Vibe Check
Gwen is busy but making lists, and took the time to relax by going on a long drive to see the snow. Danielle is being lazy on purpose but did some major Valentine’s Day crafting with friends.
Black Romance in Media
MOVIES
Gwen: If Beale Street Could Talk, The Lovebirds, Poetic Justice, Malcolm and Marie, Southside with You, The Bodyguard, Beyond the Lights, Cinderella
Danielle: Love and Basketball, The Photograph, The Incredible Jessica James
TV
Gwen: Insecure, Harlem (also Run the World), Black-Ish, The Wonder Years (new version)
Danielle: Insecure, Queen Sugar, This is Us, Living Single, Girlfriends
CELEB COUPLES
Gwen: Berry Jenkins and Lulu Wang, Oprah and Stedman
Danielle: Gabrielle Union and Dwayne Wade, Beyonce and Jay-Z, Barack and Michelle Obama, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky
BLACK ROMANCE AUTHORS TO CHECK OUT!
Beverly Jenkins, Brenda Jackson, Alyssa Cole, Tracey Livesay, Farrah Rochon, Vanessa Riley, Christina C. Jones, Rilzy Adams, Katrina Jackson, Tasha L. Harrison, Rebecca Weatherspoon, Chencia C. Higgins
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Recs from JESSICA P. PRYDE
BLACK LOVE MATTERS was in part, inspired by WELL-READ BLACK GIRL by Glory Edim, but with more romance!
Jess co-hosts a podcast called When In Romance, with Trish Brown.
Book recs: LOVE AND OTHER DISASTERS by Anita Kelly, YOU MADE A FOOL OF DEATH WITH YOUR BEAUTY by Akwaeke Emezi (May 2022), TO CATCH A RAVEN by Beverly Jenkins (Aug 2022)
What’s bringing Jessica comfort: Star Trek: Discovery on Paramount+
Find Jess on Twitter and Instagram
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Goals/Comfort & Joy
Last week, Danielle said she was going to deep clean, and whoo boy, she did NOT. This week, she wants to make her lunch at home to take to work. Gwen absolutely excelled at her daily yoga practice, and this week is going to explore a new part of her neighborhood!
Gwen is obsessed with water in all forms. Danielle highly recommends the Universal Standard Seine skinny jeans (and just about everything else on the site).
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EMAIL US!
Thoughts or questions? Email us at danielle@freshfiction.com.
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Find us on the Socials!
Gwen Reyes
Danielle Jackson
Fresh Fiction
EventBrite
Let’s Get Out of Here! Escapist Entertainment + Melonie Johnson Interview
We Hope You’re Hungry (Food in Pop Culture + Guest Sonali Dev)
Danielle and Gwen's Summer Check-in (Guests Roseann and Marissa from Love's Sweet Arrow)
Trope Madness! (Romance Tropes + Reese Ryan)
Go Ahead and INDULGE! (With Angelina M. Lopez)
Let’s Talk About Comfort Zones (Author Guest Alyssa Cole)
IT’S ALWAYS THE MOTHER (AUTHOR GUEST ASHLEY AUDRAIN)
Fancy Dresses and Learning Stuff: Pop Culture Historicals (Interview with Vanessa Riley)
We Are Family... (Author Guest Talia Hibbert)
Reading Slumps and Hot Rabbis (Author Guest Rosie Danan)
Working from home with Lauren Willig
Getting to know you...
Special TV Episode: Talking 'The Fix' with Kayla Cobb
Ronie Kendig ends 'TOX Files' series with 'Thirst of Steel'
Roseanna M. White Discusses 'An Hour Unspent'
Finding balance and suspense with Lisa Harris
Kay Hooper digs into her three decade long career and the "Bishop" series
Keeping secrets with DIRTY LITTLE SECRET author Jennifer Ryan
Denise Swanson takes readers back to Scumble River
Liz Johnson brings 1920s glamour to St. Simons Island in A SPARKLE OF SILVER
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Lit Society: Books and Drama
Ex Libris
Write The Book: Conversations on Craft
Pride and Prejudice
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Fresh Air
Myths and Legends