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New Books Network Interview: Monica Chenault-Kilgore

A young Black woman seen from the back, with short hair, wearing pearls and a bright blue evening dress, holding a peacock fan: cover of Monica Chenault-Kilgore's The Jewel of the Blues

It’s hard to believe that almost five years have passed since the COVID-19 pandemic sent the world into lock-down. Those five years have not been easy in many respects, but one welcome development—which might have occurred even under less challenging circumstances—has been the increasing willingness of US publishers to represent, even favor, diverse voices. This willingness benefits readers, too, offering a wider range of stories and perspectives. In my latest New Books Network interview with Monica Chenault-Kilgore, we talk about what life was like for a young Black woman living in the US Midwest and the South in the early twentieth century, and how her experiences determined and frustrated her goals in ways both anticipated and surprising. Read on, then listen to our conversation to find out more.

The rest of this post comes from New Books in Historical Fiction.

Life is tough for people of color in the early twentieth century—and not only in the Southern states, which have put Reconstruction firmly behind them in favor of Jim Crow laws. Even so, Lucille Love, known as the Little Girl with the Big Voice, dreams of making her name on Broadway and eventually moving to Paris, leaving behind the prejudices that restrict Black women in the United States. When Marcus Williams offers to manage Lucille’s singing career, she’s sure that reaching her goal is just a matter of time. Until some old enemies of her father track her down …

This richly developed story intertwines a love of music and musicians, an exploration of color prejudice, and a tense drama of criminals with long memories and no scruples. At its heart stands Lucille—a passionate, determined young woman who doesn’t always make the best choices but whose heart is in the right place. I found it an engrossing read, and I bet you will too.

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