Not many writers can say they’ve transitioned from love poems to children’s novels about anthropormorphic jazz musicians like “Duck Ellington.” Poet, educator, New York Times bestselling author Kwamé Alexander has done it all.
His newest work, “The Undefeated,” is his “love letter to black America.” He tells The Times that he wrote it for his daughter after Barack Obama was elected president.
Some of his titles include “Swing,” “Solo” and “Rebound,” the follow-up to his popular Newbery-medal winning middle-grade novel, “The Crossover.” He’s currently writing a screenplay for “Crossover” and is also the host and producer of the literary variety/talk show “Bookish,” which airs on Facebook Watch.
Alexander chatted with The Times about his new book and dropped some poetry, too.
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Author of “He Said, She Said: Lessons, Stories, and Mistakes From My Transgender Journey,” Gigi Gorgeous is photographed in the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Lilliam Rivera in the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Jericho Brown, author of “The Tradition,” in the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Janet Fitch in the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Lilliam Rivera in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author of “The Tradition,” Jericho Brown, in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author of “The Book of Ruin,” Rigoberto Gonzalez, in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Kwame Alexander at the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author and Los Angeles Times columnist Patt Morrison at the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Ruth Reichl at the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author and Times columnist Steve Lopez at the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Kwame Alexander at the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Rigoberto Gonzalez, author of “The Book of Ruin,” in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Ruth Reichl at the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author of “He Said, She Said: Lessons, Stories, and Mistakes from My Transgender Journey,” Gigi Gorgeous is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC.
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Author Susan Orlean in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC.
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Author Don Winslow in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC.
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Author Janet Fitch in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Susan Orlean in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC.
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Author Sandra Cisneros in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Dave Barry in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC.
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Author Damon Young in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC.
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Author Dave Barry in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC.
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Author Sandra Cisneros in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Damon Young in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC.
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Author Karamo Brown is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Author Marcellus Wiley is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Author Adam Higginbotham is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Author Karamo Brown is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Illustrator of the children’s series “Fancy Nancy,” Robin Preiss Glasser is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Cory Doctorow is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Bret Easton Ellis is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Henry Thomas is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Yesika Salgado is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Illustrator of the children’s series “Fancy Nancy,” Robin Preiss Glasser is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Maurene Goo is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Bret Easton Ellis is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Laila Lalami is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Jasmine Guillory is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Glory Edim is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Author T.C. Boyle is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Author Glory Edim is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
