-
Historical Fiction: Honors Our Past & Contextualizes the Present
History has always fueled my imagination. Black History, in particular, ignites a proud wonder inside of me. As members of a diaspora spawned from the evil of chattel slavery, most black people realize the past is never really past. It often walks hand-in-hand with the present and shapes the future, negatively and positively. I first learned about the “Tulsa Riot” while searching for more information on Rosewood, Florida back in the late 2000s. Greenwood’s existence and it’s even lesser-known resilience after the massacre inspired me to tell Black Wall Street’s story over a decade later from the perspective of a young woman who survives and thrives along with the community.…
-
Snippet from an Earlier Blog: Time Equals Change
(This is from a post on my original website.) The Nubian Barnstormer’s story spans the years of 1917 through 1946. I’m a history nerd, so I was eager to delve into how major events like World Wars I and II and the Great Depression would affect Ava Odell and the people in her life. I enjoyed the hours of research necessary to capture the evolution of fashion, technology and entertainment during that time period. The rise and fall of hemlines. Communication by telegram and the expansion of telephone service. The discovery of dances that would have been popular with Ava and her friends and learning the steps myself so I…
-
The Nubian Barnstormer Novel Series–Black History and Black Love
The Nubian Barnstormer novel series is literary historical romance. The books cover the time-frame of World War I through World War II. Many African-American historians have considered those years a low point in Black history, with the exception of the Harlem Renaissance. I chose to narrate this period through the life journey of Ava Odell, a black woman who champions equality by pursuing an unconventional career. Most black people, iconic figures and regular folks alike, challenged discrimination by striving to live their best lives. During a time that I think has been mistakenly called “the nadir of black history,” they overcame obstacles, setbacks and sought justice with determination and grit.…
-
The Nubian Barnstormer Saga – Novels for Black History Month!
In the Nubian Barnstormer historical fiction series, author Dessa Little tells the story of Ava Odell: an African American woman who dares to live and dares to love! In Volume 1: Persistence, Ava wants to fly an airplane: a controversial dream for a resident of Black Wall Street during World War I. She’ll forge bonds with humor, intelligence and heart as she braves a Jim Crow world. In Volume 2: Crossroads, Ava and Black Wall Street fight to rebuild. From the Roaring ’20s through the Great Depression, she and those she loves make choices that lead to tragedies and triumphs as World War II dawns. Each book is 386 pages…
-
Nubian Barnstormer, Volume 1: Persistence~Black Historical Novel
Ava Odell wants to fly an airplane: a controversial dream for a resident of Black Wall Street during World War I. She’ll forge bonds with humor and brains as she braves a Jim Crow world. This enlightening generational saga by Dessa Little explores forgotten parts of black history through the eyes of a smart and daring woman. How will Ava, her family and friends navigate issues that reverberate today? Find out in the Nubian Barnstormer, Volume 1: Persistence. Available on Amazon, Apple and other retailers starting January 28, 2021! To read an excerpt, click here.
-
Nubian Barnstormer, Volume 2: Crossroads ~ Black Historical Novel
Now a mother, Ava Odell-Hemmer and Black Wall Street fight to rebuild. Choices made during the Roaring ’20s through World War II shape her and those she loves. Choices that range from who to love to black soldiers who risk a midnight drive down a Southern country road. In this follow up to Volume 1, Dessa Little’s generational saga explores black family life and romance against the backdrop of Jim Crow. Immerse yourself in Ava’s journey in the Nubian Barnstormer, Volume 2: Crossroads. Available on Amazon, Apple and other retailers starting January 28, 2021! To read an excerpt, click here.
