Lost Ladies of Lit

Three Novels on Generational Trauma

Subscriber Episode Amy Helmes & Kim Askew Episode 299

This episode is only available to subscribers.

Lost Ladies of Lit +

Exclusive access to premium content!

Send us Fan Mail

In this follow up to last week’s episode on Nettie Jones’s Fish Tales, Amy discusses three more Black women authors who tackle generational trauma in their work. The Blues-infused Corregidora, published in 1975, was written by Nettie Jones’s literary mentor Gayl Jones when she was only 25 years old. Carolivia Herron’s 1991 novel Thereafter Johnnie (inspired, in part, by Paradise Lost) was reissued to renewed acclaim by McNally Editions last year. Finally, Octavia Butler’s Kindred is a worthy read to re-examine in light of the recent success of Caro Claire Burke’s time-travel novel Yesteryear.

Mentioned in this episode:

Lost Ladies of Lit Episode No. 298 on Nettie Jones’s Fish Tales

Corregidora by Gayl Jones

Literary Hub article by Helene Atwan on working with Gayl Jones

Thereafter Johnnie by Carolivia Herron

Kindred by Octavia Butler

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke




For episodes and show notes, visit: 

LostLadiesofLit.com

Subscribe to our
substack newsletter.

Follow us on instagram @lostladiesoflit

Email us: Contact — Lost Ladies of Lit Podcast