Erin Crosby Eckstine discusses her debut novel, Junie, and how her family history transformed her life from English teacher to chosen GMA Book Club novelist. 

In this episode, Erin Crosby Eckstine shares the moving inspiration behind her debut novel Junie, a profoundly personal story rooted in her own family's history.

Erin reveals how Junie's character is inspired by her great-great-great-grandmother, Jane Cotton, who escaped slavery and became one of the Black founders of Coosada, Alabama. We discuss the importance of balancing joy and trauma in narratives like these and why it is essential to bring both to readers and those represented in these stories.

You can also discover Erin's unconventional publishing methods, which led to her becoming a GMA Book Club pick, and how her family legacy catalyzed her going from Google Docs to a finished novel.

BONUS BLACK HISTORY MONTH BOOK LIST:

Don't miss this week's Black History Month book list, featuring 36 phenomenal books by Black authors to celebrate this historic month. All books purchased from today's list will be fulfilled through Brain Lair Books, a Black-owned bookshop that has been financially struggling and needs your support to keep its doors open.

Patrons can join us for a bonus spoiler-filled conversation with Erin Crosby Eckstine, where we discuss the surprising plot twists in Junie and the details of this story that she has always wanted to share with her readers.

Meet Erin Crosby Eckstine

Erin Crosby Eckstine is an author of speculative historical fiction, personal essays, and anything else she's in the mood for. Born in Montgomery, Alabama, she grew up between the South and Los Angeles before moving to New York City to attend Barnard College. She earned a master's in secondary English education from Stanford University and taught high school English for six years. Erin lives in Brooklyn with her partner and their cats. JUNIE is her debut novel.

Mentioned in this episode:

Today's Show Transcript

NEW BONUS BOOK LIST: Black History Month Books You Need to Read Now

Join the February Book Club Chat (The Queen of Sugar Hill by ReShonda Tate)

Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine

The Queen of Sugar Hill by ReShonda Tate

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Sarah Madden

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Jane Austen

Erin as Lady Catherine de Bourgh

The Favorites by Layne Fargo

Kindred by Octavia Butler

Danya Kukafkamo

Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka

Good Morning America Book Pick

The Celebrity Book Club Deep Diver Episode You Need

Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

Isabel Allende

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez

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