Written by Teralyn Mitchell
Perfect for fans of Nina LaCour and Nicola Yoon comes a novel about first love and family secrets from Stonewall Book Award winner Brandy Colbert.
The Revolution of Birdie Randolph was a perfect summer read about a girl coming to terms with what she wants in life and finding her strength to voice it to her family. Brandy Colbert was kind enough to answer some questions from our writer, Teralyn, discussing her new novel, writing, and more.
Hi Brandy! Can you tell our readers a little about you?
I’m an author of books for kids and teens, I copyedit for magazine and book publishers, and I teach in a low-residency MFA creative writing program at Hamline University. I grew up in the Missouri Ozarks, but have spent most of my adult years in Los Angeles, which I love dearly.
The Revolution of Birdie Randolph has such an intriguing premise! Can you tell us a little about the book?
It’s a coming-of-age story about a sixteen-year-old girl named Birdie whose summer—and life—is thrown off track when she meets a sweet but troubled boy named Booker, and her aunt returns to Chicago after years away, having been in and out of rehab.
If you had to describe The Revolution of Birdie Randolph in five words, which words would you choose?
Family, secrets, love, friendship, growth
Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
The book has a couple of secrets, but I think readers will just have to pick up the book to find out what they are!
What was the inspiration for the story?
I was interested in writing about addiction and how it affects families, particularly a close-knit black family.
What do you hope your readers take away from this book?
I never want to tell my readers how to process my work, but I hope they will think about personal responsibility, societal pressures, and what it means to forgive someone.
Out of all the characters you’ve created, who resembles you the most? Who is the most unlike you?
I don’t particularly relate to any of my characters, but I think there are little bits of me sprinkled in each of them, while they’re also wildly different from me in so many ways.
What inspires you to write?
Everything! I’m inspired by subjects I don’t know much about, things that I’ve been thinking about for years, history, people, places, film and television, podcasts—inspiration is everywhere, and usually not where I’d expect to find it.
In your opinion, what is the most amazing thing about being a writer?
Being able to express my thoughts and experiences in a way that’s meaningful to myself and others.
Do you set a plot or prefer going wherever an idea takes you?
I usually go where an idea takes me. Sometimes I start with a vague idea of a plot, but I generally begin with a character’s voice and follow it to the story.
Writing can be an emotionally draining and stressful pursuit. Any tips for aspiring writers?
Take breaks when you need to, and make time for family, friends, and your other interests so you can recharge.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
You’re on the right path. Keep writing the stories you love. And, yes, people will read your stories about black girls just living their lives.
Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with us?
I have two books coming out next year that I’m very excited about! My debut middle grade novel, The Only Black Girls in Town, will be out in March 2020, and my next YA novel, The Voting Booth, will be out sometime in spring 2020.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for us?
Yes! For middle grade and young adult: Color Me In by Natasha Díaz, Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian, For Black Girls Like Me by Mariama J. Lockington, and The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson. On the adult side, I just finished and highly recommend The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead.
