Know Your (Grown Up) Mighty Writers: Annette John-Hall
Grew up: “In Berkeley, California. Which is Northern California, where it’s real, not fake, like L.A. Growing up in a glorious bastion of tolerance allowed me to celebrate myself as an African American woman, and gave me an abiding appreciation for all races, ethnicities and cultures. As a result, I love writing about race and culture and how they intersect, separate or divide us. All with a mission to strive for common ground.”
Books I read as a kid: “Oh wow. Just about anything that sucked me in, from ‘Alice in Wonderland’ to the ‘Autobiography of Malcolm X.’ Any book that told a good story and taught me something, I read.”
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Toni Morrison’s novels are works of art.
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Person who inspired me to be a writer: “My mother, Rita John. She was the first person to take us to library and make it a habit. She was always working crossword puzzles, sharpened pencil next to dictionary on the kitchen table. She had beautiful penmanship, too. I remember being proud of the notes she wrote me for school. But the library was a gift she probably didn’t even realize she gave.”
Kind of books I like to read now: “Good, character-driven novels. Ones that when I finish, it feels like I’ve completed a five-star meal. Felt that way just the other day after reading Kathryn Sockett’s ‘The Help.’ ‘The Short, Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao,’ by Junet Diaz was another filling ‘meal’.”
My favorite all-time author: “Toni Morrison. Her novels are works of art.”
Hardest thing about writing for me: “Getting started.”
My writing makes me happiest when: “I’m completely satisfied.”
Best advice for young writers: “Read everything.”
Annette John-Hall, a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, previously covered professional, college and high school sports at the San Jose Mercury News, the Rocky Mountain News and the Oakland Tribune.
Annette will be conducting a free sportswriting workshop at Mighty Writers, 1501 Christian Street on Monday nights, Nov. 2 to Dec. 21, from 6 to 7:30pm. Sign up now by calling Mighty Writers (215.239.0899), or emailing Program Director Rachel Loeper (rloeper@mightywriters.org). Space is limited.
