L. L. McKinney is an advocate for equality and inclusion in publishing, and the creator of the hashtag #WhatWoCWritersHear. Elle's also a gamer, Blerd, and adamant Hei Hei stan, living in Kansas. Her works include the Nightmare-Verse books, starting with the A Blade So Black trilogy, the upcoming
Black Widow: Bad Blood as presented by Serialbox;
Splintered Magic of the Mirror novels from Disney; and the Jane Eyre reimagining
Escaping Mr. Rochester.
Robyn Smith is a Jamaican cartoonist, currently based in New York City. She has an MFA from the Center for Cartoon Studies and has worked on comics for the
Seven Days newspaper, CollegeHumor, and the Nib. She's best known for her minicomic
The Saddest Angriest Black Girl in Town and for illustrating Jamila Rowser's comic
Wash Day. Besides comics she spends most her time watching American sitcoms and holding on to dreams of returning home, to the ocean.
Can you be a hero...if society doesn't see you as a person?
Nubia has always been a little bit...different. As a baby she showcased Amazonian-like strength by pushing over a tree to rescue her neighbor's cat. But despite her having similar abilities, the world has no problem telling her that she's no Wonder Woman. And even if she were, they wouldn't want her. Every time she comes to the rescue, she's reminded of how people see her: as a threat. Her moms do their best to keep her safe, but Nubia can't deny the fire within her, even if she's a little awkward about it sometimes. Even if it means people assume the worst.
When Nubia's best friend, Quisha, is threatened by a boy who thinks he owns the town, Nubia will risk it all--her safety, her home, and her crush on that cute kid in English class--to become the hero society tells her she isn't.
From the witty and powerful voice behind
A Blade So Black, and with endearing and expressive art by Robyn Smith, comes a vital story for today about equality, identity, and kicking it with your squad.
