Washington, DC – February 4th, 2021. Syllble Studios, a production house for speculative fiction writers and creatives, has organized the Brain Trust, a group of creative mentors and experts who will help advise the writing collectives at Syllble and the development of their storytelling. Syllble has invited two leaders in the science fiction world, Troy Wiggins and Joy Sanchez-Taylor, to join the Brain Trust as Master Storytellers.
Brain Trust members will meet with the best writing groups and offer their input on worldbuilding, crafting stories, the creative process and navigating the publishing industry.
Troy Wiggins is a writer and editor from Memphis, Tennessee. His short fiction has appeared in the Griots: Sisters of the Spear, Long Hidden: Speculative Fiction From the Margins of History, and Memphis Noir anthologies, and has appeared or is forthcoming in Expanded Horizons, Fireside, Uncanny and Beneath Ceaseless Skies. His essays and criticism have appeared in the Memphis Flyer, Literary Orphans Magazine, People of Colo(u)r Destroy Science Fiction, Strange Horizons, PEN America, and on Tor.com. Troy is Co-Editor of Fiyah Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction, and he blogs frequently about writing, nerd culture, and race at afrofantasy.net.
“Jessamyn West famously declared writing to be a solitary act, but I am a writer that understands the value and power in having community. And I count myself lucky to be a writer in this day and age, where we are able to be more connected than ever across space and time. There’s something special that happens when writers connect and share, and that is why I am excited to be working with authors to help foster meaningful connection and shared relationship as part of Syllble’s Brain Trust. I look forward to meeting more authors, and continuing to assist BIPOC authors in any way that I can.”
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- Troy Wiggins, Speculative Fiction Author
Joy Sanchez-Taylor is an Associate Professor of English at LaGuardia Community College (CUNY) whose research specialty is intersections between science fiction, fantasy, and critical race theory. Her forthcoming book Diverse Futures: Science Fiction and Authors of Color (The Ohio State University Press, Fall 2021) examines the contributions of late twentieth and twenty-first century U.S. and Canadian science fiction (sf) authors of color to the genre. By exploring science fiction tropes such as genetic manipulation, post-apocalyptic settings, first contact narratives, and Indigenous sciences, Diverse Futures demonstrates how Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian American sci-fi authors employ these tropes to critique the colonization and alienation of peoples of color.
“We are living in an alternate-reality of encouraged conspiracy theories and misinformation that labels white supremacists “patriots” and refuses to acknowledge the disparate treatment of BIPOC peoples. This is one of many reasons why it is crucial to support diverse voices in science fiction. BIPOC science fiction authors and artists serve as visionaries who create futures that warn readers of present-day dangers while also providing hope that systemic change is still possible.”
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- Joy Sanchez-Taylor, Associate professor at CUNY
“As I began my journey of writing, the insights of mentors were critical in showing me the way. The Brain Trust was designed to engage established authors and thought leaders with up and coming writers to create stories that last. I believe Troy and Joy will be invaluable additions to the Syllble community and help to honor our commitment to support underrepresented voices and BIPOC writers through collaborative writing. I founded the Syllble community to help writers reach their objectives by collaborating in a shared fictional world they create together in small writing groups.”
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- Fabrice Guerrier, Syllble CEO and Founder
For more information visit syllble.com, or contact Fabrice at fabrice@syllble.com