I've been a novelist since 1995 and have had novels in and out of option, and watching that process just made me realize that I have to live by what I teach my students, because I teach screenwriting at Spellman. Tananarive Due havelivemake share on social
I grew up believing that my parents helped change the world. I was so in awe of them, and I wondered how I could measure up. I mean, how do you change the world - again? Tananarive Due awebelievechange Change image and share on social
Inspired by Alex Haley's 'Roots,' at the age of 11 I began a handwritten Middle Passage story called 'Lawdy, Lawdy, Make Us Free.' I was raised by civil rights activists with a very strong sense of racial history and consciousness. Tananarive Due activistagealex share on social
Somehow, I realized I could write books about black characters who reflected my own experiences or otherworldly experiences - not just stories of history, poverty and oppression. Tananarive Due blackbookcharacter Change image and share on social
Sure, we think it would be great to live forever, but it really wouldn't. Tananarive Due forevergreatlive Change image and share on social
As a very young writer - kindergarten through about fifth grade - I most often wrote about black characters. My very early stories were science fiction and fantasy, with kids stowing away on spaceships and a girl named Tilly who was trying to get into the 'Guinness Book of World Records.' Tananarive Due blackbookcharacter share on social
I characterize myself a little bit as a reluctant filmmaker. I learned from watching my friend in college stay up late at night, at 2 A.M., just to get the lighting right, and I thought, 'You know what, if that's what it's going to be like, I think I'm just going to write,' and I did that. Tananarive Due bitecharacterizecollege share on social
It wasn't just OK to achieve in my family - it was expected. Tananarive Due achieveexpectfamily Change image and share on social
My biggest luck was the Terry McMillan era, because what happened after the phenomenon of 'Waiting to Exhale' is that publishing woke up. They said, 'Wow. Black people do read.' Tananarive Due bigblackera Change image and share on social
I believe black characters in fiction are still revolutionary, given our long history of erasure. Tananarive Due blackcharactererasure Change image and share on social