Meet Tonya Todd | Author, Actress, Activist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tonya Todd and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tonya, how does your business help the community?
I’m a co-host on the Femme On Podcast. That platform allows me to lead a series called Active Activism, where guests share their advocacy and tips on how to get involved. I also host Femme On Fitness, which covers women’s health and fitness programs. And once a year, I host a one-week series called Banned Books Conversations, where I choose seven different banned books and moderate panel discussions on why they were banned, the value in reading them, and how to protect the right to read.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Right now, I’m excited about Comics Lit. I and some of the coolest literary nerds you’ll ever meet wrote a collection of essays that compare comic books to more classical works of literature and art. The main idea behind it was to show that many comics are actually reimaginings of, or inspired by more well-respected sources, and though that’s a running theme throughout, the anthology assumed a life of its own by including other variations of comic books as high art. The first volume is out in October, and Volume 2 is already in the works!

With fiction, I lean toward telling stories about relationships and desires, love and obsession. In my short film directorial debut Mourning Sacrific, a vampire poses as a detective to help the woman he loves search for her missing husband. He’d do anything for her, even if it hurts him. That angsty, passionate devotion is what I love to experience on the page and on screen. Whether my characters are human or monstrous in nature, these are the running themes in almost all my projects.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
AZ Wilderness for meeting up with friends. People should also check out the Musical Instrument Museum or The Phoenix Art Museum. And visit Sedona, if you enjoy hiking.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mentors, my superfans, and my dynamite darlings. And I wouldn’t be anywhere in life without my mother. Her undying belief in my ability to succeed means I will always have at least one person in my corner. Like laughter, her support is contagious.

Website: http://www.mstonyatodd.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mstonyatodd/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonya-todd-b05b1918a/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MsTonyaTodd

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mstonyatodd

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mstonyatodd

Other: IMDB: imdb.me/TonyaTodd

Comics Lit: https://accomplishinginnovationpress.com/product/comics-lit-vol-1/

Mourning Sacrifice: https://www.instagram.com/mourning_sacrifice/

The Femme On Collective: https://www.femmeon.show/

Image Credits
Ignis Umbra Studios
Sid T.
Larry DeGala
4 Horsemen Publications
Atlanta Writing Conference
Brandon Mead
Storybook Gala
Israel David Groveman
Trinity Swearington
JP Butler