Debut Author Tracey Rose Peyton
"Slowly, I’ve been pushing against that old image in my mind, trying out new things and removing what no longer fits."
From Publisher’s Weekly:
In 2014, Tracey Rose Peyton stumbled upon a book by Paula Giddings: When and Where I Enter: The Impact of Black Women on Race and Sex in America, which included a tract from 1860 about enslaved women resisting pregnancy. “I was interested,” she tells me. “And it stuck in my mind. I started thinking about the issues of long-term birth control being given to women of color, incarcerated women giving birth in handcuffs, and I wondered, How did we get here?”
Peyton’s debut novel, Night Wherever We Go, is about six enslaved women on a Texas plantation in the 19th century, who meet at night in the woods to conspire to keep themselves from falling pregnant. A powerful debut about a group of enslaved women rebelling against the plantation owners, Night Wherever We Go is a story of ultimate defiance. Presenting the stories of each individual woman while painting a portrait of their collective stand against injustice, this story is a brilliant entry into the fiction landscape.”
Tracey shares her new obsession with lux candles and how the legacy of Black cinema reminds us that “we’ve always been there, figuring out ways to tell our own stories…”
Last book you read...
Roger Reeves’ brilliant new collection of poems, Best Barbarian. I’ll likely be reading and rereading this for the next six months. The beauty, depth, and rigor of his work is incredible.
Last thing you learned about yourself...
I learned that I’m more capable than I give myself credit for. Sometimes, it’s hard not to get stuck in an old idea of yourself—as if particular habits or weaknesses are an integral and fixed part of who you are. Slowly, I’ve been pushing against that old image in my mind, trying out new things and removing what no longer fits. As a result, I now have a more expansive view of who I am and who I might become.
Last moment of self-care...
An amazing facial by a Black esthetician. Not only did she clear up the congestion in my skin, but she also gave me a lovely massage that helped my shoulders recede from my ears for the first time in months.
Last thing that left you inspired...
The "Regeneration: Black Cinema 1898-1971" exhibition at Los Angeles’s Academy Museum. It traces the history of “black participation in American cinema,” and its inclusion of lesser-known performers, filmmakers, and production companies was so inspiring to see, if only just to remember that even in a medium as young and cost-prohibitive as cinema, we’ve always been there, figuring out ways to tell our own stories.
Last big splurge...
Lux candles. I’ll admit I never understood the expensive candle thing, so I’d typically buy mine from Marshall’s or TJ Maxx. That is, until I splurged on a pair of Dipytque candles. Not only are the scents lovely, but they fill a room and linger for hours after burning. Over the holidays, I added a delightful Harlem Renaissance-themed set from the Harlem Candle Company and already have my eye on one more. Oh man, I think I just found a new vice.
Last song you danced to…
Ack, this is going to date me, but I’ll say, “Why Don’t You Love Me,” by the 90s R&B group, Intro. Legendary producer Salaam Remi recently posted the song as a tribute to the group’s late lead singer, Kenny Greene, and the infectious beat of it, along with its harmonies and earnest lyrics, had me dancing in my kitchen
Last delicious meal...
I love making soup in the winter and this white bean stew with Swiss chard has been one of my favorite discoveries. It’s quick, adaptable, vegetarian, and lasts for several days. One word of advice: do not skip the add-ons (if digestibly tolerable). The fresh grated cheese and bread are what takes this recipe from basic to fantastic!
I love this Q&A format