The blog and website of writer Lauren Lola
I’ve touched on a lot of topics on this blog within my first year. In the five years since, it’s only right that my thoughts and opinions have changed and shifted overtime. Already, I previously revisited the topic of young adult fiction. Now, I want to do the same for NaNoWriMo. I feel it’s only right, especially since this year is the 20th anniversary since it was started. Continue reading “Thoughts About NaNoWriMo REVISITED”
Published Works
Dante Basco Dives into His Career So Far in ‘From Rufio to Zuko’ – For The Nerds of Color, I speak with this recognizable face and voice from both mainstream pop culture and Asian American independent cinema about the making of his upcoming memoir.
Paola Mardo Gets Ready to Dive Deeper into the Filipino Diaspora in the Second Season of “Long Distance” – For the Center for Asian American Media, I chat with this prolific podcast producer once more about what’s to come of the second season of her documentary podcast series.
Review of Steel Crow Saga by Paul Krueger – For Goodreads, I gush over the brilliance and depth of this highly inventive, nuanced sophomore fantasy novel.
Author Rebecca Roanhorse Makes Her ‘Star Wars’ Universe Debut with ‘Resistance Reborn’ – For The Nerds of Color, I spoke with this Nebula Award-winning author about writing her upcoming novel set in the galaxy far, far away.
So this news is a little over a week old, but for the sake of its context, it’s something I wanted to dive into and dissect, while providing my personal take on it. After all, one of my long-term goals is to become a professional screenwriter myself, much like the bad-ass that is screenwriter Adele Lim. Continue reading “The One About Screenwriter Adele Lim”
Yes, I can see how this can appear as a very click baity title, but I didn’t want to beat around the bush. I want to just jump to it. This was certainly not something that I saw myself doing a year ago, and when I joined The Nerds of Color a few months ago, I thought that the idea of ever starting up a second site was put to bed. Continue reading “I Created a Second Website!”
Published Works
The Timing and Timeliness of ‘Hamilton’ – For The Nerds of Color, I dive into my experience of finally getting to see Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award-winning musical. (This is an altered cross-post of my post that was originally published here.)
Review of The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang – For Goodreads, I manage to write and present a quick overview of my thoughts on the second novel of this page-turning fantasy trilogy.
From “Greetings from Bury Park” to “Blinded by the Light”: The Making of a British Pakistani’s Cinematic Personal Story – For the Center for Asian American Media, I go in-depth on the making of this feel-good, motivating film, by way of conversation with the writer-director and writer.
The Significance of Iko Uwais in ‘Wu Assassins’ – For The Nerds of Color, I point out something special about the lead character of this fantasy-crime-martial arts Netflix series.
Review of Greetings from Bury Park by Sarfraz Manzoor – For Goodreads, I go over my thoughts about the memoir that served as the inspiration for the film, “Blinded by the Light.”
Other News
Chicago theater: ‘The Band’s Visit,’ ‘The Great Leap’ and more previews, openings Aug. 30-Sept. 5 – My Q&A with playwright Lauren Yee was quoted in this listing for her play, “The Great Leap,” in the Chicago Sun-Times. (To read the full interview with her, you can read it here.)
Yeah, yeah, I know what you might be thinking: She’s writing about collaborations again? Obviously yes, and for a very specific reason. Continue reading “Finding Growth Through Collaborations”
This past week has, for lack of a better word, been heavy. Two more mass shootings happened less than 24 hours apart last weekend, that has left 31 people dead and many other people injured. Right after that, Toni Morrison passed away. It’s hard to write about anything else when once again, the people who’re supposedly our leaders refuse to listen to logic, and the words of Morrison remain as profoundly relevant than when she first wrote them. Continue reading “A Reminder From An Eternal Voice: Recommended Reading”
Rarely do I ever get to write about theatre on here; probably because when I do, it’s when I have something being shown, and the few times when I go to a professional production is often for work-related reasons. I don’t get to go to the theater just to experience it anymore. However, last week, I did, and it was a production that I never thought I’d get to see, until nine months before when the tickets were bought. Last week, I finally got to see Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award-winning musical, “Hamilton.”
Published Works
Review of Unsung Heroine by Sarah Kuhn – For Goodreads, I provide my impressions on this novella companion to this author’s beloved super heroine trilogy.
Director Lulu Wang Explores Telling a Story Based on an Actual Lie in “The Farewell” – For the Center for Asian American Media, I sat down with this thoughtful director on the making of this very moving film.
From Fan to Writer: F.C. Yee on Developing the Story of Avatar Kyoshi – For The Nerds of Color, I got deep and geeky with this author/Avatar fan about the honor (*wink*) of writing the first YA novel in the Avatar universe.
The Circle of Life of “He Lives in You” from ‘The Lion King’ – For The Nerds of Color, I give an overview of the different iterations over the years of this underrated yet powerful song from “The Lion King” repertoire.
Review of The Rise of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee – For Goodreads, I explain why fans of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” will relish in this novel about one of the most incredible avatars prior to Aang.
‘Cobra Kai’ Has Got to Step Up Its Representation Game in Season 3 – For The Nerds of Color, I address a flaw this YouTube series has had over the course of its first two seasons, in the midst of a recent reveal about what’s to come in the new season.
Appearances
Lauren (San Francisco Bay Area, California) – I recently shared my experience for Mixed (Me)dia about being a mixed race person, by explaining a little bit about who I am, my thoughts about being mixed race, and advice for those who’re navigating their own mixed race journeys.
Writers’ Spotlight: Summer 2019 – Asienne Magazine gives previews to two separate interviews that were done with two California-based Filipino American writers (I being one of them).
Other News
CAAM Production of Wayne Wang’s “Coming Home Again” to World Premiere at TIFF – A film I briefly worked on last year, “Coming Home Again,” will be having its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
Today I go over the remaining chapters of my debut novel, A Moment’s Worth, as I give my memories, impressions, and reactions to each of them. Here we go: Continue reading “Looking Back on “A Moment’s Worth” Five Years Later (PART 2)”
