Ghanaian American author Esinam Bediako has been honored for her debut novel Blood on the Brain, set to launch in September of 2024 in Brooklyn, New York. Born and raised in Metro-Detroit, Bediako’s story of a young woman, Akosua, who is also a Ghanaian American from Detroit, highlights challenges of growing into adulthood in the United States. In addition to typical romantic and educational pursuits, the story’s protagonist asks difficult questions about identity and belonging. Here, we present a conversation with Esinam Bediako about her experience writing the novel, and how her own life experiences played a role in story and character development.
R: Esinam, thank you for joining me to talk about your new book Blood on the Brain. I enjoyed it very much, and appreciate the level of intimacy that the story holds, as it is told primarily as internal thoughts of the main protagonist, Akosua. As the author, how do you relate to her character?