ANNIE ASKS

ANNIE ASKS

Annie McDonnell introduces Piper Huguley

Annie McDonnell asks Piper Huguley, author of Historical African American characters.

Every month I choose to interview someone in our industry that I believe was born to shine. My interview is very specific. I have a love affair with The Proust Questionnaire, so I use it when interviewing.

It began as a parlor game created by Marcel Proust, the French essayist and novelist, who believed that, in answering these questions, an individual reveals his or her true nature. The interesting part of it is not only do you get to know the author, but this is a tool that authors can use to breathe life into their characters. It is a lot of fun for assorted reasons. So, when you watch the podcast, you will learn much more about Piper!

I first met Piper during the pandemic. We enjoyed interviews and such together for her initial African American history books, and they were fabulous. I was immediately pulled into her stories. Named in 2015 as a top ten historical romance novelist in Publisher's Weekly, Piper Huguley is the author of the Reconstruction era "Home to Milford College" series. She is a 2013 & 2014 Golden Heart finalist for two novels in the "Migrations of the Heart" series about the Bledsoe sisters and set in the early twentieth century.

Then Piper wrote “Sweet Tea” for Hallmark Publishing which is a marvelous story. There is not one book that Piper has written that I have not truly enjoyed.

My favorite so far is “By Her Own Design” which is “The incredible untold story of how Ann Lowe, a Black woman and granddaughter of slaves, rose above personal struggles and racial prejudice to design and create one of America's most famous wedding dresses of all time for Jackie Kennedy.” I was so smitten. This novel was chosen as a Booklist top 100 Editor’s Choice selection. It was also named one of the top 2022 in Canada.

Piper is always teaching us about African American history that I was never aware of, but learning about Ann Lowe really blew me away! Not only is the story interesting and exceptionally intriguing, but it is also hard to believe that I was not aware of her name at all! I follow Jackie Kennedy closely. I did more research when I was done reading, which is exactly what I love when I read a book. Books that leave me wanting more are my favorites.

Piper’s most recent book “American Daughters” was just released on April 2nd, 2024, and is getting a lot of accolades. You'll find there isn't a shortage of articles written about it. It is definitely making waves.

The synopsis is “In the vein of America’s First Daughter, Piper Huguley’s historical novel delves into the remarkable friendship of Portia Washington and Alice Roosevelt, the daughters of educator Booker T. Washington and President Teddy Roosevelt. At the turn of the twentieth century, in a time of great change, two women—separated by societal status and culture but bound by their expected roles as the daughters of famed statesmen—forged a lifelong friendship. Portia Washington’s father Booker T. Washington was a former slave who spent his life championing the education and empowerment of Black Americans through the Tuskegee Institute and his political connections. Dedicated to her father’s values, Portia contributed by teaching and performing spirituals and classical music. But a marriage to a controlling and jealous husband made fulfilling her dreams much more difficult. When Theodore Roosevelt assumed the presidency, his eldest daughter Alice Roosevelt joined him in the White House. To try to win her father’s approval, she eagerly jumped in to help him succeed, but Alice’s political savvy and nonconformist behavior alienated as well as intrigued his opponents and allies. When she married a congressman, she carved out her own agendas and continued espousing women’s rights and progressive causes. Brought together in the wake of their fathers’ friendship, these bright and fascinating women helped each other struggle through marriages, pregnancies, and political upheaval, supporting each other throughout their lives. A provocative historical novel and revealing portrait, Piper Huguley’s American Daughters vividly brings to life two passionate and vital women who nurtured a friendship that transcended politics and race over a century”. I just started it today, and this is going to be as great as suggested.

She is a literature professor at Clark-Atlanta University and blogs about the history behind her novels on her website. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and son.

Piper Huguley is forging an African American voice that needs to be heard.

Don’t forget to check out Annie Asks on WELL READ's YouTube channel BETWEEN THE PAGES for more to this interview – We had the best time. I often forget how funny she is since her subjects are truly monumental!

To find out more about Piper Huguley:

Website: https://piperhuguley.com

In the vein of America’s First Daughter, Piper Huguley’s historical novel delves into the remarkable friendship of Portia Washington and Alice Roosevelt, the daughters of educator Booker T. Washington and President Teddy Roosevelt.