Hey awesome people!
We're about to enter the third week of our diversity month, and we couldn't end it without another interview!
Our next author we also saw a lot of during past guest Mya Lairis' Colors in Darkness event a few weeks back. We're hoping if people haven't already heard of her, they find a brand new Speculative Fiction author to indulge in =D
Twinja Book Reviews Annual Diversity Month Event Day Eleven:
Author Mia Mitns
This is your first time here Mia, what can you tell us in less than 3 sentences of less!
Hi, I'm Mia Mitns. I'm an Urban Fantasy/Paranormal and Science Fiction writer. Some stories are a Romance, some mystery but they all are under the SF and Fantasy genres.
What can you tell us about your journey being an author?
When I was young, I wrote poetry and short stories and continued throughout school. I didn't get serious about writing much more than that until I had a dream, which became my first book, Tea Leaf. I felt like I had to write this book. Then, later on, I found out that self-publishing was an option. The fact that I could get my book to an audience myself was the driving factor.
What can you tell us about your experience growing up?
I grew up when I (as a person of color) was just happy to see someone on TV, in magazines, and movies, who looked like me. The Cosby Show and A Different World were amazing to see. I remember loving "The Joy Luck Club" (movie version) and wanting to see more movies and learn more about other people of color. I saw the most diversity in music, which was probably the reason I became more drawn to it than any other creative medium.
As far as books, my mom went out of her way to find books featuring black kids. There didn't seem like there were too many. When I was an older child, I found trouble finding them for my age (this is before the internet) because we were limited to book stores. In high school, I was disappointed because I couldn't understand why we read so many books, but only read two books written by black authors about black people. Langston Hughes' writing was in our literature book, but we never were assigned to read it. It only added to the feeling that I (a black person) didn't matter.
How can we make the conversation about diversity where it needs to be?
I think the conversation needs to shift away from talking about the lack of books and head towards uplifting books, media, etc that are out there because there are many already. Include self published/produced authors/producers/creatives because we have our own point of view too.
Encourage readers/consumers to seek and support diversity because in the end it is really up to the readers/consumers to make the change. Diverse books/films/etc won't become top selling without an audience. Diverse books won't be converted into movies without producers comfortable that there is an audience. (They don't want to risk losing millions.)
Putting out a million diverse books tomorrow won't change anything without the readers. Spending a million dollars on marketing won't mean anything unless there are people who want to buy the products. It's probably uncomfortable because you are directing the "heat" to potential readers/consumers and fans, but we/they are the only ones that can bring the change in the industry to the next level. (I feel it will respond to money being made-> more diverse books, films, shows-> more unique stories within the "diverse" groups).
Finally, where can folks go for updates, and to learn more about your projects going on?
For updates, join my mailing list on my website under the newsletter section:
http://mmitns.wix.com/mia-mitns and if you have twitter, follow me: @miamitns
During school, Mia dreamed the idea for her first novel, Tea Leaf: What Hides Beneath, an urban fantasy story. After school, she returned to writing to complete the story and found out she had more. When Mia is not writing or reading, she enjoys listening to music, going to concerts, art, and trying to play guitar.
Hi, I'm Mia Mitns. I'm an Urban Fantasy/Paranormal and Science Fiction writer. Some stories are a Romance, some mystery but they all are under the SF and Fantasy genres.
What can you tell us about your journey being an author?
When I was young, I wrote poetry and short stories and continued throughout school. I didn't get serious about writing much more than that until I had a dream, which became my first book, Tea Leaf. I felt like I had to write this book. Then, later on, I found out that self-publishing was an option. The fact that I could get my book to an audience myself was the driving factor.
What can you tell us about your experience growing up?
I grew up when I (as a person of color) was just happy to see someone on TV, in magazines, and movies, who looked like me. The Cosby Show and A Different World were amazing to see. I remember loving "The Joy Luck Club" (movie version) and wanting to see more movies and learn more about other people of color. I saw the most diversity in music, which was probably the reason I became more drawn to it than any other creative medium.
As far as books, my mom went out of her way to find books featuring black kids. There didn't seem like there were too many. When I was an older child, I found trouble finding them for my age (this is before the internet) because we were limited to book stores. In high school, I was disappointed because I couldn't understand why we read so many books, but only read two books written by black authors about black people. Langston Hughes' writing was in our literature book, but we never were assigned to read it. It only added to the feeling that I (a black person) didn't matter.
How can we make the conversation about diversity where it needs to be?
I think the conversation needs to shift away from talking about the lack of books and head towards uplifting books, media, etc that are out there because there are many already. Include self published/produced authors/producers/creatives because we have our own point of view too.
Encourage readers/consumers to seek and support diversity because in the end it is really up to the readers/consumers to make the change. Diverse books/films/etc won't become top selling without an audience. Diverse books won't be converted into movies without producers comfortable that there is an audience. (They don't want to risk losing millions.)
Putting out a million diverse books tomorrow won't change anything without the readers. Spending a million dollars on marketing won't mean anything unless there are people who want to buy the products. It's probably uncomfortable because you are directing the "heat" to potential readers/consumers and fans, but we/they are the only ones that can bring the change in the industry to the next level. (I feel it will respond to money being made-> more diverse books, films, shows-> more unique stories within the "diverse" groups).
Finally, where can folks go for updates, and to learn more about your projects going on?
For updates, join my mailing list on my website under the newsletter section:
http://mmitns.wix.com/mia-mitns and if you have twitter, follow me: @miamitns
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