Episode 286: Gemini Wahhaj Debut Novel Illuminates Recent Histories Of Bangladesh, America And Iraq Hopeton Hay Podcasts podcast

53:03

Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed legendary author Walter Mosley about his latest novel Been Wrong So Long It Feels Like Right , his third novel featuring New York private detective Joe King Oliver. In the novel, Oliver's 92-year-old grandmother asks him to find his father, her son, after she discovers she has a tumor that could be fatal. Oliver has been estranged from his father since he was a young boy. He swore to never speak to the man again when he was taken away in handcuffs. Through his hunt, he gains a deeper understanding of his father. In the interview, Mosley described the evolution of his protagonist through three novels, the complexities of writing about an ex-policeman, and the moral complexity of the world of the characters. Walter Mosley is one of America’s most celebrated writers. He was given the 2020 National Book Award’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, named a Grand Master of the Mystery Writers of America, and honored with the Anisfield-Wolf Award, a Grammy, a PEN USA Lifetime Achievement Award, the Robert Kirsch Award, numerous Edgars, and several NAACP Image Awards. Diverse Voices Book Review Social Media : Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreview Instagram - @diverse_voices_book_review Twitter - @diversebookshay Email: hbh@diversevoicesbookreview.com…

Hopeton Hay Podcasts

1
Episode 314: Favorite Novels of 2024 40:53

14 дней назад40:53

40:53

Diverse Voices Book Review hosts Hopeton Hay and Amanda Moore discuss their favorite novels of 2024 that were featured in author interviews. For Hopeton, his favorite novels were 54 Miles by Leonard Pitts, Jr ., Guide Me Home by Attica Locke , and Kingdom of No Tomorrow by Fabienne Josaphat . Amanda's favorite novels were Flores and Miss Paula by Melissa Riverro , Skin & Bones by Renee Watson , and What You Leave Behind by Wanda Morris. Diverse Voices Book Review Social Media : Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreview Instagram - @diverse_voices_book_review Twitter - @diversebookshay Email: hbh@diversevoicesbookreview.com…

Hopeton Hay Podcasts

1
Episode 313: Alex Segura Thriller Examines Conflict Between Art and Commerce 32:34

16 дней назад32:34

32:34

Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed Alex Segura , author of the thriller Alter Ego . In the story, Annie Bustamante, a celebrated filmmaker and comic book artist, gets a chance to work on her favorite superhero, The Lethal Lynx. Despite her excitement, she's wary of the offer, and her suspicions grow when she receives anonymous warnings not to trust anyone. The novel also explores Annie as a single mother with a precocious teenage daughter who has a tumultuous relationship with her own mother. Alex Segura is the bestselling and award-winning author of Secret Identity, winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller, a New York Times Editor’s Choice and an NPR Best Mystery of the Year. He’s also the author of the acclaimed Pete Fernandez series, as well as the Star Wars novel, Poe Dameron: Free Fall, and the YA Spider-Verse adventure, Araña/Spider-Man 2099: Dark Tomorrow. Diverse Voices Book Review Social Media : Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreview Instagram - @diverse_voices_book_review Email: hbh@diversevoicesbookreview.com…

Hopeton Hay Podcasts

1
Episode 312: History Professor Joe Trotter Jr. Explores Building the Black City 39:51

23 дня назад39:51

39:51

Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed Joe William Trotter, Jr. , author of Building The Black City: The Transformation of American Life . Building The Black City explores the history of African Americans in cities across America from the colonial era to recent times. He emphasized the agency of African people in building their own infrastructure and institutions despite being dispossessed of their labor. Trotter highlighted the importance of understanding the regional dimensions of black urban life, using New Orleans, Charleston, and Savannah as examples. Joe William Trotter, Jr., is Giant Eagle University Professor of History and Social Justice, Director and Founder of Carnegie Mellon University's Center for African American Urban Studies and the Economy (CAUSE), and author of Workers on Arrival: Black Labor in the Making of America. Diverse Voices Book Review Social Media : Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreview Instagram - @diverse_voices_book_review Twitter - @diversebookshay Email: hbh@diversevoicesbookreview.com…

Hopeton Hay Podcasts

1
Episode 311: The Damascus Events: An Interview with Eugene Rogan on the 1860 Massacre and the Ottoman Empire 33:34

5 weeks назад33:34

33:34

Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed Eugene Rogan , a professor of modern Middle Eastern history at the University of Oxford and the director of the Middle East Center at St. Anthony's College, Oxford. Rogan discusses his book, The Damascus Events: The 1860 Massacre and the Making of the Modern Middle East ." The conversation touches on the historical context of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century, highlighting its decline and the reforms it undertook to modernize and compete with European powers. These reforms, however, led to social unrest and violence, including the 1860 massacre in Damascus. Rogan explains that the Ottoman Empire was generally tolerant of different faiths, but the massacre was an exception caused in part by the volatile changes and the imposition of reforms without the consent of the people. Diverse Voices Book Review Social Media : Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreview Instagram - @diverse_voices_book_review Twitter - @diversebookshay Email: hbh@diversevoicesbookreview.com…

Hopeton Hay Podcasts

1
Episode 310: Rafael Martinez Examines the Plight of Undocumented Youth Immigrants 31:25

7 weeks назад31:25

31:25

Diverse Voices Book Review contributor Amanda Moore interviewed Rafael A. Martinez, author of Illegalized: Undocumented Youth Movements in the United States. Martinez, an assistant professor at Arizona State University, writes a thought-provoking narrative about the obstacles that illegal immigrants face in the United States. By examining various case studies about sanctuary locations, detention centers, and the plight of immigrant families, readers are able to discover how the undocumented youth attempt to fight for immigrant rights through the use of social media, television, and other forms of media publicity. You can read more about this book at rafaelamartinez.com . Diverse Voices Book Review Social Media : Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreview Instagram - @diverse_voices_book_review Twitter - @diversebookshay Email: hbh@diversevoicesbookreview.com…

Hopeton Hay Podcasts

1
Episode 309: Nikki Giovanni: An Interview from November 15, 2020 41:01

11 weeks назад41:01

41:01

Black cultural icon and poet Nikki Giovanni died on December 9, 2024, at the age of 81. On November 15, 2020, Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed her about her book of poetry and prose, Make Me Rain, which was just published the month before. In Make Me Rain, Giovanni calls attention to injustice and racism, celebrates Black culture and Black lives, and gives readers an unfiltered look into her own experiences. In our wide-ranging interview, Giovanni read some of her poetry, discussed an amazing conversation she had with James Baldwin in 1971 that was taped for the public TV show Soul!, and weighed in on having front porch conversations versus interaction over the internet. Diverse Voices Book Review Social Media : Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreview Instagram - @diverse_voices_book_review Twitter - @diversebookshay Email: hbh@diversevoicesbookreview.com…

Hopeton Hay Podcasts

1
Episode 308: From Crime to Fantasy: Rachel Howzell Hall Discusses Her Genre-Bending New Novel 'The Last One 41:23

12 weeks назад41:23

41:23

Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed Rachel Howzell Hall , author of the fantasy novel The Last One. Best known for writing crime fiction, Hall was approached by a publisher to write a fantasy novel series, which resulted in her new book. In the interview, Hall discussed how writing the fantasy novel required her to build an entire world from scratch, including creating new languages, creatures, religions, and social structures. She said it was very different from writing crime fiction where she could draw from real-world events and laws. Rachel Howzell Hall is the critically acclaimed author and Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist for And Now She’s Gone. A New York Times bestselling author of The Good Sister with James Patterson, Rachel is an Anthony, International Thriller Writers and Left Award nominee and the author of They All Fall Down, Land of Shadows, Skies of Ash, Trail of Echoes and City of Saviors in the Detective Elouise Norton series. Follow her on Instagram at @rhowzelllall and Twitter/X at @RachelHowzell , Diverse Voices Book Review Social Media : Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreview Instagram - @diverse_voices_book_review Twitter - @diversebookshay Email: hbh@diversevoicesbookreview.com…

Hopeton Hay Podcasts

1
Episode 307: Fabienne Josaphat's Historical Novel Explores Black Panthers 41:41

13 weeks назад41:41

41:41

Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed Fabienne Josaphat, author of Kingdom of No Tomorrow. Kingdom of No Tomorrow is a historical novel that delves into a the Black Panther Party from 1968 to 1969 through the perspective of protagonist Nettie Boileau. She volunteers at the Black Panthers' Free Health Clinics in Oakland and develops a romantic relationship with Melvin Mosley, a defense captain in the Black Panther Party. Their move to Chicago to assist in founding the Illinois chapter exposes them to J. Edgar Hoover's secret operations against civil rights activists. In the interview, a discusses her journey in writing her second novel, her trepidation in tackling such a sensitive subject, and the importance of accuracy and dignity in portraying the Black Panthers. The novel blends historical events with fictional characters, emphasizing the Black Panthers' community programs and the internal conflicts within the movement. Fabienne Josaphat was born and raised in Haiti, and graduated with an MFA in Creative Writing from Florida International University. Her first novel, Dancing in the Baron’s Shadow, published with Unnamed Press, Edwidge Danticat said, “Filled with life, suspense, and humor, this powerful first novel is an irresistible read about the nature of good and evil, terror and injustice, and ultimately triumph and love.” In addition to fiction, Josaphat writes non-fiction and poetry, as well as screenplays. Her work has been featured in The African American Review , The Washington Post , Teen Vogue , The Master’s Review , Grist Journal , Damselfly, Hinchas de Poesia, Off the Coast Journal and The Caribbean Writer . Her poems have been anthologized in Eight Miami Poets , a Jai-Alai Books publication. Fabienne Josaphat lives in South Florida. Diverse Voices Book Review Social Media : Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreview Instagram - @diverse_voices_book_review Twitter - @diversebookshay Email: hbh@diversevoicesbookreview.com…

Hopeton Hay Podcasts

1
Episode 306: Leonard Pitts Jr. Explores Selma to Montgomery Civil Rights March in Novel 54 MILES 33:32

14 weeks назад33:32

33:32

Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed Leonard Pitts Jr., author of the novel 54 MILES. Continuing with characters from his earlier work, THE LAST THING YOU SURRENDDER, set during World War II, "54 Miles" is a historical novel that unfolds during the crucial weeks of the Selma to Montgomery March in 1965 in alabama. The story revolves around characters grappling with past trauma. Pitts delves into the challenges of weaving these characters' stories into the larger tapestry of the Civil Rights Movement. He also explores the intricacies of interracial relationships during the era of Jim Crow laws and the complex emotional dynamics within the families of the characters. The author of five novels, Leonard Pitts, Jr. was a journalist for more than forty years, including a long tenure as a nationally syndicated columnist for the Miami Herald. He is the winner of the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for commentary, in addition to many other awards. Diverse Voices Book Review Social Media : Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreview Instagram - @diverse_voices_book_review Twitter - @diversebookshay Email: hbh@diversevoicesbookreview.com…

Hopeton Hay Podcasts

1
Episode 305: Wanda Morris Novel Centers on Conspiracy Back to Reconstruction 27:53

16 weeks назад27:53

27:53

Diverse Voices Book Review contributor Amanda Moore interviewed, Wanda Morris, the author of WHAT YOU LEAVE BEHIND. In her novel, a woman returns to her hometown to restart her career and her life, only to stumble upon a group of individuals whose ruthless ambitions threaten the lives of people in her community. Wanda Morris is the award-winning author of Anywhere You Run and All Her Little Secrets. You can find out more about Wanda at wandamorriswrites.com . Diverse Voices Book Review Social Media : Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreview Instagram - @diverse_voices_book_review Twitter - @diversebookshay Email: hbh@diversevoicesbookreview.com…

Hopeton Hay Podcasts

1
Episode 304: The Border Between Us: A Conversation with Rudy Ruiz on Family, Identity, and Storytelling 47:22

17 weeks назад47:22

47:22

Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed Rudy Ruiz , author of the novel THE BORDER BETWEEN US . Set in Brownsville, Texas, the novel follows Ramon Lopez's life from fifth grade to college, exploring themes of family dynamics, immigration, and coming of age. Ruiz draws heavily from his own experiences, fictionalizing real events and characters, such as his grandmother and a chili-selling story from his childhood. He emphasizes the importance of mentors and the universal themes of parent-child relationships and generational gaps. Rudy Ruiz is the author of The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez and Valley of Shadows . He is a winner of the Jesse H. Jones Award for Best Book of Fiction, the Gulf Coast Prize in Fiction, and multiple International Latino Book Awards. Diverse Voices Book Review Social Media : Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreview Instagram - @diverse_voices_book_review Twitter - @diversebookshay Email: hbh@diversevoicesbookreview.com…

Hopeton Hay Podcasts

1
Episode 303: Ruben Reyes Jr. Debut Short Stories Collection Leans into Speculative Fiction 29:02

20 weeks назад29:02

29:02

Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed Ruben Reyes, Jr. , author of the short stories collection THERE IS A RIO GRANDE IN HEAVEN . THERE IS A RIO GRANDE IN HEAVEN, Reyes's first book, blends speculative fiction with themes of Salvadoran immigration. Reyes describes his book as speculative fiction about Salvadoran immigrants, ranging from domestic family dramas with weird elements to stories set on Mars. In the interview he shares how he was influenced by writers like Michael Crichton and Ray Bradbury, and that he aims to entertain while addressing issues like exploitation and privilege. Ruben Reyes, Jr. is a graduate of Harvard College where he studied History and Literature and Latinx Studies. His writing has appeared in Audible Originals, The Boston Globe , The Washington Post , The Florida Review Online , Business Insider , The Acentos Review , Strange Horizons , Poynter , and other publications. Diverse Voices Book Review Social Media : Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreview Instagram - @diverse_voices_book_review Twitter - @diversebookshay Email: hbh@diversevoicesbookreview.com…

Hopeton Hay Podcasts

1
Episode 302: Krimstein Graphic Narrative Explores Einstein and Kafka Formative Months in Prague 29:34

22 weeks назад29:34

29:34

Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed Ken Krimstein , the author of the graphic narrative EINSTEIN IN KAFKALAND: How Albert Fell Down the Rabbit Hole and Came Up with the Universe . During the year that Prague was home to both Albert Einstein and Franz Kafka from 1911-1912, the trajectory of the two men's lives wove together in uncanny ways-as did their shared desire to tackle the world's biggest questions in Europe's strangest city. In stunning words and pictures, Einstein in Kafkaland reveals the untold story of how their worlds wove together in a cosmic battle for new kinds of truth. Ken Krimstein is a cartoonist, author, and educator whose work appears in The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Chicago Tribune. Diverse Voices Book Review Social Media : Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreview Instagram - @diverse_voices_book_review Twitter - @diversebookshay Email: hbh@diversevoicesbookreview.com…

Hopeton Hay Podcasts

1
Episode 301: Megan Kimble Examines The Impact of Urban Highways in Texas 35:17

23 weeks назад35:17