Caroline Clark: 'This story completely surprised me'

This Autumn series of podcasts started with Helon Habila confronting the difficult legacy of slavery in the US. Over the next few weeks, we'll be talking with Ephameron and Kasimma. But this time we welcome Caroline Clark and I Will Go.

Clark tells us she isn't really sure where this haunting story started.

"I could tell you a story about how this story came together," she says, "but it probably wouldn't be the real one."

The author explains how she assembles her writing mosaic fashion, instead of a "linear, chronological manner".

"I think that's what I have to do," she says, "to get my words out there – come upon something from a different angle."

This mysterious process may have served her in poetry, memoir and now fiction, but she isn't hung up about genre, suggesting that her work is "all connected".

"When I've written everything you'll have the video game of Caroline Clark," the author adds, "and you can play it."

We'll be levelling up with Kasimma next time as we discuss history, equality and her short story Mama Taught Me That. You can find her here on the site or via Apple podcasts, Spotify, Acast and Podchaser and more.

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