In episode eight, Nicole kicks it with Markowitz Award–winning and Astounding Award-nominated author Naseem Jamnia (they/them). Naseem writes speculative fiction for adults, teens, and kids. Their adult fantasy novella The Bruising of Qilwa was nominated for the Crawford, Locus, and World Fantasy awards, and they contributed to the YA horror anthology The White Guy Dies First: 13 Scary Stories of Fear and Power. A Persian-Chicagoan, former neuroscientist, and current educator and pro-library activist, Naseem currently lives outside Reno, Nevada, with their husband and four furred creatures. The Glade (May 27, 2025, Aladdin, SimonKIDS) is their middle-grade debut. Find out more at NaseemWrites.com, and join their newsletter NaseemWrites.Kit.Com/SignUp.

In this conversation, Naseem reflects on their cultural identity, family dynamics, and the impact of childhood experiences on their adult life. They discuss the complexities of friendships, the challenges of navigating community, and the importance of inclusive storytelling. Naseem shares insights into their literary achievements, creative processes, and the significance of world-building in their writing. The discussion also touches on the metaphorical monsters that shape personal narratives and the role of literature in addressing societal issues.

Purchase The Glade, Naseem's middle-grade horror fantasy debut, and The Bruising of Qilwa, Naseem's adult fantasy novella debut.

Oracle Card: "Friendship," from the Classic Horror Oracle Deck.

Chapters
00:00 The Complexity of Friendships
03:24 Navigating Loyalty and Boundaries
06:50 Building Community and Connection
07:38 Childhood Influences and Cultural Identity
15:24 The Journey to Neuroscience and Writing
19:56 Navigating Family Dynamics and Personal Growth
20:38 Childhood Monsters and Emotional Neglect
27:11 Cultural Identity and Queerness
34:13 The Journey of Writing and Creative Expression
51:05 The Plague's Arrival in Kilwa
52:38 Feroz's Journey and Anxieties
55:48 Exploring The Glade: A Middle Grade Horror Fantasy
57:20 The Process of Writing The Glade
59:59 Inclusive World Building in Fantasy
01:12:56 Crafting Secondary Worlds in Speculative Fiction
01:20:03 OF MONSTERS Rapid Fire Questions

Of Monsters: A podcast with Nicole Shawan Junior features intimate chats with speculative fiction masterminds and the characters they create.

Spread love. It's the Brooklyn way. Follow the podcast. Share it on your socials. Comment on what you hear.

Find Of Monsters on IG.

Written and performed by Nicole Shawan Junior, the Of Monsters intro music was created by Ben Ford, produced by Caits Meissner, and engineered by Tatenda Dizha.

In episode seven, Nicole kicks it with Zin E. Rocklyn, a horror and dark fantasy author of Trinidadian descent hailing from Jersey City, NJ. A contributor to several anthologies, Zin's creative nonfiction essay, "My Genre Makes a Monster of Me," was published in Uncanny Magazine’s Hugo Award-winning Disabled People Destroy Science Fiction issue, and her debut novella, Flowers for the Sea, earned the Shirley Jackson Award.

Nicole and Zin explore the complexities of vulnerability, mental health, and family dynamics. They discuss the importance of being open about struggles, the impact of upbringing on identity, and the challenges of navigating relationships, particularly with mothers. Zin shares insights on the writing process and offers advice for aspiring writers.

Purchase Flowers For The Sea, Zin's debut novella.

Oracle Card: "Face," from the Classic Horror Oracle Deck.

Chapters
00:00 The Power of Vulnerability
03:33 Navigating Mental Health Challenges
05:50 Exploring Family Dynamics
11:45 The Impact of Maternal Relationships
18:08 The Evolution of Monstrous Relationships
22:01 The Power of Personal Narrative in Writing
28:34 The Catharsis of Writing About Trauma
35:16 The Role of Writing Workshops in Development
39:05 Challenging Perceptions in Speculative Fiction
40:51 The Birth of a Story
44:41 Exploring Themes of Hunger
50:40 Monstrosity and Care
53:25 Invisible Disabilities and Personal Narratives
55:27 Writing Process and Sensitivity Reading
59:07 Crafting Complex Characters
01:03:18 Of Monsters Rapid Fire Segment

Read Zin's short stories:
"Summer Skin"
"My Genre Makes a Monster of Me"
"Birds"
The Night Sun
"Teatime"
"Tet Fe Mal"
"A Keening for Churile"
"Bloodhoun

Of Monsters: A podcast with Nicole Shawan Junior features intimate chats with speculative fiction masterminds and the characters they create.

Spread love. It's the Brooklyn way. Follow the podcast. Share it on your socials. Comment on what you hear.

Find Of Monsters on IG.

Written and performed by Nicole Shawan Junior, the Of Monsters intro music was created by Ben Ford, produced by Caits Meissner, and engineered by Tatenda Dizha.

In episode six, Nicole chops it up with DJ Ben Ha Meen. DJ Ben Ha Meen is a native of Third Ward, Texas. He is an alumnus of Howard University, where he studied film and television. Ben Ha Meen is the co-creator of the graphic novel Jimi Hendrix: Purple Haze (Penguin Randomhouse). and a self-published author of the children's book The World Is Yours. A world-renowned DJ and music producer, a WGA screenwriter (American Gods), and a pioneering podcaster (FORALLNERDSSHOW, The Combat Jack Show).

In this in-depth convo, DJ Ben Ha Meen shares his journey from growing up in Houston's Third Ward to becoming a successful DJ, filmmaker, and author. He reflects on the cultural influences of his upbringing, his passion for music and storytelling, and the challenges he faced in the creative industry. The discussion also delves into his collaboration on the graphic novel Jimi Hendrix: Purple Haze with creative geniuses Mellow Brown and Tom Mandrake, and the importance of writing authentically. Throughout the conversation, DJ Ben Ha Meen emphasizes the power of creativity, resilience, and the impact of storytelling on culture and society.

Purchase Jimi Hendrix: Purple Haze, written by DJ Ben Ha Meen and Mellow Brown and illustrated by Tom Mandrake.

Listen to the ForAllNerdsShow.

Oracle Card: "Escape" from the Classic Horror Oracle Deck.

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Imagination and Reality

01:37 Roots in Third Ward, Texas

03:00 The Influence of Literature on Perspective

04:10 The Journey into DJing

04:10 The Evolution of a DJ's Craft

07:54 Cultural Influences and Musical Diversity

09:43 Soulmate Stories and Past Lives

09:54 The Early Influences of Film and Writing

10:15 Intentionality in Education and Career Choices

12:36 Navigating Economic Realities and Artistic Aspirations

14:23 Building Connections and Crews at Howard University

15:44 The Evolution of DJing and Filmmaking Skills

18:28 From DJing to Writing for American Gods

21:35 Breaking into Hollywood: A Personal Journey

24:53 Facing Adversity: Personal Stories of Struggle

30:27 The Transformative Power of Writing

34:15 Collaboration in Creativity: The Making of Purple Haze

41:20 Astro Punk and Collaborative Creation

43:32 The Role of Black Music in Revolution

46:55 Genre Defiance and Creative Process

50:06 The Poetry of Jimi Hendrix

52:17 DJ Ben Ha Meen Answers the OM Closing Five

Of Monsters: A podcast with Nicole Shawan Junior features intimate chats with speculative fiction masterminds and the characters they create.

Spread love. It's the Brooklyn way. Follow the podcast. Share it on your socials. Comment on what you hear.

Find Of Monsters on IG.

Written and performed by Nicole Shawan Junior, the Of Monsters intro music was created by Ben Ford, produced by Caits Meissner, and engineered by Tatenda Dizha.