What happens when a pandemic exposes the realities that wealth and privilege usually hide?
Author Regina Porter stops by our show to discuss her provocative new novel, "The Rich People Have Gone Away," a title that says it all. It's a book with sharp social commentary where characters are forced to confront their own moral complexities about privilege, race, and class, set against the backdrop of COVID-19 in New York City in 2020.
Porter also reveals how she builds complex characters, as well her curiousity to examine themes of personal value versus wealth. Hopefully, this episode can give you a deeper understanding of how literature, in particular this book, can help us process collective trauma and find our place in a time of crisis.
Episode Summary:
(3:04): Regina Porter Discusses Her Writing Style Influenced by Poetry
(4:08): Inspiration Behind "The Rich People Have Gone Away"
(6:03): Character Development of Theo Harper - A Complex Protagonist
(11:06): Comparing Regina Porter's Novel to "The Talented Mr. Ripley"
(14:02): Morality in Modern Society
(19:58): Intersections of Class and Race in Regina Porter's Work
(22:04): How Time, Place, and Music Shape Porter's Writing
(24:26): The Symbolism Behind Character Occupations in the Novel
(29:06): Pop Culture's Influence - Cardi B's Impact in the Story
(31:02): Regina Porter's Writing Process and Emerging Themes
(34:03): The State of the Publishing Industry for Writers of Color
(36:14): Regina Porter's Advice and Tips for Aspiring Writers
Regina Porter Quotes: ❞
"It's heartbreaking these stories. There's a reason why... we see these stories and people are not able to coexist with their wealth and their worthiness."
"Maybe my job is to pave the road for the next great writer and then my work might be rediscovered, you know, later."
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