Mysteries by Black Authors

I had a fantastic conversation with horror author and creator of the Night Light Podcast, Tonia Ransom. The Night Light podcast presents horror short fiction by black authors. We talk about how Tonia started her podcast, how readers who are new to horror fiction can begin to explore these stories and Tonia shares her writing process.

A full transcript of this interview is available on my website (www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/75).

Today I am talking about Zora Neale Hurston's short story, "Black Death". This story can be found in "The Complete Stories" and "Hitting a Straight Lick With a Crooked Stick." I believe that Zora wrote it in 1925. Now almost 100 years later, we can discover and enjoy these stories.

In this story, Hurston uses her knowledge of black folklore and black tales of the supernatural, to tell a story of obtaining justice for a broken heart. This story could easily have been an episode Rod Sterling's Night Gallery or the Twilight Zone.

The antagonist of this story has a name that everyone will find familiar. I will not tell you so you can be surprised like I was. I do wonder about the name's history and did the entertainer who used it, get the name from the folklore and literature of the time.

This story is listed as one of the seven unpublished stories in "The Complete Stories" collection. I think that is a shame because I really like the way this story flowed.

One thing I have noticed during this process is the way Hurston paints a picture of the way women are treated. The needs of the women are ignored or openly rejected. Hurston weaves this treatment into her stories narratives, so it is apparent and a part of the world her characters live in. This is terribly similar to the way things are in real life.

One key thing I get from this story is the respect Hurston has for the black people in her story. She shows this by the respect she gives the beliefs of the people even when it is something that the white population would laugh at.

This is a good read and for fans of supernatural stories, this is a story you will want to read.

https://www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/reading-zora-neale-hurstons-short-stories/

This week's featured mystery author is Stephen L. Carter. Besides being a very good author of mysteries and thrillers, he is a professor of law at Yale University and was a clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.

https://www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/black-mystery-authors/carter-stephen-l/

Join me for a fascinating conversation with short story author Nikki Dolson.

We Discussed:

• Nikki's journey as a writer
• Her motivation for writing her short stories and what she wants each reader to feel and experience after reading one of her stories
• Nikki shared her advice for persons who want to write short fiction
• Nikki's latest book "Love and Other Criminal Behavior" and her first book "All Things Violent"

For a full transcript go to: https://www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/interviews/nikki-dolson-interview/

This week I discuss the short story "Spunk" by Zora Neale Hurston. Join me on this journey through Hurston's short stories. Go to www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/zora

This week I am featuring the mystery author, Cheryl A. Head. The author of the Charlie Mack Motown Mystery Series.

We talked about:

• The similarities and differences between Sherlock Holmes and his sleuth, Isiah Quintabe (IQ)
• Joe's writing process and motivations
• The growth of his sleuth, "IQ", through the four books in the series
• We learn why his latest book, "Hi Five", was the most difficult book in the series for him to write

View all Joe's books and a full transcript of the interview at https://www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/69

This week I discuss Zora Neale Hurston's short story "Drenched In Light". Join me on my journey through the Hurston's short stories in the order of their publication.

This week I feature mystery author Keith Lee Johnson. I talk about his three books from his Detective Phoenix Perry series.

This week I am featuring the mystery author John Ridley. John Ridley is also an accomplished screen writer and showrunner.