Name: (IN PERSON) Bookclub Meeting: "Blood at the Root" by Ladarrion Williams
Start: 2025-05-25T22:00:00.000Z
Location: Changing Hands - Tempe

Greetings Mocha Girls,

I hope this message finds everyone well.

Please join us on Google Meet where we will have our discussion virtually.

***The link will be visible once you RSVP.***

Warmly,
Mocha Girl Sharnise

***Our April 2025 monthly book selection is "Death of the Author" by Nnedi Okorafor.***

Remember, if you don't finish the book, you are still welcome, so come anyway!

**R.S.V.P. Etiquette:**
Please make sure to RSVP to an event or book club meeting ONLY if you are going. Do not RSVP if you are thinking about going or would like to go.
Thanks in advance and I can't wait to see you all!

**REMEMBER:**
Support a Black-owned Bookstore called [RESIST BOOKSELLERS](https://resistbooksellers.com) and get 15% off when you use the code MGR22.

**About the Book:**
Disabled, disinclined to marry, and more interested in writing than a lucrative career in medicine or law, Zelu has always felt like the outcast of her large Nigerian family. Then her life is upended when, in the middle of her sister’s lavish Caribbean wedding, she’s unceremoniously fired from her university job and, to add insult to injury, her novel is rejected by yet another publisher. With her career and dreams crushed in one fell swoop, she decides to write something just for herself. What comes out is nothing like the quiet, literary novels that have so far peppered her unremarkable career. It’s a far-future epic where androids and AI wage war in the grown-over ruins of human civilization. She calls it *Rusted Robots.*

When Zelu finds the courage to share her strange novel, she does not realize she is about to embark on a life-altering journey—one that will catapult her into literary stardom, but also perhaps obliterate everything her book was meant to be. From Chicago to Lagos to the far reaches of space, Zelu’s novel will change the future not only for humanity, but for the robots who come next.

A book-within-a-book that blends the line between writing and being written, *Death of the Author* is a masterpiece of metafiction that manages to combine the razor-sharp commentary of *Yellowface* with the heartfelt humanity of *Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow*. Surprisingly funny, deeply poignant, and endlessly discussable, this is at once the tale of a woman on the margins risking everything to be heard and a testament to the power of storytelling to shape the world as we know it.

**About the Author:**
Nnedi Okorafor’s books include Lagoon (a British Science Fiction Association Award finalist for Best Novel), Who Fears Death (a World Fantasy Award winner for Best Novel), Kabu Kabu (a Publisher’s Weekly Best Book for Fall 2013), Akata Witch (an Amazon.com Best Book of the Year), Zahrah the Windseeker (winner of the Wole Soyinka Prize for African Literature), and The Shadow Speaker (a CBS Parallax Award winner). Her adult novel The Book of Phoenix (prequel to Who Fears Death) was released in May 2015; the New York Times called it a “triumph”. Her novella Binti will be released in late September 2015 and her young adult novel Akata Witch 2: Breaking Kola will be released in 2016.

Nnedi holds a PhD in literature/creative writing and is an associate professor at the University at Buffalo, New York (SUNY). She splits her time between Buffalo and Chicago with her daughter Anyaugo and family. Learn more about Nnedi at [Nnedi.com](https://nnedi.com/).

Mocha Girls Read - Harlem

Maya 

Winnifred

Barbara 

Yarissa Soriano

Rebecca

(ONLINE) Book Club Meeting: "Death of the Author" by Nnedi Okorafor

Online event

It's that time ladies! New book! New meeting!

This month's book club meeting is all about the sci-fi, fantasy of it all but in Black. We will be chatting about the novel **Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor** and we will potluck this one too!

**______ POTLUCK GUIDELINES _____**

Bring an item in the category listed by your first name. This is not mandatory to attend.

A - F = Meat/ Meat Alternative
G - K = Fruit
L - O = Dessert
N - S = Beverages
T - Z = Veggies

📆 Mark your calendars and don't forget you don't have to read the book to come. See you at the book club meeting.

Happy reading!

About the book:
In this exhilarating tale by New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Nnedi Okorafor, a disabled Nigerian American woman pens a wildly successful Sci-Fi novel, but as her fame rises, she loses control of the narrative—a surprisingly cutting, yet heartfelt drama about art and love, identity and connection, and, ultimately, what makes us human. This is a story unlike anything you’ve read before.
The future of storytelling is here.
Disabled, disinclined to marry, and more interested in writing than a lucrative career in medicine or law, Zelu has always felt like the outcast of her large Nigerian family. Then her life is upended when, in the middle of her sister’s lavish Caribbean wedding, she’s unceremoniously fired from her university job and, to add insult to injury, her novel is rejected by yet another publisher. With her career and dreams crushed in one fell swoop, she decides to write something just for herself. What comes out is nothing like the quiet, literary novels that have so far peppered her unremarkable career. It’s a far-future epic where androids and AI wage war in the grown-over ruins of human civilization. She calls it Rusted Robots.
When Zelu finds the courage to share her strange novel, she does not realize she is about to embark on a life-altering journey—one that will catapult her into literary stardom, but also perhaps obliterate everything her book was meant to be. From Chicago to Lagos to the far reaches of space, Zelu’s novel will change the future not only for humanity, but for the robots who come next.
A book-within-a-book that blends the line between writing and being written, Death of the Author is a masterpiece of metafiction that manages to combine the razor-sharp commentary of Yellowface with the heartfelt humanity of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. Surprisingly funny, deeply poignant, and endlessly discussable, this is at once the tale of a woman on the margins risking everything to be heard and a testament to the power of storytelling to shape the world as we know it.

Get the book - [https://amzn.to/4kUNG1A](https://amzn.to/4kUNG1A)

Mocha Girls Read - Los Angeles

Alysia Allen

Pamela

Michelle King

ShantaDee Gadson

Gaylin Munford

Lyneisha

Nicole

Kelly 

Judith

Book Club Meeting & Potluck:Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor

Darby Park

📚 Hosted By: Renee Bailey

✨ Silent Reading Hour ✨
Join us every Monday for an hour of peaceful reading together!

How it works:
1️⃣ Pick any book you love.
2️⃣ Log in to the meeting.
3️⃣ Read for as long as you’d like.

💡 “Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Take the moment and make it perfect.” – Zoë Saldana

🌐 Where: Virtual via Google Meet
📅 When: Every Monday
📲 Video call link: [https://meet.google.com/msv-pyyp-eig](https://meet.google.com/msv-pyyp-eig)
We can’t wait to see you there! 📖✨

Renee Bailey

Kris V. Bunny🇵🇷

Christina

Andromeda

Reading Time - Reading Apart Together

Greetings Mocha Girls,
I hope this message finds everyone well, enjoying the warm weather, and happily reading.

***Our April 2025 monthly book selection is "Death of the Author" by Nnedi Okorafor.***

We will meet on the second Saturday of May 2025 at A Seat at the Table bookstore in Elk Grove. Remember, if you don't finish the book, you are still welcome, so come anyway! I hope to see you all soon.

Warmly,
Mocha Girl Tye

**R.S.V.P. Etiquette:**
Please make sure to RSVP to an event or book club meeting ONLY if you are going. Do not RSVP if you are thinking about going or would like to go. Thanks in advance and I can't wait to see you all!

**About the Book:**

Disabled, disinclined to marry, and more interested in writing than a lucrative career in medicine or law, Zelu has always felt like the outcast of her large Nigerian family. Then her life is upended when, in the middle of her sister’s lavish Caribbean wedding, she’s unceremoniously fired from her university job and, to add insult to injury, her novel is rejected by yet another publisher. With her career and dreams crushed in one fell swoop, she decides to write something just for herself. What comes out is nothing like the quiet, literary novels that have so far peppered her unremarkable career. It’s a far-future epic where androids and AI wage war in the grown-over ruins of human civilization. She calls it *Rusted Robots.*

When Zelu finds the courage to share her strange novel, she does not realize she is about to embark on a life-altering journey—one that will catapult her into literary stardom, but also perhaps obliterate everything her book was meant to be. From Chicago to Lagos to the far reaches of space, Zelu’s novel will change the future not only for humanity, but for the robots who come next.

A book-within-a-book that blends the line between writing and being written, *Death of the Author* is a masterpiece of metafiction that manages to combine the razor-sharp commentary of *Yellowface* with the heartfelt humanity of *Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow*. Surprisingly funny, deeply poignant, and endlessly discussable, this is at once the tale of a woman on the margins risking everything to be heard and a testament to the power of storytelling to shape the world as we know it.

**About the Author:**

Nnedi Okorafor’s books include Lagoon (a British Science Fiction Association Award finalist for Best Novel), Who Fears Death (a World Fantasy Award winner for Best Novel), Kabu Kabu (a Publisher’s Weekly Best Book for Fall 2013), Akata Witch (an [Amazon.com](http://amazon.com/) Best Book of the Year), Zahrah the Windseeker (winner of the Wole Soyinka Prize for African Literature), and The Shadow Speaker (a CBS Parallax Award winner). Her adult novel The Book of Phoenix (prequel to Who Fears Death) was released in May 2015; the New York Times called it a “triumph”. Her novella Binti will be released in late September 2015 and her young adult novel Akata Witch 2: Breaking Kola will be released in 2016.

Nnedi holds a PhD in literature/creative writing and is an associate professor at the University at Buffalo, New York (SUNY). She splits her time between Buffalo and Chicago with her daughter Anyaugo and family. Learn more about Nnedi at [[Nnedi.com](http://nnedi.com/)]([https://nnedi.com/](https://nnedi.com/)).

Mocha Girls Read - Northern California

Tye Ross

Annelise Williams

Zoe Walker

Nancy Ekeke

S. Bender

Deana

In Person Book Club Meeting: "Death of the Author" by Nnedi Okorafor

A Seat at the Table Books

***Our May 2025 book selection is "Blood at the Roots" by Ladarrion Williams***

Join us in discussion at Changing Hands Bookstore (Tempe). Everyone is welcome to attend, whether you finish the book or not!

The theme for month of May--THE HBCU EXPERIENCE.

**About the Book:**
Ten years ago, Malik’s life changed forever the night his mother mysteriously vanished and he discovered he had uncontrollable powers. Since then, he has kept his abilities hidden, looking out for himself and his younger foster brother, Taye. Now, at 17, Malik is finally ready to start a new life for both of them, far from the trauma of his past. However, a daring act to rescue Taye reveals an unexpected connection with his long-lost grandmother: a legendary conjurer with ties to a hidden magical university that Malik’s mother attended.

At Caiman University, Malik’s eyes are opened to a future he never could have envisioned for himself—one that includes the reappearance of his first love, Alexis. His search for answers about his heritage, his powers, and what really happened to his mother exposes the cracks in their magical community as it faces a reawakened evil dating back to the Haitian Revolution. Together with Alexis, Malik discovers a lot beneath the surface at Caiman: feuding covens and magical politics, forbidden knowledge and buried mysteries.

In a wholly unique saga of family, history and community, Malik must embrace his legacy to save what’s left of his old family as well as his new one. Exploring the roots and secrets that connect us in an unforgettable contemporary setting, this heart-pounding fantasy series opener is a rich tapestry of atmosphere, intrigue, and emotion.

Mocha Girls Read - Tempe

Shon

Angela

Valerie Maryman

Allison

Charell Golden

Jaime Conkel

(IN PERSON) Bookclub Meeting: "Blood at the Root" by Ladarrion Williams

Changing Hands - Tempe

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Mocha Girls Read is a book club of Black women who love to read, want to read more, and meet like-minded women. We are here to inspire women to read, share literature, and have fellowship, and we encourage others to enjoy reading. We are an eclectic group of women and so are our reading selections. We don't limit our reading to release dates, gender, race, or genre.

We meet monthly in 14 cities and online. Find out more on our website www.mochagirlsread.com

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