At a sold-out book release event at D.C.’s historic Lincoln Theatre hosted with MahoganyBooks, moderator Glory Edim (Well-Read Black Girl) speaks with featured author Kennedy Ryan about the launch of her novel Score. Ryan discusses her ambitious theater tour, how love and generosity from her parents, husband of 29 years, and faith shaped her “love ethic,” and how she defines success through personal satisfaction and impact, citing readers’ responses to Verity’s bipolar disorder. She explains her research-heavy process, sensitivity readers, and commitment to “never write the hurt without the healing,” plus her mission to honor Black art and history through the Harlem Renaissance and dedications to overlooked Black geniuses. Ryan shares the book’s playlist inspirations, her approach to writing emotional and intimate tension without toxicity, self-care boundaries, and reveals the Hollywood Renaissance series is in TV development, with casting wish-list mentions like Aldis Hodge and Teyana Paris, before ending with lively audience Q&A.
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