Season 3 Episode 9: In Conversation with Derek Owusu
From the publisher’s website: “Derek Owusu is a writer, poet, and podcaster from north London. He discovered his passion for literature at the age of twenty-three while studying exercise science at university. Unable to afford a change of degree, Derek began reading voraciously and sneaking into English Literature lectures at the University of Manchester. Derek edited and contributed to Safe: On Black British Men Reclaiming Space.
That Reminds Me, his first solo work, won the Desmond Elliott Prize 2020. Beautiful and honest, That Reminds Me is the story of one young man, from birth to adulthood, told in fragments of memory. It explores questions of identity, belonging, addiction, sexuality, violence, family, and religion. It is a deeply moving and completely original work of literature from one of the brightest British writers of today.”
Derek and I had a lovely chat about how That Reminds Me came to be, his experience with Borderline Personality Disorder, foster care experience, his follow-up book, and what he’s been reading of late.
Show Notes
SAFE: On Black British Men Reclaiming Space
An American Marriage - Tayari Jones
If Beale Street Could Talk - James Baldwin
CALM - The FBC Paris made a donation to thank Derek for his time.
Photo of Derek: Stuart Simpson for Penguin 2020