In a genre where Black voices have historically been scarce, Torrie Q. Jones is redefining what fantasy fiction looks like.
I learned this quickly after meeting her in 2023. We met through a mutual literary friend who recommended her as a guest for my show, the Horizons Author Lounge. I was excited because she was a fantasy fiction author, a genre that has only recently seen growth in African-American representation. Believe it or not, according to Industry Publishing Data, Black authors make up only 5–7% of published writers, and in speculative genres like fantasy, below 2%, rising to about 6–7% by 2021. Crazy, right?
But this hasn’t stopped Torrie. In conversations about her work, Torrie has shared that her creative journey is one of emergence. She’s moved out of survival mode and into storytelling that feels bold, reflective, and unapologetically rich. And unapologetically Black. Her fantasy series, Reborn the Book, blends urban energy with mythic stakes and complex protagonists rooted in authenticity and adventure, which is exactly what readers crave.
Torrie embraces her identity with clarity while acknowledging the challenges Black creators face in a publishing culture that has been “exceptionally WHITE.” She chooses not to settle for token visibility but writes to expand the space itself where Black stories like hers can flourish.
This is why she’s a featured author at my annual Black History Month Literary Weekend for the third year in a row! Her work exemplifies the kind of intentional visibility and artistic excellence we celebrate, alongside 14 authors who embody Black excellence in their work.
Readers can meet Torrie at various events throughout the Black History Month Literary Weekend. On Feb. 20, she will participate in a free writers’ workshop at the Algiers Regional Library at 10:30 a.m., followed by a booksigning at Barnes and Noble Metairie, LA, at 4:30 p.m. Later that night, we’ll meet up at Cafe Istanbul for the Black History Month Comedy Night, featuring Nicole Blue, Rod Minger, Christopher Columbus, and Steve Brown, all part of The Greek Comedy Tour. The weekend will end Feb. 21 with the Ivory and Cream Affair Literary Jazz Brunch at 11 a.m., at the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club Hall.
I look forward to supporting Torrie as she helps light a path for others to follow. Who knows? Maybe the next fantasy author could be sitting in that audience. If so, I’ll be waiting to interview them in the Horizons Author Lounge!
