Meet prize-winning YA author and educator Renée Watson

In this 2019 interview, author and educator Renée Watson talks about her prize-winning YA title, Piecing Me Together and Watch Us Rise (co-written with poet Ellen Hagan). Both look at the lived experiences of black girls as they grapple with identity right at the intersection of race, class and gender. But Watson is a story-teller not a sociologist and, as in life, her characters can and do respond in unexpected ways. In this podcast, we also discuss what goes into writing for young adults, how her own experiences are reflected in Piecing Me Together, the joy of collaborative work, and Watson’s own trajectory as a writer, educator and performer. Let us know what you think about Art Works–email us at artworkspod@arts.gov. And follow us on Apple Podcasts!