Diane Oliver's Posthumous Debut

The Book Case

A few weeks ago Kate received an email informing her of a debut author: Diane Oliver. But this debut book stood out because the author had been dead for more than fifty years. Fascinated, we asked for copies...and Diane Oliver's work knocked us out. Her debut collection, Neighbors and Other Stories, is a compendium of her work: insightful, raw, beautiful, intimate, with character's stark and naked humanity jumping off every page. We talk to the writer Tayari Jones, who wrote the book's enthusiastic introduction, as well as Diane's agent, Elise Dillsworth and her publisher, Katie Raissian. How does one release a debut work when the author is long gone? Tune in and find out.

Books mentioned in this week's episode:

• Neighbors and Other Stories by Diane Oliver
• An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
• Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones
• Leaving Atlanta by Tayari Jones
• The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
• The Color Purple by Alice Walker

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