Ep. 64: Catherine Adel West (Author of Saving Ruby King) + Book Recommendations

Sarah's Bookshelves Live

Aug 19, 2020•55 min•Ep. 64

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Episode description

Catherine Adel West (author of Saving Ruby King) talks about how she found her agent, the strong women of Saving Ruby King, and how she decided to make the church a narrator.

This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

Highlights

How different her first draft was from the final book.
The story of how she found an agent (via a Twitter contest for marginalized writers!) and Saving Ruby King was bought by a publisher.
The exact tweet she used to pitch Saving Ruby King in the Twitter contest.
Her advice to querying writers.
Saving Ruby King‘s original title and Ruby’s original name.
The message Catherine wanted to share about the strengths and struggles of black women through her story and her characters.
What growing up on the South Side of Chicago was like for Catherine.
How she decided to make the church a narrator.
How her own relationship with her faith and church shaped the book.
Her Dad’s (he’s a pastor and the character of Jackson Potter is based on him) reaction to the book.
The prequel to Saving Ruby King that Catherine is currently working on…and the possibility of this being a 4 book series.
How Catherine got Leesa Cross-Smith to blurb Saving Ruby King.
A bit about the lack of diversity in the publishing industry and the #publishingpaidme hashtag.

Catherine’s Book Recommendations [31:30]

Two OLD Books She Loves

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [31:54]
Kindred by Octavia Butler | Buy from Amazon [35:00]

Two NEW Books She Loves

So We Can Glow by Leesa Cross-Smith | Buy from Amazon [38:05]
The Chiffon Trenches by Andre Leon Talley | Buy from Amazon [41:12]

One Book She DIDN’T LOVE

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson | Buy from Amazon [45:41]

One NEW RELEASE She’s Excited About

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Harris (Release Date: 2021) [47:28]

Last 5 Star Book Catherine Read [48:47]

Choke by Chuck Palahniuk | Buy from Amazon [51:42]

Other Books Mentioned

Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [2:38]
The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [33:27]
Fledgling by Octavia Butler | Buy from Amazon [37:05]
Whiskey & Ribbons by Leesa Cross-Smith | Buy from Amazon [39:10]
This Close to Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith (out February 2, 2021) | Buy from Amazon [39:51]
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk | Buy from Amazon [52:14]
Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk | Buy from Amazon [53:01]