The Colors of Home: Edwina Perkins on Grief, Race, Faith & Rebuilding Family

What happens when the place you’re supposed to call home becomes the place that challenges everything you believe about belonging? On this episode of The CJ Moneyway Show, CJ sits down with award-winning author, speaker, and editor Edwina Perkins, whose novel The Colors of Home explores grief, race, faith, and the courage required to rebuild a family after loss. After the death of her husband from leukemia, the novel’s protagonist Ebony McMullen returns with her three children to a small town filled with tension, history, and unspoken truths. As the family navigates prejudice, personal loss, and community challenges, they must decide whether home is something you inherit — or something you fight to create. The story touches on powerful themes including: • Grief and rebuilding after loss • Race and identity in small communities • Faith, resilience, and family unity • Belonging and redemption Beyond her work as a novelist, Perkins serves as Co-Director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, where she mentors and advocates for diverse voices in Christian storytelling. In this conversation, CJ and Edwina explore how honest storytelling can bridge divides and create meaningful dialogue around faith, culture, and belonging. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE • The inspiration behind The Colors of Home • Why stories about grief and redemption resonate with readers • How faith and storytelling intersect in Christian fiction • The importance of diverse voices in publishing • How writers approach difficult social themes through narrative EPISODE CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction to Edwina Perkins 02:30 – The Story Behind The Colors of Home 07:40 – Writing About Grief and Family Healing 13:10 – Race, Identity, and Small-Town Dynamics 19:30 – Destiny’s Character and Representation 25:00 – Faith and Redemption Themes in Christian Fiction 30:40 – Mentoring Writers Through Blue Ridge Conference 36:00 – Why Honest Storytelling Matters 41:00 – Final Thoughts on Belonging and Home GUEST RESOURCES Edwina Perkins — Official Website https://edwinaperkins.com Amazon — The Colors of Home https://www.amazon.com/Colors-Home-Contemporary-Novel-ebook/dp/ Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference https://blueridgeconference.com Word Weavers International https://wordweaversinternational.com Evangelical Christian Publishing Association https://ecpa.org LISTEN TO THE CJ MONEYWAY SHOW Website https://cjmoneyway.com Listen Everywhere https://pod.link/1707761906 Book CJ https://calendly.com/cj-cjmoneywayshow/60min FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to: Subscribe to the show https://pod.link/1707761906 Leave a rating or review https://ratethispodcast.com/cjmoneyway Share this episode with someone who would benefit from the conversation. CJ MONEYWAY LISTENER BENEFIT CJ Moneyway listeners can receive $40+ savings using this exclusive link: https://readyrx.com/treatments/se?coupon=cjmoney Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.