Ellen Barker's Blog

More about Changing Demographics and Civil Rights

Listen to this podcast with Julia Brewer Daily on the story behind East of Troost.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NPFifnBujE

Publishers Weekly Article about East of Troost

Thank you to PW for this thoughtful article about my narrator's search for "home" in her own hometown and calling out two of the books that have influenced me most in 2022: I Take My Coffee Black: Reflections on Tupac, Musical Theater, Faith, and Being Black in America by Tyler Merritt, and Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family by Amy Ellis Nutt.

Read the Publishers Weekly article

What's in a Name?

In the book East of Troost, Troost refers to Troost Avenue, and east of Troost to the part of Kansas City where Black families were allowed to live. The street was named after Dr. Benoist Troost, a physician, developer and slave owner. Many decades later, there is a move to give the street a new name that represents unity, not hate and division. Read the story here: https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/...

Art in the Time of Unbearable Crisis

Just published by She Writes Press, this anthology was conceived with the premise that art keeps good alive in the worst of times. My contribution is a poem, in free verse - my first published poem.

Royalties from this book will be donated to World Central Kitchen, Jose Andres's non-profit that feeds victims of natural disasters and war and is currently feeding people in Ukraine). The cause is close to my heart because my husband volunteers with WCK when they respond to California wildfires.

The book is available in paperback and Kindle wherever you buy your books, including Bookshop which lets you support your local independent bookstore if they don't carry it.
 Art in the Time of Unbearable Crisis: Women Writers Respond to the Call