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In the <\/b>latest episode<\/b><\/a> of JARO\u2019s Podcast, Tomeka M. Winborne had the pleasure of speaking with debut novelist and 2019\u00a0<\/b>Kirkus Prize Finalist<\/b><\/a> Alicia D. Williams about her acclaimed book <\/b>Genesis Begins Again<\/i><\/b>. The hour-long conversation details Williams\u2019 early writing process and the novel\u2019s plot. Williams takes listeners through a poignant yet hopeful adolescent journey impacted by colorism and abuse, and also shares her key advice for aspiring novelists.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Here is the book\u2019s official synopsis, courtesy of Williams:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n \u201c<\/b>Genesis Begins Again<\/i><\/b> is<\/b> a deeply sensitive and powerful novel that tells the story of a thirteen-year-old who must overcome internalized racism and a verbally abusive family to finally learn how to love herself.<\/b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n There are ninety-six things Genesis hates about herself. She knows the exact number because she keeps a list. Like #95: Because her skin is so dark, people call her charcoal and eggplant\u2014even her own family. And #61: Because her family is always being put out of their house, belongings laid out on the sidewalk for the world to see.<\/b><\/p>\n When your dad is a gambling addict and loses the rent money every month, eviction is a regular occurrence. What\u2019s not so regular is that this time they all don\u2019t have a place to crash, so Genesis and her mom have to stay with her grandma. It\u2019s not that Genesis doesn\u2019t like her grandma, but she and Mom always fight\u2014Grandma haranguing Mom to leave Dad, that she should have gone back to school, that if she\u2019d married a lighter skinned man none of this would be happening, and on and on and on.<\/b><\/p>\n But things aren\u2019t all bad. Genesis actually likes her new school; she\u2019s made a couple friends, her choir teacher says she has real talent, and she even encourages Genesis to join the talent show. But how can Genesis believe anything her teacher says when her dad tells her the exact opposite? How can she stand up in front of all those people with her dark, dark skin knowing even her own family thinks lesser of her because of it? Why, why, why won\u2019t the lemon or yogurt or fancy creams lighten her skin like they\u2019re supposed to? And when Genesis reaches #100 on the list of things she hates about herself, will she continue on, or can she find the strength to begin again?\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n In closing, Williams offered a few words of encouragement for striving authors. While she understands this isn\u2019t a viable option for everyone, Williams emphasized the role that graduate school had on allowing her to turn her goal of writing a book into reality. School helped her to become motivated, learn the craft of writing, brought forth a sense of community, and put her in contact with others who were already achieving the same dream she had. \u201cIf you want to do it, invest in your career,\u201d said Williams.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n