We chat with author Ebony LaDelle about This Could Be Forever, which is a compelling and complex romance about love across cultures follows a Black girl and Brown boy who find themselves—and each other—while pursuing their passions the summer before college.
Hi, Ebony! Welcome back! How has the past two years been since we last spoke?
A wild ride, but the most beautiful part about it is I’ve been able to connect with readers over Love Radio in a way that’s been magical. The support has been incredible and I feel so lucky.
Your latest novel, This Could Be Forever, is out May 20th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Fighting for love and respect.
What can readers expect?
THIS COULD BE FOREVER is a story of a Black American girl and first generation brown boy who fall for one another the summer before college and the cultural clashes and family pressures that come with dating interracially and interculturally. But most importantly, it’s a book about fighting for love and your right to be respectful, yet be respected and have a say to choose what’s best for your life.
Where did the inspiration for This Could Be Forever come from?
The inspiration behind the story stemmed from my own young love, and the love of so many friends I knew who were women of color navigating the complexities of dating interracially and interculturally. When you’re dealing with two cultures with strong traditions, how do you stay true to the things that make you you, while still trying to understand and respect other viewpoints?
And as a woman, how do you push back against some patriarchal norms engrained in so many cultures? I felt if me and homegirls had something like this as teenagers, it would have helped us navigate these complex issues. For a teen going through this, I want them to have a book that can help them find their own footing and voice, however that may look for them.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I enjoyed writing the story of Deja’s grandmother, Queen. She was inspired by my grandmother and great grandmother, and like Deja I also lost my grandmother in college felt such a profound loss losing someone I anticipated would be around longer. She was also the matriarch of our family, and I took for granted once I graduated I would be able to pick her brain about gardening, and all the lessons she taught me when I was younger. But I think what I loved most about writing her character was showing the strength and resilience of Black women in the South in that time, and showing how progressive Black women were even then, they were just held back by society’s standards of their role and place.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
Yes, the biggest being playing with language and bringing in a culture different than my own. It was a major factor in writing this book slower than writing Love Radio, the obsession to do this book justice, while being honest. I was able to tap into sensitivity readers for this and very grateful I did.
This is your second novel! What are some of the key lessons you’ve learned between writing the two?
So many! But the biggest lesson I learned was giving myself grace. While Love Radio was what I call my joy book, writing this book during a different and difficult phase of my life was challenging, but it also showed me the power of taking my time with my art. I actually started writing this the top of 2022, before Love Radio even published, but seeing how the book took shape during moments when I had to step away showed me how important it is to trust yourself and the process.
What’s next for you?
I have a third book coming out this fall I edited called You’ve Got a Place Here, Too, which is a collection of love stories set at HBCUs and has an amazing line up of writers! And brainstorming future projects of course.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?
I’m looking forward to Pretty Girl County by Lakita Wilson, The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley, August Lane by Regina Black and Zeal by Morgan Jerkins
