Crossover Charm: Magical Black Romance w/A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams

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Hi, and welcome back to another episode of Culture Lit.

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I'm your host, Octavia Marie,

and today we have something

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extra special lined up for you.

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If you're new here, we dive

deep into Black romance novels

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celebrating stories and characters

that truly resonate with us.

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We spotlight books that not only

entertain, but also empower and inspire.

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Today's spotlight is on Tia

Williams remarkable book, A

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Love Song for Ricky Wilde.

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Trust me, you're going to love this

enchanting blend of contemporary

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and historical fiction, magical

realism, and of course, a love story

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that'll sweep you off your feet.

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This novel is a modern day fairy tale

about a free spirited florist who

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moves from Atlanta to Harlem to open

a flower shop and realize her dream.

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When she's there, she meets a

mysterious musician and they

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fall passionately in love.

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They discover that their lives

are inextricably linked in very

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interesting enchanted ways.

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Layered on top of this love story,

there's Voodoo, a 96 year old landlady

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who knows more than she seems, a

disgraced child star who is Ricky's

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nosy best friend, and Leap Year Magic.

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Released in February during a leap

year, the novel's touch of magical

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realism makes it even more special.

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Initially, I was a bit hesitant when

I read the blurb for this novel.

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It seems so unlike a typical Tia

Williams book, but I guess that's

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what makes her such an amazing writer.

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It.

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I wondered if I would be able to suspend

disbelief to read it it was a little

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slow to get into at first, but as I dove

deeper, I was reminded a little of The

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Hand I Fan With by Tina McElroy Ansa.

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I bought into it from the beginning,

I totally believed in it, and it

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didn't pull me out of the story.

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There's a haunted piano, a voodoo curse.

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The Golden Harlem Renaissance era

and an enchanted Harlem brownstone.

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There's sparkly dialogue,

steam, and high stakes love.

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This story has a flashback narrative with

portions taking place during the Harlem

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Renaissance, an era that fascinates me.

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The voodoo story aspects

weren't off putting to me.

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Some aspects of the

rituals are interesting.

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And having family, my grand and

great grands from Louisiana.

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The French Creole history is

very much a part of our heritage.

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Also, as our ancestors left the

South during the Great Migration,

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bringing culture, spirituality, and

mysticism to the North, this novel's

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historical connection felt authentic.

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Early jazz and blues music often

mentioned Voodoo because many

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musicians came from the South.

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This historical context adds another

layer of richness to this story.

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Voodoo has often been misunderstood

due to white supremacy portrayed

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as evil and scary because it was

something enslaved people practiced

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that white people didn't understand.

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It made them nervous and led

to a campaign against it.

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But voodoo is really a mix

of African mysticism and

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Catholicism, a religious practice.

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You see some of that in this novel.

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We also see Eva Mercy from Seven Days

in June make a cameo at a book signing

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explaining a bit more about these themes.

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Every time I visit New York,

I love walking around Harlem.

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It's so different from

other areas like Brooklyn.

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Walking around Harlem, you can

stumble upon plaques on buildings with

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historical information like Billie

in: 1929

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Harlem feels like a city built over

another city, very rich with history.

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Anyway, Ricky Wilde is a strong,

creative woman who never quite fit in

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with her high society Atlanta family.

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She's all about breaking the

rules and following her passions.

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Unlike some of her more

button up relatives.

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Her dream?

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To open a flower shop.

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She's the black sheep of the family,

going against the grain and pursuing

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her creative passions despite the

lack of support from her family.

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Rikki is the youngest of four girls

in a very aristocratic family.

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She's 15 years younger than her sisters,

who are all very fancy and bougie.

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They went to Ivy League schools, married

the right guys, and work in the family

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business, a string of funeral homes.

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Rikki, on the other hand, only likes

the flowers in the funeral homes.

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The flowers also play an interesting

role, especially night blooming

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jasmine, which only blooms at night.

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And if you know anything about

night blooming jasmine, you

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know how wonderful it smells.

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Tia Williams does an amazing job of

making you feel the notes in the flowers.

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After crossing paths with Della Bennet,

a 96 year old who becomes her fairy

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godmother, Rikki finds herself in

Harlem and on a whole new adventure.

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If she had stayed in Atlanta, she

would've experienced a soul death.

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Working the family business

to her life is too short.

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She breaks away from the family to pursue

her dream of opening a flower shop,

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which her family thinks is ridiculous.

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She moves to Harlem to open her

flower shop in a brownstone.

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What makes Rikki's story truly magical

is her chance encounter with Ezra Breeze

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Walker, a mysterious musician with an

old world charm and an incredible secret.

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, They have an intense connection set

against the backdrop of Harlem's rich

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cultural history that feels like destiny.

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It's a romance that explores

big ideas about family, time,

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and the pure magic of love.

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Rikki is vibrant, creative, and possesses

a spirit that's impossible to contain.

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Stepping away from her family's funeral

home business, she dares to create a new

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life, opening a flower shop in Harlem.

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This decision is both brave

and inspiring, showing us the

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beauty of following one's dreams.

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Her journey is not just about finding

love, but also about finding herself.

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It's about carving out a space where

she can truly be herself, away from the

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expectations and pressures of her past.

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Then there's Ezra Breeze Walker.

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He's not your typical love interest.

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A traveling musician with courtly

manners, Ezra brings an air of

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mystery and depth to the story.

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As Rikki and Ezra's paths cross,

their connections grow, filled with

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magnetic attraction and a sense that

their meeting is written in the stars.

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Ezra is a man out of time, with secrets

that link him to Harlem's golden age.

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His charm, talent, and the sorrow in

his eyes draw Rikki in, making her

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believe in the magic of love and destiny.

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The secondary timeline, set during

the Harlem Renaissance, provides

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a rich historical layer that

gives context to Ezra's character.

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It's beautifully crafted,

offering glimpses into his tragic

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past and the larger than life

figures who influenced him.

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This historical backdrop adds depth to

the story, showing how the past shapes the

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present and how love can transcend time.

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Now, let's dive into

the themes of the book.

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A love song for Rikki Wilde

is more than just a romance.

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It explores the burden of family

expectations, the weight of time,

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and the gifts that love can bring.

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Rikki's journey is about self discovery

and the courage to follow one's heart.

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She learns to embrace her uniqueness,

To stand up for her dreams and

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to love fiercely and freely.

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Ezra's storyline with its

elements of magical realism adds

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a fantastical dimension that makes

their love story truly unique.

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The way time is woven into their

relationship serves as a metaphor

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for the timeless nature of true love.

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It's a reminder that love can

be eternal transcending the

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barriers of time and space.

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Let's take a moment to

celebrate the Brilliant Mind

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behind this incredible novel.

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Tia Williams known for her compelling

storytelling and rich layered characters.

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Williams never fails to deliver stories

that resonate deeply with her readers.

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Her ability to blend contemporary

narratives with historical settings

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and elements of magical realism

is nothing short of genius.

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A love song for Ricky Wild is a

perfect example of her craft combining

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romance history, and a touch of the

supernatural in a way that's both

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captivating and thought provoking.

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So why should you read A

Love Song for Ricki Wilde?

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Well, because it's a beautifully

written, deeply moving story that

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celebrates the power and love and the

importance of following your dreams.

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It's a story that will make you laugh,

cry, and believe in the magic of love.

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It's a story that will stay with you

long after you've turned the last page.

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So as we wrap up today's episode,

I hope you feel inspired to pick

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up a love song for Ricky Wilde and

dive into this enchanting world.

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Whether you're a fan of romance,

historical fiction, or magical realism,

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this book has something for everyone.

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It's a testament to the power of

diverse narratives and the importance

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of supporting Black authors.

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Remember!

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Supporting Black authors and celebrating

diverse narratives is crucial in ensuring

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that our stories are told and heard.

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So go on and grab a copy and get lost

in Ricky and Ezra's magical love story.

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Let their journey inspire you

to follow your own dreams and

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to believe in the power of love.

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Thank you for joining me

on this literary journey.

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Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review,

and share this podcast with your friends.

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Stay tuned for more episodes where

we'll continue to explore the beauty

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and diversity of romance literature.

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