Culver City Observer -

Author Rasheed Newson discusses his debut novel, My Government Means to Kill Me, with fellow novelist Laura Warrell (Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm) on Wednesday, February 21, at 6:00 PM, in the Main Library's Multipurpose Room, at 601 Santa Monica Blvd. A book sale and signing follows.

A finalist for the prestigious Lambda Literary Prize in 2023, the New York Times described My Government Means to Kill Me as, "...shining a vivid light onto underappreciated aspects of our history through the life of a gay Black teenager". It's a fast-paced coming-of-age story that skillfully combines real world events and figures from 1980s New York City with the fictional life of his protagonist to create an engrossing and educational novel.

Rasheed Newson is a television drama writer, executive producer, and showrunner. With his writing partner T.J. Brady, Rasheed has worked on drama series Bel-Air, The Chi, and Narcos, among others. Rasheed lives with his husband and their two children in Pasadena, California.

Laura Warrell, named a "Writer to Watch" by Publishers Weekly, is a graduate of the Creative Writing Program at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She taught Creative Writing and Literature through the Emerging Voices program at PEN America Los Angeles, Writing Workshops Los Angeles, the Berklee College of Music, and other academic institutions in Los Angeles and Boston. Her debut novel, Sweet Soft, Plenty Rhythm was chosen as a Good Morning America Buzz Pick, a Barnes & Noble Discover Pick, and an Indie Next List Pick.

All Library programs are free and open to the public. Parking is available underneath the Main Library, several bus lines and the Metro E line stop nearby, and there are bike racks. The MLK Auditorium is wheelchair accessible. Please call (310) 458-8600 to request additional accommodations.