At Home with Literati: Dawnie Walton & V.V. Ganeshananthan

Friday, April 2, 2021 - 7:00pm

We're pleased to welcome Dawnie Walton to our At Home with Literati Series in support of The Final Revival of Opal & Nev. She'll be joined in conversation by author V.V. Ganeshananthan.

Click here to join the webinar event on 4/2.

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About the book: A kaleidoscopic fictional oral history of the beloved rock 'n' roll duo who shot to fame in 1970s New York, and the dark, fraught secret that lies at the peak of their stardom.

Opal is a fiercely independent young woman pushing against the grain in her style and attitude, Afro-punk before that term existed. Coming of age in Detroit, she can't imagine settling for a 9-to-5 job--despite her unusual looks, Opal believes she can be a star. So when the aspiring British singer/songwriter Neville Charles discovers her at a bar's amateur night, she takes him up on his offer to make rock music together for the fledgling Rivington Records.

In early seventies New York City, just as she's finding her niche as part of a flamboyant and funky creative scene, a rival band signed to her label brandishes a Confederate flag at a promotional concert. Opal's bold protest and the violence that ensues set off a chain of events that will not only change the lives of those she loves, but also be a deadly reminder that repercussions are always harsher for women, especially black women, who dare to speak their truth.

Decades later, as Opal considers a 2016 reunion with Nev, music journalist S. Sunny Shelton seizes the chance to curate an oral history about her idols. Sunny thought she knew most of the stories leading up to the cult duo's most politicized chapter. But as her interviews dig deeper, a nasty new allegation from an unexpected source threatens to blow up everything.

Provocative and chilling, The Final Revival of Opal & Nev features a backup chorus of unforgettable voices, a heroine the likes of which we've not seen in storytelling, and a daring structure, and introduces a bold new voice in contemporary fiction.

Dawnie Walton is a fiction writer and journalist whose work explores identity, place, and the influence of pop culture. She has won fellowships from the MacDowell Colony and the Tin House Summer Workshop, and earned her MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Previously she worked as an executive-level editor for magazine and multimedia brands including Essence, Entertainment Weekly, Getty Images, and LIFE. A native of Jacksonville, Florida, she lives with her husband in Brooklyn.

V.V. Ganeshananthan is the author of a novel, Love Marriage. The book was longlisted for the Orange Prize. and named one of The Washington Post's Best of the Year. She teaches fiction and nonfiction writing in the MFA program at the University of Minnesota, and has been visiting faculty in the MFA programs at the University of Iowa and the University of Michigan. She is the co-host of the Fiction/Non/Fiction podcast on Literary Hub.

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Books: 
The Final Revival of Opal & Nev By Dawnie Walton Cover Image
$27.00
Email info@literatibookstore.com or call for price
ISBN: 9781982140168
Published: 37 Ink - March 30th, 2021

Love Marriage: A Novel By V. V. Ganeshananthan Cover Image
$17.00
ISBN: 9781400066698
Availability: Usually Available in 2-5 Days
Published: Random House Trade Paperbacks - April 8th, 2008