<p class="p1" data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">This week’s book is <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/kindred-octavia-butler/98cd7991f8b05d7a?ean=9780807083697&amp;next=t"><em>Kindred&nbsp;</em></a><em> </em>by Octavia Butler, a time-traveling story about Dana, who goes back in time to ensure the survival of her ancestors: an enslaved woman named Alice and her enslaver, Rufus. This complicated yet entrancing narrative is multifaceted, and my guest this week, Alethea McCollin, and I had a great conversation about the ways Butler challenges her readers to think about the implications of our actions and how they shape the future.</p><p class="p2" data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"></p><p class="p1" data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><a href="https://aletheamccollin.com/">Alethea McCollin</a> is a multifaceted artist as a playwright, director, producer, actor, and founder of Orange Stilettos Productions, llc, known for her award-winning production of <em>The Stilettos Monologues</em> at the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival. She has produced various works, including her play <em>Renaming Shaim</em> at Theatre Row, New York City, and directed her first short film, <em>The Next Great Writer,</em> showcased at the Virginia Screenwriters Forum. Additionally, Alethea serves as Executive Secretary on the Board of Directors of <a href="https://jamesriverwriters.org/">James River Writers </a>and is an English instructor at <a href="https://www.vsu.edu/">Virginia State University</a>.</p><p class="p2" data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"></p><p class="p1" data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Our drink this week is one of Alethea’s favorite’s: <a href="https://www.bigelowtea.com/products/blackberry-citrus-plus-zinc-herbal-tea?srsltid=AfmBOoq6EK_qexJYX2LizCmEUcjKb2NT1CrEnnPUEzwss3Dk7W7oC_MA">Blackberry Citrus Tea</a>, which is perfect for sitting by the fire curling up with a good book!</p><p class="p2" data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"></p><p class="p1" data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><strong>In this Episode</strong></p><p class="p2" data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"></p><p class="p1" data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><a href="https://drinks-in-the-library.myspreadshop.com/">Drinks in the Library Merch</a></p><p class="p1" data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/kindred-octavia-butler/98cd7991f8b05d7a?ean=9780807083697&amp;next=t"><em>Kindred </em></a>by Octavia Butler</p><p class="p1" data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><a href="https://jamesriverwriters.org/">James River Writers</a></p><p class="p1" data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.vsu.edu/">Virginia State University</a><a href="https://bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=Toni+Morrison">Books by Toni Morrison</a></p><p class="p1" data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=Gabrielle+Garcia+Marquez">Books by Gabrielle García Márquez</a></p><p class="p1" data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=Isabel+allende">Books by Isabel Allende</a></p><p class="p1" data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/narrative-of-the-life-of-frederick-douglass-an-american-slave-incidents-in-the-life-of-a-slave-girl-frederick-douglass/258a876f8b48f003?ean=9780345478238&amp;next=t"><em>Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, an American Slave </em></a>by Frederick Douglas</p><p class="p1" data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-heaven-earth-grocery-store-a-novel-james-mcbride/f2dccd731e81117a?ean=9780593422953&amp;next=t"><em>The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store</em></a> by James McBride</p>