Sistah Scifi to launch network of Sistah Scifi Book Vending Machines at Black and Native American owned coffee shops across the country

Started in 2019, Sistah Scifi is the first Black owned bookstore focused on science fiction and fantasy in the United States, as validated by the American Booksellers Association.

Oakland, California, January 30, 2023, Sistah Scifi hosts virtual and in-person watch parties, book clubs, and Sistah Scifi Wine Down Wednesdays. Past guests have included Omar Epps and Sheree Renee Thomas.

Sistah Scifi launched a crowdfunding campaign on IFundWomen to raise funds to launch three Sistah Scifi Book Vending Machines in Black-owned cafes in Seattle and Oakland this February in honor of Black History Month. 

Supporting Sistah Scifi’s IFundWomen campaign is a great opportunity to bring Black and Indigenous authors to the forefront of the science fiction and fantasy literary genre. 

Backers of Sistah Scifi’s crowdfunding campaign can select from a bevy of perks, such as curated Black and Indigenous speculative fiction playlists and watchlists to marketing packages for Black and Indigenous science fiction and fantasy writers.

The inaugural Sistah Scifi Book Vending Machine will launch Saturday, February 4th at Oaklandia Café x Bakery. Oaklandia’s founders, Latorra and Carlos, are a Black and Latin couple that are fourth generation Oaklanders. 

On Friday, February 10th, the next Sistah Scifi Book Vending Machine will launch at Mixed: Coffee and Community. Savannah Jackson, founder of Mixed, describes herself as a mixed kid - half Black and half Ecuadorian - who loves mixing drinks, mixing cultures, and bringing people together. 

The third Sistah Scifi Book Vending Machine will launch Saturday, February 11th at Black Coffee Northwest. Darnesha Weary and her husband Erwin, both Seattle natives, opened Black Coffee Northwest to provide proactive and innovative community building through youth leadership development while serving the best cup of coffee in the city.

Sistah Scifi, the first Black owned bookstore focused on science fiction and fantasy in the United States as validated by the American Booksellers Association, is excited to work with coffee shop owners to realize Sistah Scifi’s vision to double the number of science fiction and fantasy titles by Black and Indigenous authors on the New York Times Best Sellers list by launching a national network of Sistah Scifi Book Vending Machines. 

This would make the discovery of Afrofuturism and Indigenous Futurism books as easy as buying a candy bar.

During a recent interview, Isis Asare, the CEO/Founder of Sistah Scifi, made these comments, “Sistah Scifi goes beyond the transactional -- it’s a movement that fulfills a need for readers to find and discuss science fiction and fantasy infused with Black and Indigenous culture by Black and Indigenous creators. 

"Whenever we recommend a book on social media, we always add the option to check the book out from the local library.”

She goes on to say, “We understand if our Sistah Scifi Siblings – some of whom read over 100 books a year! – check most of them out from the library or spread their purchases between several indie bookstores or get free eBooks from a large online bookseller. 

"We also know that our Sistah Scifi Siblings will make it a point to schedule quarterly purchases from us, pay for events even when we list them for free, and tell ALL their friends and family about how much they love Sistah Scifi.”

About Sistah Scifi: Founded by Isis Asare, Sistah Scifi is a cauldron of all things Afrofuturism; Black mysticism, science fiction noir, and traditional voodoo; casting spells to uplift literature written by Black and Indigenous women.

For complete information, visit: https://sistahscifi.com/