October 17, 2024

US author Ayana Mathis puts her characters on shaky ground in 'The Unsettled'

12 minutes

After the phenomenal success of her first novel, "The Twelve Tribes of Hattie", author Ayana Mathis returns with a story that shifts between 1980s Philadelphia and a mythical Black utopia in Alabama. She tells us about finding inspiration in a particular moment of American history – of dashed hopes and failed social projects – and discusses the challenge of creating three-dimensional characters, including their flaws. We also talk about the upcoming US presidential election and Ayana tells us about an unexpected encounter with Oprah Winfrey herself.

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