Back in 2012, Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay conducted a short interview with Bernice L. McFadden on KAZI Book Review (the name of this show before it changed in 2021) shortly after Akashic Books published her novel GATHERING OF WATERS. It is a tale narrated by the town of Money, Mississippi—the site of the brutal murder of Emmett Till in 1955. This haunting story, according to Akashic Books, "mines the truth about Money, Mississippi, as well as the town’s families and threads their history over decades. The bare-bones realism—both disturbing and riveting—combined with a magical realm in which ghosts have the final say, is reminiscent of Toni Morrison’s BELOVED." I hope you enjoy it.

Follow Diverse Voices Book Review on Social Media:

Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreview

Instagram - @diverse_voices_book_review

Bluesky - @diversevoicesbooks.bsky.social

Diverse Voices Book Review contributor Amran Gowani interviewed Amin Ahmad, author of the propulsive psychological thriller, A KILLER IN THE FAMILY. They discussed Amin’s inspirations for writing the novel—including THE GREAT GATSBY, THE GODFATHER trilogy, and HBO’s SUCCESSION—how unfettered capitalism has made America and India alike in unexpected ways, and how the pursuit of wealth and power encourages people to corrupt everything and everyone in their path. Follow Amin on Instagram at @aminahmadbooks and learn more at www.aminahmadbooks.com.

Amin was raised in India and came to America at the age of 17. He spent many years working as an architect before pivoting to creative writing. Amin has previously published two thrillers under the penname A.X. Ahmad, and his short story collection won the 2020 GS Chandra Prize. He currently teaches creative writing at Duke University and lives in Durham, NC with his family and a very mischievous cat.
Amin Ahmad's Website
Official Publisher Page for A KILLER IN THE FAMILY

Follow Diverse Voices Book Review on Social Media:

Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreview

Instagram - @diverse_voices_book_review

Bluesky - @diversevoicesbooks.bsky.social

This is a rebroadcast of a conversation first aired live on KAZI 88.7 FM in April 2016, featuring Bernice L. McFadden, author of the 2016 award-winning novel, THE BOOK OF HARLAN. The interview—conducted by Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay with the assistance of contributor Evelyn Martin‑Anderson—was later shared on the podcast in July 2019. DVBR is revisiting the discussion now to celebrate Akashic Books’ release of a special 10th anniversary edition of the novel, which remains one of my personal favorites. In this wide‑ranging discussion, McFadden talks about the lyrical language that shapes her work, her deep engagement with family history, and the hidden histories she uncovers through fiction. She reflects on The Book of Harlan as a sweeping saga that moves from the American South to Harlem, Paris, and World War II–era Europe, exploring friendship, legacy, and the power of storytelling to “breathe life back into memory.”

Bernice McFadden is the author of several novels, including Glorious and Gathering of Waters. A MacArthur Fellow, her work is widely praised for its historical depth, poetic prose, and exploration of African American life across generations.

Follow Diverse Voices Book Review on Social Media:

Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreview

Instagram - @diverse_voices_book_review

Bluesky - @diversevoicesbooks.bsky.social