Mysteries by Black Authors

This week I am discussing The Eatonville Anthology by Zora Neale Hurston. Imagine sitting on a porch in Eatonville with Zora and listening to her share gossip about each of the people walking by. That is how you will feel when you read this short story.

This week's featured author is Kellye Garrett. Kellye Garrett is the creator of the " A Detective by Day" mystery series.

https://kellyegarrett.com/

https://www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/104

A wonderful discussion of Zora Neale Hurston's short story "The Gilded Six-Bits" with Marci and Ako from The Colored Pages Book Club. We dig deep into one of Hurston's most read short stories. We have so much fun talking about this great short story and reflect on some real-life things.

I want to thank Marci and Ako for joining me on this special episode. Check out their great podcast.

https://www.thesecoloredpages.com/

This week I am featuring mystery author Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and screen writer Anna Waterhouse wrote three books based on the character Mycroft Holmes.

View all of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's mystery at: https://www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/102

This week I am featuring Hugh Holton. He is the author of ten police procedurals that follow the investigations and life of tough Chicago police officer Larry Cole. Hugh Holton draws on his 29 years of experience as a Chicago police officer for this very successful police procedural series.

https://www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/101

Follow Frankie on her website: www.frankieybailey.com

To stay up to date on the conference for crime writers of color, keep visiting the Justice and Multiculturalism in the 21st century website. Hosted by the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Albany.

We discussed:

[00:01:42] Frankie's sleuth in her Lizzie Stewart mystery series. Frankie discusses here motivations for the series and her writing process. Also, the challenges of writing when your cat has another agenda.

[00:06:29] We talk about Frankie's Hannah McCabe series. Frankie talks about her technique of setting the stories in the near future and her future for the plans for the series.

[00:09:46] Frankie shares the differences between writing a police procedural and an amateur sleuth mystery. Frankie also gives us insight into a historical mystery she is working on.

[00:15:39] Frankie tells us about her plans for the Lizzie Stewart mystery series

[00:17:59] Frankie talks about how her work as a crime historian has influenced her writing.

[00:21:51] We talk about Eleanor Taylor Bland and her early efforts to connect and promote black mystery authors.

[00:26:53] We discuss how Frankie's List was created.

[00:29:05] We discuss "African American Mystery Writers: A Historical and Thematic Study".

[00:34:53] Frankie recommends two of the early black authors in the mystery genre. Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins and Rudolph Fisher.

[00:45:01] Frankie shares her insight on how the publishing world has changed for Black mystery authors since Chester Himes.

[00:47:23] We talk about Frankie's plans for a virtual conference for Crime Writers of Color at the University of Albany in March 2021.

[00:52:18] Frankie shares some more information on her next Lizzie Stuart book.

Danny Gardner is the author of two hard-boiled mysteries. His first book is "A Negro and an Ofay" and his latest book is "Ace Boon Coon". We talk about his inspiration for his books, how his life experiences influence his writing and his sleuth "Elliot Caprice".

To see all of Danny Gardner's books go to:

www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/99

We Discussed:

[00:01:18] Danny Gardner's stories are set in Chicago in the 1950s. Danny explains why he selected this time period for his stories.

[00:12:47] Danny discusses how he builds Elliot Caprice's world.

[00:22:05] Danny's sleuth works as a process server. We talk about why Danny selected this profession.

[00:31:21] Elliot Caprice's life is lived on an edge between conflicting cultures and between criminals and law enforcement. Danny discusses how he maintains this balance.

[00:42:01] We talk about how Danny keeps the tension going in his novels.

[00:51:13] Gentrification is a key issue in Ace Boon Coon. Danny talks about how he uses it in his novel and his own views on the subject.

[00:59:14] Danny explains his inspiration for the title of his latest book, "Ace Boon Coon".

[01:09:09] Danny shares what feedback he is getting from readers of "Ace Boon Coon".

[01:21:04] Danny talks about how his character, Elliot Caprice, has developed from the first book.

[01:26:20] We talk about the difference between the way black criminals are portrayed vs other groups of people. Danny also explains how he is able to bring the humanity of black criminals to the page.

[01:46:07] Danny gives us insight into the hard-boiled genre and how his works fit in that world.

This week I am featuring Chassie West. The author of the Leigh Ann Warren mystery series.

I had the honor to speak with Abby Vandiver, who is an accomplished and prolific cozy mystery author. She has five different cozy series. We talk about her latest book in her new "Ice Cream Parlor" series titled "A Deadly Inside Scoop". In this series Abby uses the pen name "Abby Collette". This was a fun, informative and inspirational conversation.

https://www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/97

[00:02:04] Abby tell us why she selected Chagrin Falls, Ohio for the setting for her new cozy mystery series

[00:04:27] Abby shares why she choose the winer season for this story.

[00:06:33] We share our snow stories

[00:07:45] We talk about Abby's name choice for her central character and how she create names for her characters. We also talk about the unique character trait of her protagonist Bronwyn

[00:12:46] Abby explains why she selected an ice-cream parlor as the central business in this cozy mystery series

[00:15:07] Abby shares how she balances mystery and family back stories in this book

[00:18:31] We talk about the black family portrayed in "A Deadly Inside Scoop"

[00:21:19] We get a preview of the next book in the Ice Cream Parlor series

[00:25:36] Abby shares why her latest book is published under the pen name Abby Colette.

[00:29:05] Abby shares her experience as both a self-published author and now a tradionally published author

[00:36:11] We talk about the other cozy mystery series by Abby

[00:56:38] We talk about how Abby's experience as a lawyer has affected her fiction writing

[00:58:05] Abby shares about her interesting Christmas cozy novella, "Baby It's Cold Outside"

[01:01:08] Abby shares what inspires and motivate her writing. Abby also shares her inspiring life story.

[01:09:33] Abby shares her advice for budding mystery writers

This week I discuss the Zora Neale Hurston short story, Possum or Pig.