Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and Tina Athaide on Historical Verse Novels

I was privileged to read Radiant by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson poem by poem, as she wrote it. A few months earlier, I’d been delighted to read Wings to Soar by Tina Athaide.

Those two verse novels spoke to each other, with their musical threads, their self-aware young characters, and the histories unfurling in and around those characters’ families. So I knew I wanted these writers to talk to each other, and to me, about their books.

Here’s that conversation. It’s leisurely, you’ll find, a change of pace from our usual fare. Thanks to Tina and Vaun for indulging me in this effort.