Hi everyone! It’s Thursday, and you know what that means - another Books and the City author interview! We are SO excited to be chatting with Catherine Adel West, author of the incredible SAVING RUBY KING. Kayla and Emily got to sit down (virtually) with this debut novelist and discuss her unforgettable, timely novel, which tells the story of Ruby King and the strong bonds of friendship that persevere after Ruby’s mother is murdered in their home on Chicago’s South Side. Before they launch into all things Saving Ruby King, the three have the ever-important pizza conversation: Chicago’s deep dish vs. New York’s thin crust (A.K.A. “cheese with cardboard on it”). But stay tuned as Catherine talks about the importance of writing about the Chicago South Side that she knows and loves, as opposed to the version of the neighborhood that gets portrayed on the news. Plus, you’ll want to hear what she has to say about the importance of Black female friendship in the novel, and about Catherine’s experience entering the mostly-white world of publishing as a Black woman. There’s more where that comes from in this rich interview, and we promise you’re not going to want to miss it. Read on for buy links, and please feel free to drop us a line about this interview, Catherine’s writing, or anything else you'd like to tell us at [email protected]. ------------------------>

Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9780778305095_saving-ruby-king.html

Catherine just read: Fledgling by Octavia Butler

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/213844/fledgling-by-octavia-e-butler/

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagahira

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/239717/a-little-life-by-hanya-yanagihara/

Up next for Catherine: The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/7753/the-fire-next-time-by-james-baldwin/

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris (coming from Atria Books in 2021!)

Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos