Episode 335 with Toni Ann Johnson, Author of But Where's Home? and Wonderful Builder of Intriguing Family Trees, Memorable Characters, and Subtlety

Notes and Links to Toni Ann Johnson’s Work     Toni Ann Johnson won the 2024 Screen Door Press Prize for Fiction with her linked collection, BUT WHERE’S HOME? (UPK 2026).    In 2021, she won the Flannery O’Connor Award for her linked short story collection LIGHT SKIN GONE TO WASTE (UGA Press 2022). The collection was shortlisted for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, and also shortlisted for the Saroyan Prize.    A novella, HOMEGOING, won Accents Publishing’s inaugural novella contest in 2020 and was released in May of 2021.    Short fiction and essays have been published in The Emerson Review, Hunger Mountain, Fiction Magazine, Callaloo, The Los Angeles Times, and elsewhere.    A novel, Remedy For a Broken Angel, was published in 2014 and received a nomination for a 2015 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work by a Debut Author.    Johnson is a screenwriter with a number of produced projects to her credit including, Ruby Bridges (ABC), Crown Heights (Showtime), The Courage to Love (Lifetime) the TV pilot, Save The Last Dance (Fox Television), and the feature film, Step Up 2: The Streets (Summit Entertainment).      Buy But Where's Home?   “How But Where’s Home? by Toni Ann Johnson Got Made” from Publisher’s Weekly Toni Ann Johnson’s Website At about 1:50, Toni Ann shouts out Crystal Wilkinson and her great work in talking about Toni’s newest release, But Where’s Home? and awards At about 3:25, Toni Ann speaks about working with real-life events as fodder for fiction  At about 7:40, Toni responds to Pete’s questions about her book’s structure, especially her inclusion of a novella At about 11:00, the two discuss the book’s opening story and exposition  At about 13:30, Toni Ann expands on a real-life parallel in the story collection  At about 14:20, The two discuss Livia, the narrator’s sister, and her feelings of marginalization and her efforts as girl to adjust  At about 17:30, Pete and Toni Ann talk about traumas informing one’s own parenting, in relation to a deep quote in the book At about 20:00, Toni reflects on a character in the book as a "generational nemesis” and a contentious neighbor’s links to the family’s generations and changing dynamics   At about 22:00, Toni Ann reflects on ideas of “not seeing color” as a damaging ethic in American history  At about 25:00, Pete and Toni Ann discuss changing ways of talking about race over the decades  At about 26:15, Toni Ann expands on a meaningful family heirloom, a pen, in the collection At about 27:40, The two discuss empathy and sympathy for characters whose actions the readers may not condone At about 29:10, Pete asks Toni Ann about Maddie’s response to her sexual assault, and how her words towards her mother come from her traumas  At about 31:55, Toni responds to Pete’s laying out of a resolution made by Maddie in discussing the actions of the children of narcissistic parents At about 36:25, Pete remarks on the importance and skill of Toni Ann’s ancillary characters and veins of ancestors running through the collection  At about 37:45, The novella’s opening is discussed, with Maddie interested in getting Zeke’s attention  At about 39:25, Pete and Toni Ann talk about Zeke as navigating racism and tropes in a conservative town At about 41:00, Muriel, Phil’s lover, and the events that lead to Velma’s “having her guard down” are discussed, as well as how Velma and Maddie interact  At about 44:45, a turnabout with mother and daughter is explored  At about 46:05, Pete cites important flashbacks and confrontations between Velma and Maddie At about 47:20, Franny, a character who is in multiple of Toni’s works, is discussed as a reminder of home in Monroe, NY At about 49:00, Pete and Velma highlight ideas of innocence and the traumatic experiences of childhood for Velma  At about 50:25, the two discuss Olivia and Maddie’s grievances towards their parents and guilt (or lack thereof) from Maddie At about 53:20, Toni Ann responds to Pete’s questions about self-esteem and the significance of the collection’s title At about 57:10, Toni Ann highlights “moments of levity” in the book    You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow Pete on IG, where he is @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where he is @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both the YouTube Channel and the podcast while you’re checking out this episode.       Pete is very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. His conversation with Jeff Pearlman, a recent guest, is up now at Chicago Review.     Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl      Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting Pete’s one-man show, DIY podcast and extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!    This month’s Patreon bonus episode deals with short, powerful poems and prose that pack a punch-take that, alliteration! The episode features meaningful and resonant work from Robert Hershon, Mosab Abu Toha, Ernest Hemingway, Sara Abou Rashed, Khaled Juma, Andrea Cohen, and Marwan Makhoul.    Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.     This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he’s convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.    The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.     Please tune in for Episode 336 with Rachel Khong, whose debut novel, Goodbye, Vitamin, won the 2017 California Book Award for First Fiction, and was a Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist for First Fiction. In 2018, she founded The Ruby, a work and event space for women and nonbinary writers and artists in San Francisco’s Mission district. Her second novel, Real Americans, was published by Knopf in April 2024, and was an instant New York Times bestseller. Her story collection, My Dear You, is out as of today, April 7.    The episode airs on April 7, Pub Day for My Dear You.    Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.    You can also donate at chuffed.org, World Central Kitchen, and so many more, and/or you can contact writer friend Ursula Villarreal-Moura directly or through Pete, as she has direct links with friends in Gaza.