Renowned poet and professor Nikky Finney has spent her career illuminating the Southern cultural and political heritage of Black people in ways that resonate throughout the country and world. Her ongoing legacy of poignant expression, indomitable truth, and devotion to social justice has enriched the country and world. Join us for this rare opportunity as part of the 250 LEX events to hear about her journey as a writer and becoming an award winning literary icon.

This is episode is a recording of the live event on April 9, 2025. It is presented in its entirety with only minor edits for audio quality. Some parts of the question and answer portion are quiet, but we’ve made every effort to make them louder without sacrificing audio quality.

Mariam sits down with Mariama J. Lockington, local Stonewall Honor and Schneider Family Book Award winning middle-grade and YA poet and novelist. They discuss Mariama’s experiences as a transracial adoptee, and how her lived experiences influenced her debut novel For Black Girls like Me. Mariama gives us a sneak peak of her highly anticipated fourth novel, out in October 2025, I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm, a cozy YA love story between two girls who strike a fake dating deal, until real sparks begin to fly between them. Mariama’s books are available for checkout from the library, and for purchase from your favorite bookstore.

Later, Erin and Mariam talk about two new releases Mariam enjoyed in March. They also talk about the library’s upcoming Community Read for the month of May, Happiness Falls by Angie Kim. Happiness Falls and its book kits are available for checkout now. Finally, Erin tells us about upcoming April programs at the library, including our book clubs and their book picks.

Mariam has a chat with Beth Pride, local author of the nationally celebrated Common Wealth of Kentucky project, about her newly released debut novel, Back to Blue Holly. They talk about Beth’s inspirations for the setting and the community in Blue Holly, a fictional small town in Kentucky, and the warmth of the Kentucky writing community. Back to Blue Holly is available for checkout from the library and for purchase at bethpride.com

After the interview, Erin and Mariam talk about the two upcoming March releases Mariam is most excited for, and a selection of programs at the end of March as part of Lexington’s 250Lex celebration.

Mariam sits down with Wes Blake to discuss his debut book, Pineville Trace, a novella collection of flash fiction about Frank, a prison escapee and former revival preacher, and his cat companion Buffalo. They discuss the novella as a form, how so often Kentucky’s landscape becomes a character in works by Kentucky authors, and Wes reads an excerpt of his book. Pineville Trace is available for checkout from the library and for purchase at your local bookstore.

After the interview, Erin and Mariam talk about upcoming book releases for February, as well as programs available at the library for the 250Lex celebration in February.

Mariam joins Erin to host this new edition of Turning the Page. Mariam interviews local author Laurel McKinley about her writing process, the inspiration from her own life for her Echoes trilogy, and her upcoming projects. Her books are available for checkout at the library and for purchase from your local bookstore. Afterward, Erin and Mariam talk about upcoming book releases for January and February, and library programs for the celebration of Lexington’s 250th anniversary.

Jennifer and Erin discuss upcoming and current book releases perfect for reading over the summer. They also talk about big program highlights for June and July 2023.

Jennifer and Erin talk about poetry well after National Poetry Month. They discuss their different exposures to poetry growing up, memorizing and reciting Annabel Lee in grade school, and give some recommendations for their favorite poems.

Savannah Sipple-McGraw joins us again to read from her work WWJD and Other Poems, which explores what it is to be a queer woman in Appalachia and is rooted in its culture and in her body.

Danni Quintos read selections from her work Two Brown Dots when she joined us last December. Two Brown Dots explores what it means to be a racially ambiguous, multiethnic, Asian American woman growing up in Kentucky.

Both sets of poems deal with sometimes heavy emotions around identity and self, so please take care of yourself. The poems are individually chaptered if you need to skip one.

Jennifer interviews Hannah Allen, local Lexington artist specializing in quilts, and Erin and Jennifer host a special segment for Women's History Month. Hannah recently completed an artist in residency for the Department of Finance of Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. She and Jennifer discuss her artistic background and her work with Lexington Public Library in the Makerspace at Eastside Branch.

Erin and Jennifer talk with librarians Juniper, Cecilee and Brooke about the “Girls Who” teen program celebrating non-traditional careers for women and gender minorities during Women’s History Month. As part of the Girls Who program, Juniper, Brooke and Cecilee flip the script and interview Jennifer and Erin about podcasting.

The "Girls Who Podcast" segment references the following study: Werner JL, Lewiss RE, Pensa G, McGregor AJ. Women in Podcasting: We Should Tune In. Perm J. 2020 Sep;24:1-3. doi: 10.7812/TPP/19.241. PMID: 33482933; PMCID: PMC7849288 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7849288/