Marlon James on writing an 'African Game of Thrones' and undergoing an exorcism

Originally published on February 4, 2019

When you win the Man Booker Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in literature, you can either rest on your laurels or try to replicate that success by writing another book.

Marlon James found himself in this situation a few years ago when he was the first Jamaican author to ever take home the Man Booker Prize. His winning novel, A Brief History of Seven Killings, was a complex story of political intrigue based on a real-life assassination attempt on Bob Marley in the '70s.

His new novel is called Black Leopard, Red Wolf, which he's described as "an African Game of Thrones." It's the first in a planned fantasy series called The Dark Star Trilogy.

Just like James is not your typical fantasy author, Black Leopard, Red Wolf is not your typical tale of swords and sorcery. In a conversation with Tom Power, James opens up about writing the novel, his struggles with self-acceptance and how he was changed by his experience with a voluntary exorcism.

Black Leopard, Red Wolf comes out tomorrow. 

Download our podcast or click the 'Listen' link above to hear the full conversation with Marlon James.

— Produced by Chris Trowbridge