I wrote many chapters that are not in the book, which helped me to understand the characters better and write the most compelling, page-turning story possible. I enjoyed creating the characters and relationships in this book and when writing it I experimented with different dynamics between each of the characters. However, this book is not an autobiography or a memoir. I am black/mixed-race and gay like the protagonist Michael, and I also have some experience as a drag performer. The Black Flamingo is a story that is very close to me. What I love about all of these books is how the poetry and its proximity to the main character lets you jump straight into the emotion of the story. I turned to a number of recent verse novels for inspiration, such as The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, Moonrise by Sarah Crossan, Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson and Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds. The verse novel style that I wrote The Black Flamingo in helped me a lot with writing the book because I could craft it as a series of poems. I can’t speak for all dyslexic people, but I often feel lost and confused when reading novels, so I had no idea I would be able to write one myself. Writing a novel was a big challenge for me because I’m dyslexic. I began my journey writing poetry as a teenager, which I still do and love.

This is my first novel, but I hope it’s just the beginning of my career in fiction. Thank you so much for reading The Black Flamingo. Poet Dean Atta talks about the experience of writing his award-winning debut novel in verse, The Black Flamingo, and the impact he hopes it will have on readers.

Der Schwarze Flamingo by Dean Atta