Despite her Philly sounding surname, award winning author Deesha Philyaw is not a Philadelphian — yet.
The Secret Life of Church Ladies (West Virginia University Press) won the 2021 PEN/Faulkner Award for fiction and was a finalist in 2020 for the National Book Award for Fiction, is planning to move to the City of Brotherly Love next spring.
The Claw when she moves to town. And she’s on the BlackStar Film Festival’s host committee for its forthcoming gala.
Mother Bethel AME.
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a]:text-blue-mid [&>a]:no-underline [&>a]:hover:shadow-lightmode px-5 sm:px-4 font-medium”>That was as apparent in The Secret Life of Church Ladies as it is in her latest novel The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman (HarperCollins, Mariner Books). True Confessions centers on the extravagant life of Atlanta first lady Scharisse Freeman as she tries to fit in with other first ladies in the mega church world. Just as she’s starting to fit in with the catty group, a sex scandal erupts. Scharrise is treated like a pariah and readers are left wondering how such cruelty can be perpetuated in His name.
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2022-2023 John and Renée Grisham Writer-in-Residence at the University of Mississippi before settling in Miami. She’ll be in town on Monday for a talk at Barnes & Nobles and in between book signing and book pedaling, she’ll be taking in the scene of her next homebase.
Akwaaba, the West Philly bed-and-breakfast owned by Monique Greenwood. It’s so beautiful. I’d enjoy a lazy morning that would include having a breakfast of oatmeal without fruit. (Something about fruit and oatmeal irks me.) I’d also have some herbal tea and honey. I’m not a coffee girl.
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the Barnes. I really enjoy the art. They always have such great curated exhibitions like [Maori Karmael Holmes and James Claiborne’s] “Freedom Dreams.” On a perfect Philly day, that exhibit would still be open.
BlackStar film offices in the Bok Building, and definitely catch a movie if the festival was going on.
Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books for a cup of tea and add to my TBR reading list, that is a mile long. On my list right now is Queenie is Working On It by Candice Carty-Williams and They All Fall in Love at The End by Halili Blassingame.
Sally in Rittenhouse Square is one of the few places where I can eat outdoors year round. My friend Tre Johnson took me there a few years ago when I was in town for the AWP Conference (the Association of Writers and Writing Programs). It was in March and they had heated seats. I’d start with the Japanese eggplant, move on to the fennel sausage pizza and I’d have to get that sangarita
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a]:text-blue-mid [&>a]:no-underline [&>a]:hover:shadow-lightmode px-5 sm:px-4 font-medium”>This interview was edited for length and clarity.
Poured Over podcast hosted by Miwa Messer. The event starts at 6 p.m. Barnes & Nobles Philadelphia, 1708 Chestnut Street, at 6 p.m. Tickets include the cost of the book are $34.56. Ticket information here.
I cover the local arts scene and how it speaks to issues of race, gender, fashion, culture, and wellness. I critique pop culture, especially fashion, television, movies, and books.
