How to Bring History’s Hidden Figures to Life on the Page: An Interview with Ilyon Woo

Write

Mar 4

On episode 25 of the Reed, Write, & Create podcast, New York Times bestselling author, Ilyon Woo is our guest.

Ilyon is the author of the new book, Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom and The Great Divorce: A Nineteenth-Century Mother’s Extraordinary Fight Against Her Husband, the Shakers, and Her Times. Her writing has also appeared in The Boston Globe, The Wall Street Journal,Time, and The New York Times.

During our delightful conversation we discuss how she began her writing career, why she writes about historical figures, and we spend some time discussing identity and how it impacts the decision we make as writers. As an Asian-American writer who has written two incredibly well-received books about American history, Ilyon has a unique and informed opinion about the #OwnVoices argument.

Some of the specific topics Ilyon shares on the podcast include:

When she fell in love with storytelling.
Why she’s obsessed with the Shakers.
Her secrets to writing thrilling, jump-off-the-page nonfiction.
How being Korean-American has impacted her career as a writer.
What the descendants of Willam and Ellen Craft, the subjects of Master, Slave, Husband, Wife, think of her portrayal of their famous relatives.
Her advice for other BIPOC writers who want to write beyond their own cultural stories.

It’s another informative, inspiring and fun conversation with an award-winning BIPOC writer.

I hope you love it!

You can listen to the entire episode here, or on your favorite podcast player, including Apple or Spotify.

Learn More About Ilyon Woo

To learn more about Ilyon Woo, visit her website: IlyonWoo.com and/or find her on Instagram @ilyonwooauthor.

Buy a copy of the incredible, Master Slave, Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom from The Reed, Write, & Create Bookshop.

To learn more about William and Ellen Craft, follow the Instagram account started by their descendants to share their story with the world. @WilliamandEllenCraft

If you want to read the book Woo referenced during our conversation, it was Tiya Miles’ All that She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, A Black Family Keepsake.

Check out Ilyon’s first book, the fascinating, The Great Divorce: A 19th Century Mother’s Extraordinary Fight Against Her Husband, The Shakers, and Her Times.