It is 1971 and Bellport, Massachusetts is a dying factory town. But the coming urban redevelopment will have even more implications for the residents. Sydney Stallworth has left her law studies to support her husband’s dream of opening a business in the heart of the black community. For Omar Bassari, a drummer from Senegal, Bellport will be the launching pad from which he hopes to spread African culture across the world. Della Tolliver has built a fragile sanctuary for herself, her boyfriend, and her daughter Jasmine, a troubled child prone to nightmares and outbursts. Tensions rise as the demolition date moves closer and suspicious fires begin to break out. Bellport’s residents find themselves increasingly at odds with the political system that is manipulating their lives and their relationships. Examining the profound impact of gentrification, The Talking Drum explores intra-racial, class, and cross-cultural tensions, along with the meaning of community and belonging.

Lisa Braxton is a former newspaper reporter and television reporter and anchor. She received an Emmy award nomination during her television career. She earned her MFA in creative writing from Southern New Hampshire University, her M.S. in journalism from Northwestern University, and her B.A. in Mass Media from Hampton University. She is a former president of the Women’s National Book Association Boston chapter. Her stories and essays have been published in anthologies, magazines, and literary journals, including Vermont Literary Review, Clockhouse Review, Northwestern University Magazine, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and The Book of Hope. She received Honourable Mention in Writer’s Digest magazine’s 84th annual writing contest in the inspirational essay category, and was a Top 10 Finalist for the Still I Rise Grant for Black women writers. She lives in the Boston, Massachusetts area.

Lisa Braxton's profile page

• Short-listed, International Book Awards – Multicultural Fiction
• Winner, IPPY Gold Medal – Urban Fiction
• Winner, Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book Award
• Short-listed, Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards – Fiction
• Winner, National Association of Black Journalists LitAward

“With an insider’s eye for nuance, Lisa Braxton captures both the powerlessness and the resilience of communities threatened by urban development. At once tragic and hopeful, The Talking Drum is a heartfelt exploration of the deep roots of gentrification, brimming with vitality and richly drawn characters.”
–Wil Medearis, author of Restoration Heights

“The Talking Drum, set in the early 1970’s, deftly weaves the stories of three young, struggling couples living near Petite Africa, a community of African and West Indian immigrants. Issues of gentrification, race, gender politics, and class inform this propulsive story, but at its heart, this is a novel about who you love and who becomes your home. A moving and skillful debut.” –Stephanie Powell Watts, author of No One Is Coming To Save Us

“A book that is sensual, fraught, and above all, human.” —The Boston Globe