The complete answer to this question could fill a whole book! Luckily, I am writing such a book right now. In the meantime, here is a shorter answer to get you started: The Black Panther Party was a nationwide organization that existed in black communities in the United States from 1966 until about 1982. The… Read more »
Why would you write a novel about a real historical person?
We know today that Malcolm X grew up to be a famous and influential speaker and leader. But when he was a teenager, he had no idea of the amazing future that was in store for him. He felt worthless and fearful, and he made a lot of bad choice because of those feelings. This… Read more »
What was it like writing a book with Malcolm X’s daughter?
It was great! I was honored that Ilyasah chose me to collaborate with her on a book about her father. She had a vision for the story she wanted to tell, and she wanted to work with someone who had written lots of novels before. That’s me! We met in person to talk about her… Read more »
Why did you write the book from multiple viewpoints?
Part of what is intriguing and challenging about the news coverage that follows a controversial shooting is the uncertainty. Everyone—including members of the media—takes the limited fact act are available and creates a narrative about the incident that makes sense to him or her. The controversy deepens when those narratives conflict—when people have different opinions… Read more »
Is this novel based on a true story?
No. All of the characters and incidents that appear in How It Went Down are fictional. However, the fictional shooting of Tariq Johnson that occurs in my novel is similar to real incidents of violence that have occurred around the country in recent years. If you follow the real-world news, you may very well recognize… Read more »
Will you read some of my writing?
That depends on whether you are an adult or a teenager. I do provide manuscript critiques for adult writers, for a fee that is based on the length and type of work you would like me to read. Please email me with a description of your project, and we’ll go from there. If you are a… Read more »
Will you visit my school?
I love visiting schools and meeting my readers. Please stop by my Speaking page. There, I list the various programs I offer to schools and libraries, and you can see how to contact me with a more detailed request. I hope to see you soon!
Where do you get your inspiration?
How much time do you have? The short answer: Everything inspires me. The real answer: This is a hard question to answer directly. I don’t always know what my inspiration is for writing a certain book or creating a certain character—that’s what makes inspiration different from facts or ideas. Sometimes inspiration just comes out of… Read more »
How did you get your name?
“Kekla” is a Bassa word meaning “sunrise” or “morning star.” Bassa is a language spoken in rural Cameroon, West Africa, where Kekla’s dad was born and raised. Kekla is the only “Kekla” she knows. Well, the only human “Kekla.” There is a gorilla in the Atlanta Zoo named after her (literally).