5 Questions with Courttia Newland, Author of A River Called Time

Courttia Newland is the author of seven books including his much-lauded debut, The Scholar. His last novel, The Gospel According to Cane, was published by Akashic in 2013. In 2016 he was awarded the Roland Rees Bursary for playwriting. As a screenwriter, he has co-written two episodes of the Steve McQueen BBC series Small Axe.A River Called Time is his latest book.

Courttia Newland will be discussing his newest book with Naomi Jackson and Victor LaValle as part of our City Lights LIVE! discussion series on April 17th!

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Where are you writing to us from?

I’m writing from Forest Gate, East London in the borough of Newham, which is the birthplace of Grime and Jungle, home of the 2012 Olympics; and it has a pretty cool park near me too–West Ham Park. I’ve only lived here for eight years or so; before that I was in Brixton, and before that I was born and bred in west London: Wood Lane, Shepherd’s Bush, and Ladbroke Grove. There’s a rumor that Brixton and Ladbroke Grove are twinned, as far as the African-Caribbean populace are concerned. The only part of London I’ve never lived in is north. So far.

What’s kept you sane during the pandemic?

Being a writer I’m usually holed up in the house for the better part of a year anyway, and I was doing pretty good until January. Then I had enough. I’ve been working mostly, getting projects done, overdosing on music, watching as much film and TV as I can, reading on occasion. SAULT albums were a Godsend; I love prolific artists. The movies Rocks,His House,Time, and I’m No Longer Here were really inspiring. I binged on Watchmen,The Morning Show andHomecoming. I also don’t know what I’d have done without my family and kids being with me.

What are 3 books do you always recommend to people?

Only 3?! Percival Everett - Erasure, Curdella Forbes – A Tall History of Sugar, Colson Whitehead – The Intuitionist.

Which writers, artists, and others influence your work in general, and this book, specifically?

Well, Percival heavily influences me, so much so that my previous novel was homage to his work. As I love prolific artists, J Dilla is a major inspiration for his ability to find his own lane, and work without the need for outside accolades. Erykah Badu, Alice Coltrane, Flying Lotus, Kendrick Lamar, Kool G Rap. Steve McQueen without question. Dennis Brown, Peter Tosh, Dennis Bovell, Smiley Culture. Fela Kuti, James Brown. The Grime scene, Wiley, Dizzee, D Double E, Kano, the UK Hip-Hop scene (shout out to London Posse, and Demon Boyz)! The entire diaspora sound-system culture! Boards of Canada, Autechre. The Metu Neter. God. Everything really.

If you opened a bookstore, where would it be located, what would it be called, and what would your bestseller be?

Shepherd’s Bush Green, it’d be called House of Culture and it would be fully interactive with a coffee shop/juice bar, theatre/cinema which could be turned into a space for book launches and parties. Perhaps a writing/internet space for people without access, kind of like an Internet bar or library. Strictly A to Z by author, no sections according to ethnicity. African Diaspora led, but completely inclusive. I’d never dictate the bestseller! It could be anything really but something smart and incisive about life, sex, spirituality and the capacity for human potential that could be anything: fiction, non-fiction, a play or poetry. Something mind-bending and true that exists without hype, just pure joy.