Tuesday, September 17, 2024

TBR: Blood on the Brain by Esinam Bediako

TBR [to be read], a semi-regular, invitation-only interview series with authors of newly released/forthcoming, interesting books.

 


Give us your elevator pitch: what’s your book about in 2-3 sentences?

 

Akosua, a young Ghanaian American woman, struggles to confront the challenges in her life, including a head injury, a breakup, and the reappearance of her absentee father. She deals with her problems the best way she knows how—by rushing headlong into new ones—until the accumulation of unresolved trauma finally catches up to her.

 

Which character did you most enjoy creating? Why? And, which character gave you the most trouble, and why?

 

Akosua and I have demographics in common—Ghanaian heritage, Detroit origins, suburban upbringing, coming of age in New York City. But most of the decisions Akosua makes are the opposite of what I’d do, for better or worse. She’s outspoken and impulsive; I’m shy and make way too many lists. It was fun to create an alter ego.

 

Akosua's mother challenged me (just as she did Akosua). For a while, all I had was her laugh, "a spooked flock of birds, a flutter of wings escaping to the sky." I had a sense of who she was, but it was hard to translate that onto the page.

 

Tell us a bit about the highs and lows of your book’s road to publication.

 

The novel had been my MFA thesis, and after graduation, I got some encouraging responses from agents but didn't land one. Imposter syndrome plus anxiety about getting a "real" job and paying back my student loans led me away from writing. I gained a truly rewarding career as a teacher and educational writer, but I lost my confidence as a writer.

 

But then (~15 years post-MFA) the pandemic happened. Of course it was terrible and scary and felt like the end of the world; at the same time, during that period, I found my way back to writing. My husband convinced me to revise Blood on the Brain and submit it to Red Hen's Ann Petry Prize, and shockingly, I won the prize, which included publication.

 

What’s your favorite piece of writing advice?

 

To help me combat my anxiety about whether my writing was “good enough” for publication, my therapist said, “Remember the little girl inside you who just loves a good story? Write for her.'"

 

My favorite writing advice is “write until something surprises you.” What surprised you in the writing of this book?

 

This is a story about identity, but initially, I also saw it as a story about a broken father/daughter relationship. As I wrote, I realized that it’s less about Akosua’s father and more about her dynamic with her mother. The final pages surprised me, too—but once I realized what the story is and isn’t about, the end made perfect sense.

 

How do you approach revision?


Teaching high school English helped me appreciate revision as an opportunity to re-see my work through fresh eyes. When students came for one-on-one help, I’d guide them to really dismantle their drafts and put them back together. Then I realized, “Ahh, I don’t take my own advice!” The new novel I'm working on has undergone radical transformations, which is a good thing.

 

Inquiring foodies and hungry book clubs want to know: Any food/s associated with your book? (Any recipes I might share?)

Wisdom’s Fried Tilapia

 

*****

 

READ MORE ABOUT THIS AUTHOR:  www.esinambediako.com

 

ORDER THIS BOOK FOR YOUR OWN TBR STACK: Bookshop

 

Work-in-Progress

DC-area author Leslie Pietrzyk explores the creative process and all things literary.