{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Pen Game with William Person","title":"Toni Ann Johnson on “But Where’s Home?” | Writing Black Family Stories & Historical Fiction","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3133,"description":"In this episode of The Pen Game, host William Person sits down with acclaimed author Toni Ann Johnson to discuss her latest novel, \"But Where’s Home?\"—the third installment in her compelling Arrington family series.Set in 1960s upstate New York, But Where’s Home? follows a Black family navigating identity, belonging, and community during a time of social change. Johnson shares her approach to crafting multi-generational characters, building authentic historical settings, and exploring themes of race, family, and resilience through fiction.From character development and dialogue to world-building and emotional truth, this conversation highlights how powerful stories are shaped and why they matter. Whether you're an aspiring author, a screenwriter, poet, or creative writer, this episode of The Pen Game expands your understanding of narrative craft through the lens of Black literature and long-form storytelling.Show Notes: We dive into a compelling conversation with writer Toni Ann Johnson as she unpacks the layers of her series about the Arrington family, exploring themes of race, belonging, and personal growth. This episode offers insights into her storytelling techniques, character development, and the intricate reflections on her own experiences that shape her work.In this episode:The origins of Johnson’s series and her personal journey in writing about her family and communityHow her characters reflect diverse perspectives on race, class, and identityTechniques of narrative voice, including the use of first, second, and third personThe structural choices behind the series’ storytelling styles and point of view shiftsThe role of Monroe’s setting as both a reflection and critique of societal comforts and prejudicesHow childhood experiences of racism and family dynamics inform Johnson’s character arcsThe evolution of characters like Maddie, Livia, Velma, and Phil, and their internal conflictsThe thematic exploration of assimilation, black identity, and the pursuit...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/ohwWfivT7pZsKm5CH_851xh81KaBHAH_5jo1FMGZ7AM/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8yOTIz/NGE3YTJmMzk2Yzll/Zjc1YzhjODM0NTA0/YjE0Ni5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}