Trying to Get Free (with Bsrat Mezghebe)

In this episode, we interview author Bsrat Mezghebe about her debut novel, I Hope You Find What You’re Looking For. Bsrat describes her approach to connecting the 10,000-foot view of society with everyday human life and explains the novel as a story about Eritrean women seeking freedom in the DC suburbs on the eve of Eritrean independence in 1991. We discuss the Eritrean War for Independence, diaspora, and the moral complexity of revolutionary choices. Bsrat reflects on writing about liberation across shifting American politics.00:00 Welcome to the Podcast00:35 Meet Bsrat Mezghebe02:07 Debut Novel Overview03:05 Characters and Structure04:25 What Readers Take Away05:37 Writing Liberation in America12:06 Staying Grounded13:50 What She Reads Now14:50 Next Projects and Nonfiction15:52 Fiction Versus Nonfiction17:21 Advice for Community Impact19:08 Social Media and Focus20:31 Where to Find Bsrat21:09 Closing and Call to ActionBsrat’s BookI Hope You Find What You’re Looking ForOther Books MentionedToni at Random: The Iconic Writer’s Legendary Editorship by Dana A. WilliamsThe Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel WilkersonWhere to find Bsratbmezghebe.comInstagramThank you for being part of the Liberation is Lit podcast! If you have stories to share, want to suggest topics, or just want to connect, find us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @liberationislit or visit our website at liberationislit.com. If you enjoyed the episode, please consider leaving a review! Remember, your voice matters, and together, through the lens of stories, we're making a difference in the world.