uplift magical stories told by Black women and non-binary authors.
About Black Girls With Magic & Books
Our aim is to create a community that supports, celebrates, and amplifies science fiction, fantasy, and speculative content from Black women, non-binary, trans, queer, and disabled authors.
3Bookshelf
What we’re reading this month
Sixteen-year-old Zharie Young is absolutely certain her mother morphed into a zombie before her untimely death, but she can’t seem to figure out why. Why her mother died, why her aunt doesn’t want her around, why all her dreams seem suddenly, hopelessly out of reach. And why, ever since that day, she’s been seeing zombies everywhere.
Then Bo moves into her apartment building―tall, skateboard in hand, freckles like stars, and an undeniable charm. Z wants nothing to do with him, but when he transforms into a half zombie right before her eyes, something feels different. He contradicts everything she thought she knew about monsters, and she can’t help but wonder if getting to know him might unlock the answers to her mother’s death.
As Zharie sifts through what’s real and what’s magic, she discovers a new truth about the world: Love can literally change you―for good or for dead.
In this surrealist journey of grief, fear, and hope, Britney S. Lewis’s debut novel explores love, zombies, and everything in between in an intoxicating amalgam of the real and the fantastic.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Black Girls With Magic & Books is an online community, a book club, a retreat, and a nationwide tour for writers and readers that celebrates SFF and speculative books written by Black women and non-binary authors.
Participate in our new community by diving into the monthly book selection and engaging with us via social media. We encourage you to share your commentary, feelings, questions, and book recommendations as well as share writing tips and techniques for spinning the most fantastic Black Girl Magic stories on our designated Instagram posts (@blackgirlswithmagicbooks) and on Twitter (@BlackGirlWMagic). Tag your book selfies, writing triumphs and the Black Girl Magic books you’re reading with our hashtag: #BlackGirlsWithMagicBooks.
Visit the Bookshelf page and find our latest pick. Participate in our online discussion, sign up for our newsletter to find out when our in-person book club meetings will start, and participate in our online discussions.
Each month the book selection will be posted on the social media accounts of Black Girls With Magic & Books and we encourage you to buy it from your local independent bookstore or check the book out from your library.
The Black Girls With Magic and Books team curate the book selections based on frontlist (new books) and backlist (past season books) considerations. Please keep us in the know about books we should have on our radar. Publicists please reach out to us via email: blackgirlswithmagicbooks@gmail.com.
Sign up for our newsletter to get the registration link early and keep an eye on our social media accounts for the sign-up period.
Sign up for our newsletter to get the list of cities and authors first.
The Black Girls With Magic and Books team works with authors, agents, and publishers to arrange an annual tour and meet-up at independent bookstores featuring Black female and non-binary authors with a mix of frontlist and backlist SFF and speculative titles.
Sign up for our newsletter to get the list of cities and authors first. You will receive the RSVP link before the public and will have the chance to reserve your spot.
The Black Girls With Magic and Books came out of a desire to celebrate the legacy and influence of the Black female titans of the SFF and speculative tradition such as Octavia Butler, Toni Morrison, Virginia Hamilton, and more. The community aims to usher in the next generation of Black storytellers rooted in the black fantastic. The name is a play on the wonderful #BlackGirlsAreMagic movement created by the fabulous CaShawn Thompson who said: “I started #BlackGirlsAreMagic to honor the Black women in my family and all around me that I saw doing incredible things, so much so that they appeared to be magical to me. The hashtag has been one of love and community-building for Black women online.” To purchase a “Black Girls Are Magic” shirt from CaShawn Thompson, please visit her store.
3retreat
About the retreat
For Aspiring Writers
The Black Girls With Magic & Books will provide non-published Black women and non-binary writers with resources to help them develop their SFF and speculative manuscripts, learn about each phase of the publication process, and gain necessary tools to navigate the publishing industry.
The workshop will be hands-on with lectures, group and individual work, writing exercises, breakouts, and space created for personal reflection as well as opportunities to dig into their manuscripts and work with mentors to get their work submission ready.
Our goal is to help participants work on their manuscripts, learn invaluable information about the publishing process, and be part of a dynamic community focused on Black Girl Magic and storytelling.
Code of Conduct
Black Girls With Magic & Books and Madcap Retreats are dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, or religion (or lack thereof). We do not tolerate harassment of attendees in any form. Harassment includes offensive verbal comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.
If workshop and retreat attendees violate these rules, Black Girls With Magic & Books and Madcap staff may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the conference with no refund.
Our Code of Conduct is included in participant contracts.
To provide writing retreats for Black women and non-binary writers telling speculative and SFF stories.
For Published Writers
The Black Girls With Magic & Books will offer published Black women and non-binary writers an opportunity to come together and network, compare notes, relax, and most importantly, get work done.
Black Girls With Magic & Books is partnering with MadCap Retreats.
3retreat
To provide writing retreats for Black women and non-binary writers telling speculative and SFF stories.
About the retreat
For Aspiring Writers
The Black Girls With Magic & Books will provide non-published Black women and non-binary writers with resources to help them develop their SFF and speculative manuscripts, learn about each phase of the publication process, and gain necessary tools to navigate the publishing industry.
The workshop will be hands-on with lectures, group and individual work, writing exercises, breakouts, and space created for personal reflection as well as opportunities to dig into their manuscripts and work with mentors to get their work submission ready.
Our goal is to help participants work on their manuscripts, learn invaluable information about the publishing process, and be part of a dynamic community focused on Black Girl Magic and storytelling.
For Published Writers
The Black Girls With Magic & Books will offer published Black women and non-binary writers an opportunity to come together and network, compare notes, relax, and most importantly, get work done.
Black Girls With Magic & Books is partnering with MadCap Retreats.
Code of Conduct
Black Girls With Magic & Books and Madcap Retreats are dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, or religion (or lack thereof). We do not tolerate harassment of attendees in any form. Harassment includes offensive verbal comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.
If workshop and retreat attendees violate these rules, Black Girls With Magic & Books and Madcap staff may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the conference with no refund.
Our Code of Conduct is included in participant contracts.
Tours & Meetups
