Books
The Viewco-hosts sequel toSummer on the Bluffstakes place in Sag Harbors historically Black beachfront community.
Sunny Hostin writes the booksshe wants to read, but cant find at a bookstore.
But as she further ingratiates herself into this new community, she also unearths difficult truths about herself.
Congratulations onSummer on Sag Harbors success!How does it feel to continue your book series?
To have to follow upSummer on the Bluffswas scary.
There was such a wonderful response to it.
You and your family summer in Sag Harbor, right?
We summer on Marthas Vineyard, Sag Harbor, and Highland Beach.
There arent many remaining historically Black beach communities.
Black people werent allowed to buy beachfront property.
People love beach reads.
Its rare to have a book that teaches and highlights that level of Black excellence.
People dont want to talk about slavery.
They dont want to talk about Jim Crow.
They dont want to talk about Malcolm X being assassinated for his views.
People dont want to or I should say the white community doesnt want to talk about it.
Black authors decided we are going to talk about it.
Were going to write so that we have our history and so our children know what happened to us.
There was trauma, but out of that trauma came incredible courage and incredible resilience.
Lets write about that too.
It wasnt on the ocean; it was on the bay.
I think its such a beautiful story of community and of Black power and Black excellence.
Where there was trauma, we still found joy and community against all odds.
Who were you writing to when you began writing the series?
Black people were my audience.
There was also a part of me that wanted white women to read it.
I have a significant number of white readers.
These women said, Oh, my goodness.
I loved your book so much.
… And men, believe it or not, also like the book.
Colorism affects Olivias self-esteem, which is a big part of the book.
Have you witnessed colorism in your personal or professional life?
This was a love letter to my best friend, Kathy.
Weve been friends since I think we were 16.
She looks like Naomi Campbell, and I look like me.
When we went out together in college, all the guys approached me.
It is something I didnt notice at the time.
I found it interesting because its almost as if they didnt see what I was looking at.
This woman has hair down to her butt.
Shes fun, and shes a great dancer.
I was like, What are you talking about?
She told me, Light skins always going to be in.
The closer you are to white, the more attractive you are in this country.
I didnt have that experience of feeling like my skin color was not beautiful.
Whats maddening is its not just the white community.
Its also a problem in the Black community because my beauty is seen as more acceptable in this country.
I wanted to explore that.
On my book tours, women tell me that Olivia makes me feel seen.
I get asked how as a light-skinned woman, I was able to capture that.
I wrote it because I lived it with my best friend.
Why do you think its important to have women of color as romantic leads in pop culture?
We live romantic lives.
Ive been married for 25 years.
I’ve been in a 25-year beautiful romance.
Its a shame that its not reflected more.
Its gotten better, but its just not reflected.
That can be our lived experience too, right?
Show us in all of our dimensions and part of that is romance.
I love that Im seeing it more, but I;m not seeing it enough.
How do you think we start to fix that lack of representation?
Everybody has a story in them.
But there are a lot of authors who arent onThe View.
Terry McMillan is one example.
I think we need to write more.
I produce what I want to see.
I think thats how you fix it.
You may not even get a foot in the door.
What are your plans for the third book?
Ive got about 150 pages.
I have them with me right now.
Its set in Highland Beach.
Im a little nervous because Highland Beach is a different bang out of community.
Its a much smaller community.
Its what you call a hidden gem.
Its where Frederick Douglass had his summer home, if you’re able to believe that.
I think a lot of people are surprised that he would summer there.
Some of his descendants are still there.
There arent real hotels there, so you find out about it because you hear about it.
They want to meet with me to check that I get it right.
Im happy for the invitation.
I should be done in September with this book so that you all can enjoy it next summer.
What are the plans for theSummer on the BluffsTV show?
Octavia Spencer is my producing partner and has graciously agreed to also star in it.
We have our showrunner, Elizabeth Hunter.
You’ll know her fromJumping the Broom,which she wrote, and alsoThe Fighting Temptations.
Shes of Marthas Vineyard.
She understands the world.
It was a blessing to find her.
So, were on hold right now.
I cant tell you who bought it, but it will be streaming.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
