Ask the Author: Joe Okonkwo
Answered Questions (3)
Joe Okonkwo
Read. Read EVERYTHING. Literary fiction. Genre fiction. Politics. Biographies. History. The news. EVERYTHING.
Joe Okonkwo
I'm writing a novel based on Harlem Renaissance icon Gladys Bentley. I'm calling it King Gladys. Gladys Bentley was a blues singer and virtuoso pianist. She dressed as a man both onstage and off. A white tux, top hat, and tails were her trademarks when performing. She was openly lesbian and notorious for her naughty, bawdy lyrics which often resulted in police raids.
Joe Okonkwo
When researching my debut novel Jazz Moon, I discovered Gladys Bentley. I listened to her sing and knew I had to write about her. She makes a cameo appearance in Jazz Moon but gets to be the star in King Gladys.
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