Podcast Summary

Podcast: Totally Booked with Zibby
Host: Zibby Owens
Guest: Sadeqa Johnson
Episode: Sadeqa Johnson on the Writing Process
Date: February 10, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode of Totally Booked with Zibby, Zibby Owens talks with acclaimed historical fiction author Sadeqa Johnson about her latest novel, Keeper of Lost Children. The conversation delves into Johnson’s meticulous creative process, the inspiration behind her multi-perspective narrative, and her personal connection to untold stories from history. Johnson also offers candid advice for aspiring writers and gives insight into the demands and joys of writing complex, character-driven fiction.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Inspiration for Keeper of Lost Children

• Based on Real History:
  Johnson shares that her new book was inspired by the true story of Mabel Grammar, a Black American woman living in post-war Germany who championed the adoption of mixed-race children unwanted by both American and German societies (05:34).
• Quote:

  "How do I pay tribute to this woman, Mabel Grammar, and this monumental moment in history that no one knew about?... She really changed the face of adoption overseas, changed the lives of over 500 of these mixed race babies who were left in Germany."
  — Sadeqa Johnson (06:24)

2. Crafting a Multi-POV, Multi-Timeline Novel

• Three Narratives, Three Timelines:
  Johnson discusses the challenge of weaving three characters’ stories: inspired by research, including Mabel, a Black GI named Ozzy, and a German child named Sophia. Each has their own timeline and point of view, unified through careful plotting (05:34–10:42).
• Key Process Insight:

  "My approach is to write one narrative at a time... I always wrote Sophia's character first...then Ozzy...then Ethel's story. Then I would literally print all three stories and sit on my office floor and line them up by chapters...like a jigsaw puzzle."
  — Sadeqa Johnson (10:58)

3. Balancing Storylines and Editing

• Trimming Content:
  Johnson reveals some characters—particularly Ozzy—nearly overtook the novel, and she often had to condense or cut entire chapters (12:35–17:36).
• Quote:

  "At one point my editor said, you know, he's [Ozzy's] taken over the story. This is not his book...that's when I have to go in and figure out how to do a little bit of surgery, take stuff out and stitch it back together."
  — Sadeqa Johnson (17:36)

4. Writing From Diverse Perspectives

• Authenticity & Imagination:
  The conversation touches on the debate of whether writers can write authentically from perspectives outside their own—such as Johnson writing from a male or cross-cultural viewpoint.
• Quote:

  "I always feel like stories choose me, and the stories that choose me are rooted somewhere in my DNA...For me it has to be someone who I feel like we're walking alongside the story together."
  — Sadeqa Johnson (18:36)

5. The Next Project

• Future Writing Plans:
  Despite the challenges of multi-POV books, Johnson hints that her next novel may feature two perspectives.

  "When I finished...Keeper of Lost Children, I said, oh, never again. Like I'm just gonna write like one character's point of view...And I'm right back in historical fiction, right back to two character points of views. I'm like, how did this happen?"
  — Sadeqa Johnson (20:22)

6. Living with Characters

• Personal Process:
  Johnson describes carrying her characters “inside” her before writing and talking about them with family and her agent (22:02–22:50).
• Quote:

  "When they're going to bed with me and waking up with me...that's when I know, like, oh, this is the story that I'm supposed to tell."
  — Sadeqa Johnson (21:41)

7. Working With Her Agent

• Longstanding Collaboration:
  Johnson has worked with her agent since her first self-published novel in 2012, discussing outlines and story ideas extensively before diving in (22:49–23:56).

8. What She Reads While Writing

• Staying Inspired:
  Johnson prefers to read while between manuscripts and finds inspiration in recent reads, like Broken Country and We Don't Talk About Carol (24:04–24:52).
• Quote:

  "When I finished [Broken Country], I sent a message to Claire and I was like, Claire, you made me miss...writing. Like, you have given me the courage to like, jump back in."
  — Sadeqa Johnson (24:22)

9. Advice for Aspiring Authors

• Consistency is Key:
  Johnson encourages scheduling writing time with the same commitment as other obligations.
• Memorable Quote:

  "The thing about the muse is that she comes when you're consistent...When she knows that I'm getting up early and I'm at my computer...and I keep my appointment with her, then she keeps her appointment with me and she shows up."
  — Sadeqa Johnson (25:22)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "It was a long time coming." — Sadeqa Johnson on finishing the book (04:58)
• "You really wrote three books." — Interviewer (17:24)
• "I thought I wanted to write [Jouka's] point of view...but she was harder for me to access...I couldn't swallow her whole in my body, which is what I need to be able to do in order to write a book." — Sadeqa Johnson (18:36)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 04:17 — Zibby introduces Sadeqa Johnson and her prior works
• 05:03 — Discussing the novel’s lengthy research and complexity
• 05:34–10:42 — Inspiration and structuring three narratives
• 10:58–12:35 — Writing process for interweaving storylines
• 12:35–13:22 — Cutting and condensing chapters
• 17:24 — Acknowledgement of writing essentially three books
• 18:36 — Perspective-taking and authenticity in fiction
• 20:22 — Teasing a possible next multi-POV book
• 21:41 — Describing the deep connection with characters
• 22:49–23:56 — Working relationship and story development with her agent
• 24:04–24:52 — Reading habits and sources of inspiration
• 24:56–26:03 — Writing advice for aspiring authors

Tone & Style

Warm, reflective, and full of practical wisdom, this episode balances literary inspiration with candid, behind-the-scenes realities of writing intricate fiction. Johnson’s honesty about the challenges and her deep commitment to the stories she tells make the discussion both accessible and motivating for readers and writers alike.

Summary by AI Podcast Summarizer. For more author interviews, check out Totally Booked with Zibby.