The Voice Behind "The Only Black Girl in the Room"

Wormies, 

Ali here. I’ve got some great news for you.

Alex Travis’s novel, “The Only Black Girl in the Room,” dropped at the end of May. 

Y’all, I’m telling you, you don’t want to miss it. 

Not only a talented novelist, Alex is also a full-time school psychologist. Now based in Northern Virginia, her journey from New York to Virginia, coupled with her academic background in psychology, has given her a unique perspective and a powerful voice. 

Without further ado, here's my conversation with Alex Travis. My questions are in bold, and Alex’s responses are directly below each question.

It’s a question that I think stirs up the loveliest of responses. So, I’ve got to ask: why do you write? (Question inspired by Joan Didion’s essay.) 

I write because one day, when I was eleven, I sat down and decided I wanted to write a book. Ever since that moment, writing has been a part of me, almost like a necessary bodily function. If I don’t write for a while, my wrist starts to hurt like it’s craving a pencil. When I feel lost, I find new dimensions of myself and my craft in my stories and characters.

Tell us a bit about your book, please.

My book came from two places. First, I had an idea about a couple breaking up due to the world’s most disastrous proposal (graveyard, funeral, lots of witnesses) and then being forced back together years later by a media opportunity. At the same time, I was a young Black woman navigating my first real workplace experience, trying to make sense of the racism I was experiencing and its toll on my emotional health. These two things came together (much more smoothly than I just made it sound!) to create The Only Black Girl in the Room.

What does your writing process look like?

For my debut and my upcoming book, a lot of work happened because I was procrastinating my dissertation and during my internship year. I had to find ways to accommodate both projects, which usually involved breaking up my time. Traditional work hours were for internship work and the dissertation, while evenings and weekends were for the books. 

I prefer morning writing, but I often end up writing at night. I’m always a coffee girl (but not after a certain time of day), but I do love an afternoon iced tea. I was a paper and pencil girlie for most of my life, but my handwriting is possibly the worst, so digital ends up being better for me now. I like listening to music while writing and have made playlists of songs relevant to the story I’m telling. 

For "The Only Black Girl in the Room," some of my top songs were "Justified" by Kacey Musgraves, "Deadend" by Banks, and "Favorite Crime" by Olivia Rodrigo. For "The Payback Girls," there was a lot of "Vigilante Shit" by Taylor Swift, "Like a Boy" by Ciara, and "Kill Bill" by SZA.

Writing can be a solitary journey at times. How do you keep from getting lonely? How do you keep yourself motivated when the words just don't flow?

My day job as a school psychologist in elementary schools means that sometimes, a bit of loneliness when I come home is needed! I’m trying to be better about maintaining a consistent routine of writing a bit each day (especially when I’m on deadline) instead of in big spurts. The recovering Ph.D. student in me wants to force myself to zone in for eight hours and get as much done as possible, but that’s not the most productive way for me. Deadlines definitely help motivate me, but sometimes just taking breaks, going for a walk, hanging out with my spouse, or watching some reality TV can help me find that spark to keep going when I’m blocked.

If you could have a conversation with any author, living or deceased, who would it be and why?

I desperately want to hang out with James Baldwin. He was such a beautiful writer and communicator, and his words remain incredibly relevant and important today. I don’t even know if I have specific questions for him; I would just want to have hours of conversation and debate over the state of the world and Black people’s positions in society and just hear what he had to say.

Can you share a surprising or unexpected source of inspiration for your writing?

The topic that inspired me to start writing was an early obsession with Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII. I read "Doomed Queen Anne" by Carolyn Meyer in fourth or fifth grade and became obsessed. I started googling and learning more, and one day decided to sit down and write my own story about her. I’ve always been drawn to smart, powerful women who have deeper complications to overcome, and I think my journey started there and continues a bit. My novel "The Payback Girls," out next year, features some Tudor-queen inspiration as well.

Every writer has a unique voice. How’d you find yours? 

I was obsessed with Meg Cabot (like all of us) growing up, and I loved how quippy and quick her dialogue was. I think part of me started imitating that in my early writing, and as I grew into myself and my personality, I began to find my own quips and quirks, which became a central part of my writing and my voice.

What is the heart of “The Only Black Girl in the Room”?

For me, I want the message that people take away from "The Only Black Girl in the Room" to be the loneliness that can come with being the only one in a room, especially when that only is a marginalized group. 

I want people to either resonate with the experiences of my main character Genevieve or come away with a deeper understanding of what micro (and macro) aggressions can look like and how to be a true ally who interrupts these moments. It’s important not to rely on the person receiving those aggressions to be the only one pushing for change and improvement. I frequently find myself being the only person to speak up publicly in the workplace when something racial happens, even if people agree with me privately. That is a big burden, especially without people standing behind me. I would love readers to be energized and motivated to take those chances and be willing to learn and grow.

Thanks for tuning in, y’all.

Looking for another friend on Bookworm? Connect with her.

Interested in chatting with Alex? Send her a note.

Y’all on social media? Find Alex on Instagram and Twitter (ehem, X). 

Want to read "The Only Black Girl in the Room"? Buy her book at your favorite indie.

Yours in dirt,

Ali