ReadMore Podcast

Author Ayanna Lloyd Banwo discusses her debut novel, When We Were Birds, how her writing was influenced by West African stories about people flying, and why sometimes she has to read "racist fools."

Author Mecca Jamilah Sullivan discusses her debut novel, Big Girl, body shaming in the Black community, and the inspiration of '90s' era hip-hop.

Author Dionne Irving discusses her short story collection, The Islands, how immigration can be so lonely and isolating, and how women are affected by the notion that they can have it all.

Author Meng Jin discusses her short story collection, Self-Portrait with Ghost, why she's interested in death, and the book she finds "infinitely tedious."

Author Toni Ann Johnson discusses her award-winning, linked short story collection, Light Skin Gone to Waste, which is based on her childhood, why she was in a dark place before submitting it, and how her mother reacted to one of the stories that depicted her in a less than positive light.

Awarding-winning author Nikesha Elise Williams discusses her latest novel, Beyond Bourbon Street, why she doesn't give much thought to whether her characters are likable or not, and why New Orleans will always be in her heart.

Children's author Alice Faye Duncan discusses her two most recent books, Evicted: The Struggle for the Right to Vote, and Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free, writing about tough subjects for young readers, and why she wants parents, teachers and librarians to be activists.

In this ReadMore Quick Read episode, author Natalia Sylvester discusses her forthcoming YA novel, Breathe and Count Back From 10 and how the pandemic has affected her reading habits.

Author Myriam J.A. Chancy discusses her critically acclaimed novel, What Storm, What Thunder, which is about the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, why it took her so long to write, and how a visual artist was a key influence.

Zaina Arafat discusses her award-winning debut novel, You Exist Too Much. It tells the story of a young, queer, Palestinian American woman who's dealing with internalized homophobia and trying to find her place in the world. We discuss readers' reactions to first-person narrators written by women, finding humor within tragedy, and why she loves teaching a certain classic novel.