Writer in Residence by Rhonda McKnight
Alex is struggling to finish her novel. Then she reconnects with Gabe, who is everything she isn't ready for. He challenges her to stop hiding behind her laptop and start living life. Then a shocking family DNA secret threatens everything.
Interview with Deesha Philyaw: Writing Black Women Toward Freedom
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Church was foundational to Philyaw’s childhood. So, too, was the absence from church of the two women raising her. Her mother and grandmother sent her to church but did not attend themselves. Around age eight, Philyaw finally asked her grandmother why. “I’ll go to church when I get myself together,” her grandmother told her. Read our full interview with Deesha ▶ |
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Deesha’s collection of short stories about Black women, sex, and the Black church, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies was a 2020 National Book Award Finalist for Fiction. Her upcoming novel The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman is the most anticipated book of 2026 by PEN America, Lit Hub, BookPage, and Ms. Magazine and a November AALBC book club selection. |
400 Essential Books by Black Writers
Inspired by Sacred Fire: The QBR 100 Essential Black Books, published January 18, 1999, AALBC has compiled four contemporary lists that celebrate the breadth and richness of Black literature: Adult Fiction, Adult Nonfiction, Children & YA Fiction, and Children & YA Nonfiction. Each alphabetically arranged list features 100 essential books, bringing together 400 outstanding works by Black writers for readers of all ages.
Dear Reader,
The African American Literature Book Club (AALBC) is the oldest and largest independent platform dedicated to books by and about people of African descent. Since 1998, we’ve connected millions of readers with Black authors, bestselling books, new releases, literary events, bookstores, and original editorial content—while helping publishers connect with readers who value Black literature.
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Thank you for being part of the AALBC community and for helping to keep Black literature visible, vibrant, and thriving.
Peace and Love, |
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★ AALBC.com Newsletter – September 10, 2026
