I always work from an outline, so I know all the of the broad events and some of the finer details before I begin writing the book.
We had common interests in the beauty of the French language. We both had a tremendous love of jazz. We shared dreams of getting married and having a family, living in the country, leading an idyllic life.
I was taught from a young age that many people would treat me as a second-class citizen because I was African-American and because I was female.

