Leigh (@lshfoster) and Ellie (@elliebrigida) hang out with writer Mariko Tamaki (@marikotamaki) to talk about telling our stories. We discuss Mariko’s new YA murder mystery novel, COLD, coming out this February and her experience writing the story. We dive into the creation of COLD (in a spoiler free way) and Mariko’s decision to tell the story from multiple perspectives. We talk about tropes and the weight Mariko felt when telling a story that involves the death of a queer character. We talk about the differences in stories told by straight people that happen to include queer characters versus when we get to tell our own stories. We also talk discuss the importance of fandom, Mariko’s first experience at a queer comic convention, and why she avoids her GoodReads reviews. Follow along on Twitter: Lez Hang Out (@lezhangoutpod) and answer our Q & Gay at the end of every episode. Leigh Holmes Foster (@lshfoster) and Ellie Brigida (@elliebrigida). You can also join us on Facebook.com/lezhangoutpod and follow along on Instagram (@lezhangoutpod).Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lezhangoutpod. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.