What To Read

Tertulia's First Dibs Editors Salon series is an exclusive look at a few of the most exciting books coming out each season. Join us for the Spring edition of this virtual salon on March 26 at 7:00pm ET for what promises to be a great conversation about books by the editors who helped to shape and publish them.

➳ March 26 at 7:00 pm ET on Zoom Purchase tickets to the First Dibs Editors Salon Note: Are you an active Tertulia member? If so, you'll get free tickets AND have the opportunity to request an advance copy of one of the featured books. Make sure to use this special promo code in your email to RSVP or contact us at help@tertulia.com to register.

One of our selections for this salon is Zeal by Morgan Jerkins, a multigenerational epic that explores the legacy of slavery and the enduring power of love. We are honored to have the book's acquiring editor, Adenike Olanrewaju (Executive Editor, Harper) join us at the salon on March 26 to talk about the book.

Working with Morgan on Zeal was such an experience. She was incredibly diligent while writing this book, being careful to treat each character with reverence. It was important that readers be able to see the beauty and the humanity that existed between enslaved people, despite this very ugly, very inhumane period of American history. Accuracy and details were also important to Morgan. She wanted to paint as vivid and authentic a world as possible, so that meant researching everything from weather patterns to dialects during the book’s timeline. She was inspired to write Zeal in part by a letter she found at The Schomburg Center for Black Culture in New York while researching. So naturally, Morgan knew writing a book such as this required diligence to research. It was such fun watching her work.

— Adenike Olanrewaju (Executive Editor, Harper)