This week, Nicole chats with Ibi Zoboi, the New York Times Bestselling author of books for children and teens, including American Street, a National Book Award Finalist, Pride, a modern remix of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and the Walter Award and LA Times Book Prize-winning Punching the Air, co-written with Exonerated Five member Yusef Salaam. Ibi is a two-time Coretta Scott King Author Award honoree for The People Remember, her debut picture book, and Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler. She is the winner of the 2024 CSK Author Award for Nigeria Jones. She is the editor of the anthology Black Enough: Stories of Being Young and Black in America and has written Okoye to the People, a Black Panther novel for Marvel. Born in Haiti and raised in New York City, Ibi lives in New Jersey.

In this conversation, Ibi and Nicole discuss Ibi's latest book, (S)kin, the merging of the personal and professional life, the challenges of authenticity in the age of social media, and the importance of cultural identity and representation in literature. Ibi reflects on her journey as a prolific writer, the impact of social media on author identity, and the complexities of navigating image and sensuality as an artist. Ibi also explores the intersection of personal experience and writing, the role of folklore and spirituality in storytelling, and the legacy of white supremacy in literature. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes the importance of emotional connection in writing and the empowerment of monstrous women through narrative.

Takeaways
The merging of personal and professional life is essential for authenticity.
Social media can create pressure to conform to certain images.
Cultural identity plays a crucial role in representation in literature.
Navigating image and sensuality is a challenge for artists.
Writing is a journey that reflects personal experiences.
Folklore and spirituality can enrich storytelling.
Monsters in literature often reflect societal issues.
Emotional connection is key to resonating with readers.
The legacy of white supremacy impacts storytelling.
Empowering women through narrative is a vital goal.

Chapters
00:00 Merging Spiritual and Professional Lives
02:57 Authenticity in the Literary World
04:23 Cultural Identity and Personal Aesthetics
06:34 Navigating Image and Authenticity
08:22 The Journey of a Prolific Writer
10:10 Contextualizing Identity in Literature
12:40 Reflections on Growing Up in Brooklyn
22:03 Navigating Identity and Expectations
27:46 The Impact of Education on Self-Perception
32:49 Discovering Literary Passions
44:03 Monsters and Inspirations in Writing
46:54 Exploring Cultural Horror and Folklore
49:38 Identity and Cultural Roots
52:49 Navigating the Publishing Landscape
57:02 The Power of Poetry in Storytelling
59:00 Understanding Intra-Community Issues
01:02:06 The Role of Folklore and Spirituality
01:06:51 Crafting Human Stories in Fantasy

Lastly, Ibi Answers the Of Monsters Five Closing Questions.

Oracle Cards Pulled — Nicole pulled the Lies card, inspired by the movie They Live (1988), written and directed by John Carpenter, from the

Of Monsters: A podcast with Nicole Shawan Junior featuring speculative fiction masterminds and the characters they create. Please support this work by following the podcast, sharing it with your networks, and commenting with your thoughts. Spread love. It's the Brooklyn way.