With almost 40 years in the publishing game, Donna Hill is the gift that keeps on giving. I recently spoke with her about her latest release, Their Unexpected Plan, and some details about her upcoming release, Nola and Baldwin.
Tell me about your latest book.
My upcoming novel (Aug 25) is titled Their Unexpected Plan. The novel is about Noa Dunnavant, the new literary superstar at Ascension Publishing and the sexy British publisher sent from the London office to New York to take the struggling company to the next level. All Noa wants to do is write. All Morgan wants is to succeed. What they realize is that they can achieve their goals with each other on the page and off! Mix in jealous editors, a power-hungry ex, television deals and a thirsty reading audience and you have the ingredients for a romantic thrill ride. But the question for Noa remains, does Morgan want her for real or is she a means to an end?
Why did you decide to write it?
I wanted to write a book that took readers behind the scenes of a publishing company, while also having the dynamic of the boss and employee scenario with a twist.
How did you come up with the book’s title?
This was not my original title, nor my preference for a cover. It was originally titled Unfinished and had a bit of a different approach to the story. The original version didn’t quite fit with the Special Edition line, so adjustments were made
What’s the nicest thing a reader has ever said to you?
“This book gave me the courage to leave.” The reader was referring to If I Could.
When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
Ha! A looooong time ago. What I didn’t know until I was in my 30s was that there was a place for Black novels and that readers wanted to read about people that reflected them. When I started, there were barely a handful of Black women writers that were writing contemporary fiction—romance in particular as well as the other genres. What readers have easy access to now was not “a thing” when I began.
What author would you love to meet?
This may sound “a way” but in truth, I have been blessed with the longevity of being in this business almost 40 years. As a result, I have met extraordinary authors! From Toni Morrison to Alice Walker, Nikole Hannah Jones, Cebo Campbell, Eric Dickey, J. California Cooper, Sonia Sanchez, Bernice McFadden, Walter Mosley, Victoria Christopher Murray, Reshonda Tate, Vanessa Riley, Brenda Jackson, Rochelle Alers, Beverly Jenkins, to Vanessa Miller, the list goes on. LOL. I do think I would really like to meet Ayana Gray author of I Medusa. My reading journey as a child began with Greek mythology, so I would love to chat with her about her reimagining of the story of Medusa.
What books have you read lately and loved?
Family and Friends by Natalie Baszile, Ghalen by Walter Mosley, Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray, With Love from Harlem by Reshonda Tate, Double Dutch Fuss by Phill Branch, Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell
What books are at the top of your to-be-read pile?
Dominion by Addie Citchens. I’m in the middle of reading The Ladies Hall by Vanessa Miller.
What’s next for you?
My next release, Nola and Baldwin, a historical will be out November 10. The tumultuous journey, literally and figuratively, of Nola Denny and Baldwin Carter, begins in the Mississippi delta and traverses the country. Nola and Baldwin not only have to live through trials and trauma of racism, the Jim Crow south, and months of separation, but needing to decide if forever is with each other. The story begins at the end of the Great Depression through the Civil Rights movement of the 60s. The novel idea was inspired by Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, which is Nola’s favorite book.
Do you have anything you would like to add?
I would just love for readers to pre-order—not just my books but all the authors that you love and support. It helps more than you can ever imagine.
Use the Black Fiction Addiction affiliate link to purchase your copy of Their Unexpected Plan by Donna Hill.
To learn more about Donna Hill, associate professor and executive director of The Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College, visit her website (donnahillwrites.com), email her (donnahillwrites@gmail.com) or connect with her on social media:
Instagram: @brooklyngirl732
Instagram: @donnahillwrites
Facebook: facebook.com/donnahillwriter.