Interview with Maker Charles Mason II

Charles Mason II, who appeared on the Game Show Network’s Steampunk’d last fall, is a prop maker based in Portland, Ore. Midwest BSFA talked to him about his creations, how he got started and what he’s been up to since appearing on the show.

Miri Castor’s Opal Charm: The Path to Dawn

Author Miri Castor gives Midwest BFSA readers an excerpt of her new YA urban fantasy novel Opal Charm: The Path to Dawn! A New York native, she spent many a middle school recess writing fantasy stories, with Opal Charm being one of them. She has written for Black Girl Magic literary magazine and was recently featured as a Spotlight New Author. Castor is currently working on her second novel while finishing her final year of undergrad.  

Musings on Bronx Gothic

I have so many feelings about Bronx Gothic. It’s been two days since I saw Okwui Okpokwasili’s scathing, heart-breaking performance on growing up female and there are so many thoughts swirling through my head I can barely process all of them.

Interview with Author/Filmmaker Ytasha Womack

Ytasha Womack, author of Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci-Fi & Fantasy Culture as well as the science-fiction novel Rayla 2212, put her Afrofuturism-themed film Bar Star City into production last fall. The film looks at love, deception, memory and alienation among a group of bar regulars in Chicago. Midwest BSFA talked to Womack about her film, Afrofuturism, and being a black female creative in the ever-changing genre of sci-fi.

Okwui Okpokwasili on Bronx Gothic

New York artist Okwui Okpokwasili brings her one-woman show, Bronx Gothic, to the Contemporary Arts Center this week. Midwest BSFA talked to the writer/choreographer about combining elements of the Victorian Gothic and West African storytelling, and exploring the concepts of darkness and innocence in her work.

Octavia Is Dead. Long Live Octavia!

Science fiction writer extraordinaire Octavia Butler died 10 years ago this February. In honor of this legend, I’ve been re-reading Parable of the Sower, which split my dome wide open when I first encountered it 16 years ago.