1--What is the title of your latest release?
THE WIND ON HER TONGUE
2--What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
I’m famously horrendous at elevator pitches, but here we go: THE WIND ON HER TONGUE is the second book in the Daughter of Three Waters Trilogy. It follows the adventures of Oya, the Yoruba Orisha of the storm, in early America. Both “The Wind on Her Tongue” and my first novel, “Shallow Waters” are works of historical fiction that include many characters who made significant contributions to society.
I’m also going to add my publisher’s elevator pitch: In this lyrical and stirring companion to the “spellbinding” (Harper’s Bazaar) “Shallow Waters”, Oya-the Yoruba deity of the weather-is brought to life during 1870s America. “The Wind on Her Tongue” is perfect for fans of “Children of Blood and Bone” and “Black Sun”.
Which one do you like better?
3--How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
Answer: I started off writing THE WIND ON HER TONGUE by researching famous historical figures during the 1870s. Mary Ellen Pleasant jumped off the page for me and I instantly knew that she would have a significant role in my book. As I dove into my research on her, I found out that she studied under the famous Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau, who’s history is equally as intriguing. My story began to develop, and I decided to have the novel take place in Cuba, New Orleans, Texas, and San Francisco. One of my favorite aspects in books and novels is a physical journey, so both THE WIND ON HER TONGUE and SHALLOW WATERS has travel at its core.
4--Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
Bet! 100% Oya is the best!
5--What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Powerful. Curious. Loving.
6--What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I learned so much while researching and writing THE WIND ON HER TONGUE. The most interesting new information was about Mary Ellen Pleasant. I had actually never heard of her. She is said to be one of the first African-American self-made millionaires, even before Madam C.J. Walker. I learned about how she was a key figure in the Underground Railroad and brought Africans escaping slavery to California. She was also said to be the person that funded the John Brown rebellion.
7--Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I am always editing, but the major changes I do once I’m totally done.
8--What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Chips! I wanted to say something way more sophisticated, but the truth must be told.
9--Describe your writing space/office!
I love to write in my local Nyack Library. There are desks that line the walls and look out at the Hudson River. When I can’t get out, I actually write from the comfort of my bed with a candle lit and incense burning. Writing is a ritual for me, so I try to create a space that feels like a sanctuary.
10--Who is an author you admire?
Octavia Butler. Hands down!
11--Is there a book that changed your life?
Octavia Butler’s, WILD SEED, changed my life. As a child, I always loved fantasy novels. I would get lost in faraway worlds and imagine myself fighting alongside alien races and unforeseen superheroes. When I picked up WILD SEED, it was the first time that I read a Black fantasy novel. I related so deeply to the main character, Anyanwu, that my mind was blown! I had no idea that a book could awaken so many dormant feelings inside of me. From that moment on, I was hooked.
12--Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
When I received the message that my first novel, SHALLOW WATERS, was going to be published, it was surreal. I remember exactly what I was doing: I was walking in a parking lot about to go into the grocery store. My knees buckled and I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was a personal message from Charlamagne tha God saying that it would be his honor to publish my manuscript. These were the words that I envisioned and hoped for my entire life; it was literally a dream come true.
I wrote a book proposal for THE WIND ON HER TONGUE, the companion to SHALLOW WATERS, and to my great delight, Black Privilege Publishing/Atria/Simon & Schuster said YES to my second novel. I am a huge believer in celebrating our wins, so I went out to dinner with my friends to recognize this great achievement.
13--What’s your favorite genre to read?
Black Fantasy Fiction
14--What’s your favorite movie?
Like Water for Chocolate
15--What is your favorite season?
Summer
16--How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
As you may have guessed from my last answer, I am a summer baby. My favorite thing to do for my birthday is travel to a tropical place and lay out on the beach with a book!
17--What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I just finished reading “A Woman is a School” by Céline Semaan. I highly recommend it. Here is the summery: “A Woman is a School is the first memoir and cultural anthropological book by Slow Factory founder, Céline Semaan. A war-survivor and child refugee sharing endangered and discredited ancestral knowledge of the Global South, particularly tales from Lebanon from 1948 to 2023—the book follows the tradition of the hakawati, the storytellers of the Levant. Holding Indigenous knowledge and wisdom, Céline Semaan, a hakawatiya herself, documents what she has witnessed throughout her life and the lives of her family members, sharing her upbringing and cultures of resistance.”
18--What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Ethiopian. Now my mouth is watering!
19--What do you do when you have free time?
Honestly, take a nap. My rest is my revolution now. When I am well rested, I am magical.
20--What can readers expect from you next?
I will be working on the third book in my Daughter of Three Waters Trilogy! Stay tuned. I am also writing an Oracle Deck with my business partners in the Goddess Wisdom Council. We are a group of four women (Yvonna Kopacz, Yadi Alba, Cora Poage, and myself), who lead wellness retreats around the world and have a monthly community call called Becoming. https://goddesswisdomcouncil.com/becoming
In this lyrical and stirring companion to the “spellbinding” (Harper’s Bazaar) Shallow Waters, Oya—the Yoruban deity of the weather—is brought to life during 1870s America. Perfect for fans of Children of Blood and Bone and Black Sun.
Born in Cuba after her mother Yemaya’s adventures in the New World, Oya has inherited otherworldly powers from her Yoruba Orisha lineage. While Yemaya is known for her healing abilities, Oya’s influence over the storm proves to be destructive, posing a threat to her mother and the island’s safety.
Sent to New Orleans to study under Marie Laveau, the Queen of Voodoo, Oya begins a journey across the still young America, encountering a myriad of historical figures, including Mary Ellen Pleasant, Jesse James, Lew Hing, and more.
As Oya navigates the landscapes of racism, colorism, and classism, she grapples with her own identity and powers, striving to find her place in a fraught and complex society. A moving, vivid exploration of resilience, heritage, and the enduring spirit of a young woman coming into her own, The Wind on Her Tongue transports you to a world where magic and reality intertwine.
Multicultural African-American | Fantasy Historical [Atria/Black Privilege Publishing, On Sale: January 21, 2025, Hardcover / e-Book , ISBN: 9781668052211 / eISBN: 9781668052235]
Anita Kopacz is an award-winning writer and spiritual advisor. She is the former Editor-in-Chief of Heart & Soul Magazine and Managing Editor of BeautyCents Magazine. When she is not writing, you can find her on the dance floor or traveling the world with her children. Anita lives in New York City with her family.
No comments posted.
© 2003-2025 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy