The blog and website of writer Lauren Lola
Hey everyone! So clearly, I am posting this a few days earlier than I normally would on my blog, but the reason why is aside from this weekend being busy, the subject in which I’m addressing officially kicks off today. Continue reading “Check out Mixed Asian Media Fest 2022!”
Published Works
More AAPI Supernatural Recommendations for Fans of Disney’s ‘So Weird’ – For The Nerds of Color, I bring a second iteration of supernatural (and some sci-fi) content, creating by and about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, for those who grew up on the ’90s Disney Channel original series.
The Pinays on the Rise Artists Delve into Their Origin Stories and Music – For the Center for Asian American Media, I get to know the three up-and-coming artists who make up the roster for this CAAMFest 40 music showcase.
The Cast and Crew of ‘The Bad Batch’ Reflect on Season 1 and Tease Season 2 – For The Nerds of Color, I bring coverage of what was talked about and revealed at the panel for the latest “Star Wars” animated series at Star Wars Celebration.
A Look Back at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim, From a Certain Point of View – For The Nerds of Color, I reflect on my first experience attending this highly anticipated yet long delayed fan convention.
Appearances
Mifits Ep. 10 | Being Filipino and Proud, Contemplating the Complexities of Asian Identities, and Writing Science Fiction with Lauren Lola – Host Annie Prafcke and I chat about my experience growing up as a multiracial Filipino American in the San Francisco Bay Area, coming to terms with my Filipino identity, my life as a writer, and “The Matrix.”
Videography Work
The Stars Come Out for ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ on the Star Wars Celebration Red Carpet – These are press line interviews conducted following the Lucasfilm Showcase at Star Wars Celebration for The Nerds of Color. Interviews conducted by Laura Sirikul, filmed by me, and edited by Keith Chow.
On the Red Carpet with the Stars of Mando+: ‘Ahsoka,’ ‘The Mandalorian,’ and ‘The Book of Boba Fett’ – Here is another crop of press line interviews done for The Nerds of Color at Star Wars Celebration, this time for the Mandalorian+ panel. Interviews conducted by Laura Sirikul, filmed by me, and edited by Keith Chow.
For those who celebrate Christmas, Merry Christmas! For those who don’t, I hope you have a really good day anyway.
I can’t believe it’s been this long since the formation of my little corner of cyberspace already. It’s grown to be the virtual hub that I’ve always wanted for myself, and then some. I created the website to make it easy, for those who don’t already follow me on social media, to keep up with writing projects I have going on, as well as what’s on my mind on a (mostly) week-to-week basis. Looking back on my posts over the last 11 months, I think I’ve started to notice just how blatant and honest I’m becoming about both where I am in my journey as a writer, as well as the things that I truly care about. Continue reading “8 Years of Lola By the Bay and 2021 Year in Review”
It’s been a minute since I last suggested something for Recommended Analyzing. This came across my radar this week and I knew immediately to recommend it.
Last month, author Sarah Kuhn released her second YA novel, From Little Tokyo, with Love. It follows a mixed-race Japanese American teenage girl with a hot temper who is suddenly faced with the possibility that her mother, whom she long believed was dead, might actually be alive. Along the way of discovering the truth, she navigates her feelings for both a cute actor she befriends, and about herself and where she fits in the world.
Continue reading “Let the Monsters Roar: Recommended Reading”
May is recognized as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the United States, where the entire duration of the month is devoted in recognizing the history, culture, and achievements of people from the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. While this annual, month-long celebration has been going on for a couple of decades now, I think it’s fair to say that this year’s will really be one of the first ones where people outside the communities are actually paying attention and learning about the history, in light of the hate crimes that have been happening for over a year now. I’m always going to be dismayed that it took a massacre for the general public to start paying attention to what has been happening, but the positive is that at least they’re finally paying attention. We’ve been here for a long time and we’re not going anywhere.
Continue reading “Re-Introduction in Honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month”
I don’t do interviews in this neck of the Internet as often as I did during the first year of doing this blog. However, I occasionally make space to speak with a fellow writer on their own creative process. That’s what’s happening today, and what makes this interview really special is that it’s with someone who I interviewed on here before: Sarah Dayan Mueller.
Continue reading “Sarah Dayan Mueller on “Home in a Hundred Places” and Writing During the Pandemic”
Published Works
Hiromi Kamata On Growing Up with Selena’s Music and Directing Netflix’s Biopic Series – For The Nerds of Color, I spoke with one of the directors of the first season of this new series about how it came together.
Kimiko Guthrie on Her Career in Dancing and Writing Block Seventeen – For Hapa Mag, I speak with this Bay Area author about growing in Berkeley in the 1970s, her work in the dance world, and about the process of writing her debut novel.
Raya and the Navigation of Asian America as a Mixed-Race Filipino American – For Hapa Mag, I dive deep into my excitement for this upcoming Disney animated feature film, after years of going about Asian America as both a mixed-race and Filipino American woman.
Three Characters Lauren Mary Kim Performed Stunts for in ‘The Mandalorian’ Season 2 – For The Nerds of Color, I go over the characters this former interviewee performed stunts for in the most recent season of this live-action series from a galaxy far, far away.
Appearances
#Kollab2020 Alumni Staff Highlight – Ahead of Kollaboration’s 20th anniversary celebration, I was featured as one of many former staff members, where I talk about my experience being a part of the organization and how it has changed my life. (Facebook version available here.)
NOCs of the Roundtable: Goodbye 2020 – As we close out this horrendous year, the people behind this pop culture outlet come together to discuss their favorite nerdy moments from the year.
Readings
SCI-FI Festival Best Scene Reading: An Absolute Mind by Lauren Lola – WILDsound’s Fantasy/Sci-Fi Film & Writing Festival produces an audio-only reading of one of my favorite scenes from the screenplay adaptation of my second novel of the same name.
Published Works
‘Mulan’ is a Thoughtful but Clunky Iteration of the Chinese Folktale – For The Nerds of Color, after being granted access to a screener of this highly anticipated live-action remake from Disney, I get down to business and give my take on it.
Patrick Clanton on Exploring Disney’s Hidden Gems on Behind the Ears YouTube Channel – For The Nerds of Color, I interview the creator and host of this new Disney-focused YouTube Channel about how it came together during the COVID-19 crisis.
Review of Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger – For Goodreads, I give my two cents on this debut work from a brilliant author on the rise.
Jessica Henwick: The Hapa Franchise Queen on Growing Up Between Two Cultures – For my debut issue as the new writer of Hapa Mag, Lauren Winn and I collaborated on this interview with this extraordinary actress and writer on her journey in the entertainment industry over the past decade.
The Presentation of Multiculturalism in the World of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” – For my debut issue as the new writer of Hapa Mag, I do an in-depth dive into how multiculturalism is presented in this beloved franchise, at a time of its resurgence into popularity.
Published Works
Spider-Man, Pokémon, and Star-Crossed Lovers: Mixed Race Characters Take the Lead – For my debut piece for The Nerds of Color, I do an analysis on three different films released over the last six months that feature mixed race characters and interracial relationships front and center.
Matt Braly on Bringing Thai American Representation to Disney Channel’s “Amphibia” – For the Center for Asian American Media, I speak with the creative mind of Disney Channel’s upcoming animated series on how childhood trips to Bangkok served as the inspiration for the show.
Thoughts and Reactions to Watching ‘The Matrix’ For the First Time – For The Nerds of Color, I go beyond Keanu Reeves’ brief role in “Always Be My Maybe,” as I watch and react to one of his more iconic roles from the last 20 years.
Today I’m taking a little breather from talking about A Moment’s Worth and am, instead, providing the next interview of my interview series. Two weeks prior to the release of my book, indie author Sarah Dayan celebrated a similar accomplishment when her debut novel, Greater Than the Still, became available for purchase. Today, we will learn a bit more about the making of the novel, as well as her journey as a writer.
To give a bit of background info about her, Sarah Dayan was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, where she still resides to this day. She is incredibly well-traveled, and has written about many of the places she’s been to for Toonari Post. Other hobbies of hers include playing the piano and guitar, photography, and giving in to her sweet tooth. You can learn more about her on her website and you can follow her on Twitter. Be sure to also like the Facebook page for Greater Than the Still as well.
Lola By The Bay 