Award-winning novelist Bernice McFadden enters the memoir genre, explaining to a Politics and Prose audience that her writing, whether fiction or memoir, draws from her personal and familial experiences.

McFadden joined entrepreneur Glory Edim at Union Market in Washington, D.C., bookstore this month to discuss her new book, Firstborn Girls. It was the third stop on a book tour from Brooklyn to Houston. The event was teeming with longtime fans, many of whom used the Q&A to share with McFadden that they had read her entire backlog.

Firstborn Girls traces McFadden’s history from a childhood accident to the conception of her first novel, with the history of her maternal lineage woven into the story. Her life is shaped by the women who came before her. These women gave her solace from a home life made torturous by her alcoholic father. Her family history traverses the globe, including Detroit, Georgia, Brooklyn, Barbados, and Africa. Still, she finds a home with her female ancestors, who guide her wherever she goes.

McFadden told the audience that, growing up, time spent with family was about telling stories. While she did some research for the book, much of it came from tales of her life experiences. However, she acknowledges that memory shifts with perspective - her version of events may differ from her mother's, grandmother's, or anyone else's in her stories.

Audience members were curious about the book's title. McFadden shared that long ago, her blog had the same title because she is one of many firstborn girls in her family. This concept is central to McFadden’s writing.

McFadden further explains how she wanted to be a writer but felt discouraged when studying literature, finding no representation in the syllabus. Edim and McFadden are well-suited to discuss looking for role models outside the “masters” of literature taught in schools, who are often male and white. Glory Edim founded Well-Read Black Girl, a literary community dedicated to black women. She released her first memoir in 2024, Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me, an ode to the power of books that make us feel like we belong. McFadden recounts discovering authors like Alice Walker and Toni Morrison shifted her perception of literature.

“They saved my life, they shaped my life,” McFadden said. “It was like being surrounded by friends.”

Firstborn Girls is a memoir about devastation and joy. A discussion about the struggles endured by her female ancestors brought McFadden to tears, and the audience responded with a wave of support, clapping, snapping, or shouting out, “We love you!” It was a powerful moment of camaraderie and care.

Edim, a memoir author, also asked McFadden how she wrote about family members without complicating relationships and hurting people’s feelings. McFadden answered that the line between stories you share and stories you don’t, but at the end of the day, you have to share your truth.

Ultimately, McFadden is most curious about how the past informs the present. She tells the audience she wants to interrogate the past and put the truth on paper. McFadden hinted that another memoir may already be in the works, so readers can look forward to discovering more of that truth in the future.

McFadden’s work resonated strongly with her audience, where she found a dedicated readership. During the conversation, she discussed the struggle of getting published, recalling how editors told her she wouldn’t find an audience for her writing. Seeing the P & P crowd of devoted faces who showed up to support her that evening, it was almost hard to believe.

Haley Huchler lives in Virginia and has written for Northern Virginia Magazine and the Washington Independent Review of Books. She has a B.A. in English and Journalism from James Madison University, where she was editor-in-chief of Iris, an undergraduate literary magazine.

Firstborn Girls: A Conversation with Novelist Bernice McFadden.