Notes and Links to Toni Ann Johnson’s Work

Toni Ann Johnson won the 2024 Screen Door Press Prize for Fiction with her linked collection, BUT WHERE’S HOME? (UPK 2026).

In 2021, she won the Flannery O’Connor Award for her linked short story collection LIGHT SKIN GONE TO WASTE (UGA Press 2022). The collection was shortlisted for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, and also shortlisted for the Saroyan Prize.

A novella, HOMEGOING, won Accents Publishing’s inaugural novella contest in 2020 and was released in May of 2021.

Short fiction and essays have been published in The Emerson Review, Hunger Mountain, Fiction Magazine, Callaloo, The Los Angeles Times, and elsewhere.

A novel, Remedy For a Broken Angel, was published in 2014 and received a nomination for a 2015 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work by a Debut Author.

Johnson is a screenwriter with a number of produced projects to her credit including, Ruby Bridges (ABC), Crown Heights (Showtime), The Courage to Love (Lifetime) the TV pilot, Save The Last Dance (Fox Television), and the feature film, Step Up 2: The Streets (Summit Entertainment).

Buy But Where's Home?

“How But Where’s Home? by Toni Ann Johnson Got Made” from Publisher’s Weekly

Toni Ann Johnson’s Website

At about 1:50, Toni Ann shouts out Crystal Wilkinson and her great work in talking about Toni’s newest release, But Where’s Home? and awards

At about 3:25, Toni Ann speaks about working with real-life events as fodder for fiction

At about 7:40, Toni responds to Pete’s questions about her book’s structure, especially her inclusion of a novella

At about 11:00, the two discuss the book’s opening story and exposition

At about 13:30, Toni Ann expands on a real-life parallel in the story collection

At about 14:20, The two discuss Livia, the narrator’s sister, and her feelings of marginalization and her efforts as girl to adjust

At about 17:30, Pete and Toni Ann talk about traumas informing one’s own parenting, in relation to a deep quote in the book

At about 20:00, Toni reflects on a character in the book as a "generational nemesis” and a contentious neighbor’s links to the family’s generations and changing dynamics

At about 22:00, Toni Ann reflects on ideas of “not seeing color” as a damaging ethic in American history

At about 25:00, Pete and Toni Ann discuss changing ways of talking about race over the decades

At about 26:15, Toni Ann expands on a meaningful family heirloom, a pen, in the collection

At about 27:40, The two discuss empathy and sympathy for characters whose actions the readers may not condone

At about 29:10, Pete asks Toni Ann about Maddie’s response to her sexual assault, and how her words towards her mother come from her traumas

At about 31:55, Toni responds to Pete’s laying out of a resolution made by Maddie in discussing the actions of the children of narcissistic parents

At about 36:25, Pete remarks on the importance and skill of Toni Ann’s ancillary characters and veins of ancestors running through the collection

At about 37:45, The novella’s opening is discussed, with Maddie interested in getting Zeke’s attention

At about 39:25, Pete and Toni Ann talk about Zeke as navigating racism and tropes in a conservative town

At about 41:00, Muriel, Phil’s lover, and the events that lead to Velma’s “having her guard down” are discussed, as well as how Velma and Maddie interact

At about 44:45, a turnabout with mother and daughter is explored

At about 46:05, Pete cites important flashbacks and confrontations between Velma and Maddie

At about 47:20, Franny, a character who is in multiple of Toni’s works, is discussed as a reminder of home in Monroe, NY

At about 49:00, Pete and Velma highlight ideas of innocence and the traumatic experiences of childhood for Velma

At about 50:25, the two discuss Olivia and Maddie’s grievances towards their parents and guilt (or lack thereof) from Maddie

At about 53:20, Toni Ann responds to Pete’s questions about self-esteem and the significance of the collection’s title

At about 57:10, Toni Ann highlights “moments of levity” in the book

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Please tune in for Episode 336 with Rachel Khong, whose debut novel, Goodbye, Vitamin, won the 2017 California Book Award for First Fiction, and was a Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist for First Fiction. In 2018, she founded The Ruby, a work and event space for women and nonbinary writers and artists in San Francisco’s Mission district. Her second novel, Real Americans, was published by Knopf in April 2024, and was an instant New York Times bestseller. Her story collection, My Dear You, is out as of today, April 7.

The episode airs on April 7, Pub Day for My Dear You.

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