Author Yaa Gyasi on the Ghana Trip that Inspired ‘Homegoing’

We have been big fans of author Yaa Gyasi's debut, Homegoing, which traces two branches of a family tree from 18th-century Ghana to present-day America, since it was published in 2016. (It has made an appearance at least twice on the podcast as a favorite read.) So, with her second novel, Transcendent Kingdom, out this week, we thought it was high time we get Yaa herself in the (Zoom) studio to chat. This week, we talk about the trip to Ghana that kickstarted the idea for Homegoing, the female friendship that inspired parts of Transcendent Kingdom's main character, and what it takes to create such a distinct sense of place.

Here's a quick rundown of the books and stories we mentioned in this episode:

• Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
• Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
• “Inscape” by Yaa Gyasi
• The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
• Intimations by Zadie Smith
• Luster by Raven Leilani
• Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
• Having and Being Had by Eula Biss

Find a full transcription of the episode here: www.cntraveler.com/story/yaa-gyasi-women-who-travel-podcast

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