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

Speaker: 00:00:34

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

2

: 00:00:38

I'm your host, Octavia Marie,

and today we have something

3

: 00:00:42

extra special lined up for you.

4

: 00:00:44

If you're new here, we dive

deep into Black romance novels

5

: 00:00:48

celebrating stories and characters

that truly resonate with us.

6

: 00:00:52

We spotlight books that not only

entertain, but also empower and inspire.

7

: 00:00:58

Today's spotlight is on Tia

Williams remarkable book, A

8

: 00:01:02

Love Song for Ricky Wilde.

9

: 00:01:05

Trust me, you're going to love this

enchanting blend of contemporary

10

: 00:01:09

and historical fiction, magical

realism, and of course, a love story

11

: 00:01:15

that'll sweep you off your feet.

12

: 00:01:17

This novel is a modern day fairy tale

about a free spirited florist who

13

: 00:01:22

moves from Atlanta to Harlem to open

a flower shop and realize her dream.

14

: 00:01:27

When she's there, she meets a

mysterious musician and they

15

: 00:01:31

fall passionately in love.

16

: 00:01:34

They discover that their lives

are inextricably linked in very

17

: 00:01:37

interesting enchanted ways.

18

: 00:01:39

Layered on top of this love story,

there's Voodoo, a 96 year old landlady

19

: 00:01:44

who knows more than she seems, a

disgraced child star who is Ricky's

20

: 00:01:49

nosy best friend, and Leap Year Magic.

21

: 00:01:52

Released in February during a leap

year, the novel's touch of magical

22

: 00:01:55

realism makes it even more special.

23

: 00:01:57

Initially, I was a bit hesitant when

I read the blurb for this novel.

24

: 00:02:02

It seems so unlike a typical Tia

Williams book, but I guess that's

25

: 00:02:06

what makes her such an amazing writer.

26

: 00:02:08

It.

27

: 00:02:10

I wondered if I would be able to suspend

disbelief to read it it was a little

28

: 00:02:14

slow to get into at first, but as I dove

deeper, I was reminded a little of The

29

: 00:02:19

Hand I Fan With by Tina McElroy Ansa.

30

: 00:02:23

I bought into it from the beginning,

I totally believed in it, and it

31

: 00:02:26

didn't pull me out of the story.

32

: 00:02:29

There's a haunted piano, a voodoo curse.

33

: 00:02:32

The Golden Harlem Renaissance era

and an enchanted Harlem brownstone.

34

: 00:02:37

There's sparkly dialogue,

steam, and high stakes love.

35

: 00:02:41

This story has a flashback narrative with

portions taking place during the Harlem

36

: 00:02:46

Renaissance, an era that fascinates me.

37

: 00:02:49

The voodoo story aspects

weren't off putting to me.

38

: 00:02:52

Some aspects of the

rituals are interesting.

39

: 00:02:55

And having family, my grand and

great grands from Louisiana.

40

: 00:02:59

The French Creole history is

very much a part of our heritage.

41

: 00:03:03

Also, as our ancestors left the

South during the Great Migration,

42

: 00:03:06

bringing culture, spirituality, and

mysticism to the North, this novel's

43

: 00:03:11

historical connection felt authentic.

44

: 00:03:14

Early jazz and blues music often

mentioned Voodoo because many

45

: 00:03:17

musicians came from the South.

46

: 00:03:19

This historical context adds another

layer of richness to this story.

47

: 00:03:23

Voodoo has often been misunderstood

due to white supremacy portrayed

48

: 00:03:27

as evil and scary because it was

something enslaved people practiced

49

: 00:03:30

that white people didn't understand.

50

: 00:03:32

It made them nervous and led

to a campaign against it.

51

: 00:03:35

But voodoo is really a mix

of African mysticism and

52

: 00:03:38

Catholicism, a religious practice.

53

: 00:03:41

You see some of that in this novel.

54

: 00:03:43

We also see Eva Mercy from Seven Days

in June make a cameo at a book signing

55

: 00:03:48

explaining a bit more about these themes.

56

: 00:03:51

Every time I visit New York,

I love walking around Harlem.

57

: 00:03:54

It's so different from

other areas like Brooklyn.

58

: 00:03:58

Walking around Harlem, you can

stumble upon plaques on buildings with

59

: 00:04:01

historical information like Billie

in: 1929

60

: 00:04:07

Harlem feels like a city built over

another city, very rich with history.

61

: 00:04:13

Anyway, Ricky Wilde is a strong,

creative woman who never quite fit in

62

: 00:04:17

with her high society Atlanta family.

63

: 00:04:19

She's all about breaking the

rules and following her passions.

64

: 00:04:23

Unlike some of her more

button up relatives.

65

: 00:04:26

Her dream?

66

: 00:04:27

To open a flower shop.

67

: 00:04:29

She's the black sheep of the family,

going against the grain and pursuing

68

: 00:04:32

her creative passions despite the

lack of support from her family.

69

: 00:04:36

Rikki is the youngest of four girls

in a very aristocratic family.

70

: 00:04:39

She's 15 years younger than her sisters,

who are all very fancy and bougie.

71

: 00:04:44

They went to Ivy League schools, married

the right guys, and work in the family

72

: 00:04:48

business, a string of funeral homes.

73

: 00:04:51

Rikki, on the other hand, only likes

the flowers in the funeral homes.

74

: 00:04:55

The flowers also play an interesting

role, especially night blooming

75

: 00:04:59

jasmine, which only blooms at night.

76

: 00:05:01

And if you know anything about

night blooming jasmine, you

77

: 00:05:04

know how wonderful it smells.

78

: 00:05:06

Tia Williams does an amazing job of

making you feel the notes in the flowers.

79

: 00:05:10

After crossing paths with Della Bennet,

a 96 year old who becomes her fairy

80

: 00:05:14

godmother, Rikki finds herself in

Harlem and on a whole new adventure.

81

: 00:05:19

If she had stayed in Atlanta, she

would've experienced a soul death.

82

: 00:05:22

Working the family business

to her life is too short.

83

: 00:05:27

She breaks away from the family to pursue

her dream of opening a flower shop,

84

: 00:05:31

which her family thinks is ridiculous.

85

: 00:05:34

She moves to Harlem to open her

flower shop in a brownstone.

86

: 00:05:37

What makes Rikki's story truly magical

is her chance encounter with Ezra Breeze

87

: 00:05:42

Walker, a mysterious musician with an

old world charm and an incredible secret.

88

: 00:05:47

, They have an intense connection set

against the backdrop of Harlem's rich

89

: 00:05:52

cultural history that feels like destiny.

90

: 00:05:55

It's a romance that explores

big ideas about family, time,

91

: 00:05:59

and the pure magic of love.

92

: 00:06:01

Rikki is vibrant, creative, and possesses

a spirit that's impossible to contain.

93

: 00:06:07

Stepping away from her family's funeral

home business, she dares to create a new

94

: 00:06:11

life, opening a flower shop in Harlem.

95

: 00:06:14

This decision is both brave

and inspiring, showing us the

96

: 00:06:18

beauty of following one's dreams.

97

: 00:06:20

Her journey is not just about finding

love, but also about finding herself.

98

: 00:06:24

It's about carving out a space where

she can truly be herself, away from the

99

: 00:06:28

expectations and pressures of her past.

100

: 00:06:31

Then there's Ezra Breeze Walker.

101

: 00:06:34

He's not your typical love interest.

102

: 00:06:36

A traveling musician with courtly

manners, Ezra brings an air of

103

: 00:06:40

mystery and depth to the story.

104

: 00:06:42

As Rikki and Ezra's paths cross,

their connections grow, filled with

105

: 00:06:46

magnetic attraction and a sense that

their meeting is written in the stars.

106

: 00:06:50

Ezra is a man out of time, with secrets

that link him to Harlem's golden age.

107

: 00:06:56

His charm, talent, and the sorrow in

his eyes draw Rikki in, making her

108

: 00:07:01

believe in the magic of love and destiny.

109

: 00:07:03

The secondary timeline, set during

the Harlem Renaissance, provides

110

: 00:07:07

a rich historical layer that

gives context to Ezra's character.

111

: 00:07:11

It's beautifully crafted,

offering glimpses into his tragic

112

: 00:07:15

past and the larger than life

figures who influenced him.

113

: 00:07:19

This historical backdrop adds depth to

the story, showing how the past shapes the

114

: 00:07:23

present and how love can transcend time.

115

: 00:07:26

Now, let's dive into

the themes of the book.

116

: 00:07:29

A love song for Rikki Wilde

is more than just a romance.

117

: 00:07:32

It explores the burden of family

expectations, the weight of time,

118

: 00:07:36

and the gifts that love can bring.

119

: 00:07:38

Rikki's journey is about self discovery

and the courage to follow one's heart.

120

: 00:07:43

She learns to embrace her uniqueness,

To stand up for her dreams and

121

: 00:07:48

to love fiercely and freely.

122

: 00:07:50

Ezra's storyline with its

elements of magical realism adds

123

: 00:07:53

a fantastical dimension that makes

their love story truly unique.

124

: 00:07:57

The way time is woven into their

relationship serves as a metaphor

125

: 00:08:01

for the timeless nature of true love.

126

: 00:08:03

It's a reminder that love can

be eternal transcending the

127

: 00:08:07

barriers of time and space.

128

: 00:08:08

Let's take a moment to

celebrate the Brilliant Mind

129

: 00:08:11

behind this incredible novel.

130

: 00:08:13

Tia Williams known for her compelling

storytelling and rich layered characters.

131

: 00:08:19

Williams never fails to deliver stories

that resonate deeply with her readers.

132

: 00:08:24

Her ability to blend contemporary

narratives with historical settings

133

: 00:08:28

and elements of magical realism

is nothing short of genius.

134

: 00:08:32

A love song for Ricky Wild is a

perfect example of her craft combining

135

: 00:08:37

romance history, and a touch of the

supernatural in a way that's both

136

: 00:08:41

captivating and thought provoking.

137

: 00:08:43

So why should you read A

Love Song for Ricki Wilde?

138

: 00:08:47

Well, because it's a beautifully

written, deeply moving story that

139

: 00:08:50

celebrates the power and love and the

importance of following your dreams.

140

: 00:08:54

It's a story that will make you laugh,

cry, and believe in the magic of love.

141

: 00:08:59

It's a story that will stay with you

long after you've turned the last page.

142

: 00:09:03

So as we wrap up today's episode,

I hope you feel inspired to pick

143

: 00:09:07

up a love song for Ricky Wilde and

dive into this enchanting world.

144

: 00:09:11

Whether you're a fan of romance,

historical fiction, or magical realism,

145

: 00:09:16

this book has something for everyone.

146

: 00:09:19

It's a testament to the power of

diverse narratives and the importance

147

: 00:09:22

of supporting Black authors.

148

: 00:09:24

Remember!

149

: 00:09:25

Supporting Black authors and celebrating

diverse narratives is crucial in ensuring

150

: 00:09:30

that our stories are told and heard.

151

: 00:09:32

So go on and grab a copy and get lost

in Ricky and Ezra's magical love story.

152

: 00:09:37

Let their journey inspire you

to follow your own dreams and

153

: 00:09:40

to believe in the power of love.

154

: 00:09:42

Thank you for joining me

on this literary journey.

155

: 00:09:44

Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review,

and share this podcast with your friends.

156

: 00:09:50

Stay tuned for more episodes where

we'll continue to explore the beauty

157

: 00:09:53

and diversity of romance literature.