The Ink Is Black Podcast

The Ink Is Black Podcast

Hey book lovers! I’m Tiffani Staten, and I want to invite you into a space where Black stories get the celebration they deserve. The Ink is Black is your monthly book club with a soulful twist – think of it as sitting with your friend who’s always got the perfect book recommendation and the insights to match. Every month, we dive deep into fiction and nonfiction by Black authors from across the diaspora, exploring everything from heart-stopping thrillers to powerful memoirs, literary debuts to books that made the leap to your screen. I’m a writer, reader, and forever fan of stories that speak from the soul. Whether you’re looking to fill your bookshelf with more Black voices, searching for your next book club pick, or just want to hear someone get genuinely excited about beautiful writing, you’ve found your home. Expect spoilers, expect deep dives, and expect to discover authors who’ll become your new favorites. Plus, don’t miss our Fresh Ink Spotlight where I shine light on breakout Black voices doing incredible work. From contemporary fiction to historical sagas, from romance to horror (yes, we cover it all) – we’re here to remind you that diverse stories make for richer reading experiences. Because the stories are Black, the voices are rich, and the plot always thickens. New episodes drop monthly, with bonus content that’ll keep your TBR growing. Ready to follow the ink with me? Visit tiffanistaten.com for more book content and updates. ________________________________________ Hosted by: Tiffani Staten Format: Monthly deep-dive episodes + Fresh Ink Spotlights + Bonus episodes Focus: Books by Black authors and stories featuring Black protagonists from across the diaspora tiffanistaten.com

Episodes

February 28, 2026 16 mins

She's a full-figured Dominican doctor in Victorian England. He's a newly titled Duke with something to prove. And together, they are absolutely not playing around.

This month on The Ink is Black, we're diving into Adriana Herrera's A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke, book four in the Las Leonas series, and honey, this one has layers. Yes, there's a love story. Yes, it's a good one. But underneath all that romance is a woman named Auror...

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Season 2 kicks off with Edwina Findley Dickerson's The World Is Waiting for You: part memoir, part spiritual guide, all about stepping into the life you were called to live. Host Tiffani Staten unpacks Edwina's journey from poverty to purpose, the power of strategic faith moves, and why your calling is bigger than just you. It's about lineage, service, and legacy. If you're setting intentions for the new year or wondering what's ne...

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Host Tiffani Staten digs into People Person by Candice Carty-Williams, a wild and heartfelt story about five half-siblings who are forced together after a violent incident and must decide what family truly means.

Through humor, chaos, and painful honesty, the siblings confront their absent father, grow into chosen roles, and learn that being a "people person" is about presence and acceptance, not charm. Like & Subscribe!

Follo...

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Host Tiffani Staten reviews Cebo Campbell’s Sky Full of Elephants, a speculative novel that explores a post‑racial dystopia after an event causes white people to drown themselves. The episode addresses heavy themes, including suicide, generational trauma, identity, and the damage of internalized racism.

Staten reflects on characters’ journeys toward self‑actualization, the novel’s vision of a thriving Black community (the kingdom o...

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On this episode of The Ink Is Black, host Tiffani Staten dives into Blood Moon by Britney S. Lewis — a haunting exploration of family secrets, inherited pain, and the supernatural threads that bind them.

Through the story of Mira Owens’s search for truth, from her mother’s mysterious disappearance to a hidden world of vampires and werewolves, Tiffani unpacks how silence, shame, and sacrifice pass through generations like a curse.

B...

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Host Tiffani Staten reviews Khalia Moreau’s He Burns by the River, exploring its vivid Trinidadian setting, lyrical voice, and themes of identity, family, spirituality, and the symbolism of river and fire across the African diaspora.

Staten shares a personal connection from a writers’ conference, praises the book’s honest portrayal of Caribbean life, and highly recommends it—teasing next month’s pick, Blood Moon by Brittany S. Lewi...

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In this bonus episode, host Tiffani Staten reflects on Tina Knowles' memoir Matriarch, exploring how Knowles transformed personal struggle into collective empowerment. From witnessing her professional friends being disrespected at salons to needing an escape route from an unfaithful marriage, Tina built Headliners as both survival strategy and sanctuary for Black women.

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In the debut episode of The Ink is Black, host Tiffani Staten dives deep into Esi Edugyan's "Washington Black" alongside Hulu's stunning new adaptation starring Sterling K. Brown. From the brutal cane fields of Barbados to the frozen Arctic and beyond, Tiffani traces Wash's complex journey to freedom while examining his complicated bond with Titch—mentor, savior, or something more troubling?

...

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Welcome to "Ink is Black," where host Tiffani Staten shares her passion for books by Black authors. Join this monthly book club with a soulful twist, exploring stories by Black writers from all over the world. Discover the tales that resonate, from memoirs that tug at your heartstrings to page-turners that keep you reading late into the night. Dive into the cultural richness of Black storytelling and experience the journey of belov...

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