June 2026

Honoring Juneteenth and the Magic of Black Storytelling

Hey, Reader!

Happy Juneteenth!

I hope that you are celebrating the freedom and culture of African Americans this Friday as well as honoring the power of Black storytelling. As we honor the historical triumph of emancipation, I also want to share with you about how the rich mosaic of African American folk tales and stories from across the diaspora inspired my YA Fantasy Novel A Chord of Silver Moons. These narratives served as vessels of hope, resilience, rebellion and profound imagination when enslavers and oppressors aimed to strip away our humanity, cultures, and connection to home. ACoSM draws from this wellspring of folklore, mixing ancestral legends with modern fantasy and paying homage to the griots of our past. Here are two stories that play big roles in the series. You can find both of these stories in Virginia Hamilton’s anthology, The People Could Fly.

The Beautiful Girl of the Moon Tower

In this folktale, Anton goes on a quest to win the heart of the girl of his dreams (literally). He dreams about a girl who lives on the moon with her father and encounters many challenges on his journey to meet her. Along the way, he receives the ability to change himself into various animals to overcome obstacles that test his resolve and morality. Of course, I put my own spin on this hero’s tale, so if you haven’t already, you’ll have to read the book to find out.

The People Could Fly

In this tale, it is said that African people could fly before they were captured and enslaved. However, they lost their wings and, over time, forgot their special powers. Along comes a man named Toby who remembers the words to make people fly again. He helps a woman named Sarah escape with her baby and then helps others fly away from cruel overseers.

Stories like these remind us that even in the darkest times, imagination and heritage have the power to break chains. I hope this Juneteenth inspires you to explore more stories from the brilliant canon of Black storytelling.

If you want to see how I remixed these stories, you can grab your copy of A Chord of Silver Moons right here!

Order A Chord of Silver Moons

I want to hear from you

As I’m sure you can imagine, a lot more goes into being an author than writing awesome books. As a wordsmith, I’ve taken a sacred vow to engage and delight my readers, and doing that means meeting certain reader expectations. That’s why I’m reaching out to you to share your insight on what makes a delightful book experience. Share your opinions in the brief survey below and receive a special perk when Book 2, A Chorale of Beating Hearts, comes out!

Take the Survey

May Courage be Your Compass