“The Wondrous Life and Loves of Nella Carter” by Brionni Nwosu
Spanning time and countries, The Wondrous Life and Loves of Nella Carter is a transformative story; one that is tender and courageous. It asks what it means to live long enough to see the world change over and over again but still believe in it. To witness and feel centuries of love and loss, beauty and loathsomeness — side by side — and still choose humanity anyway. As Brie said in this episode, “There’s something quietly magical in that kind of hope.”
The narrative: about The Wondrous Life and Loves of Nella Carter
In the face of Death — literally — Nella doesn’t quietly succumb to her illness in 1700s Georgia. No… she bargains. A Faustian deal is struck, and Nella is granted a life of immortality, a chance to live, to see the world, to love. But Death is watching and Nella never really knows when he’ll appear again, when she’ll have to live up to her side of the bargain. Nella must capture in her writing her proof to death that there is still good in the world — in the human race. He isn’t convinced, but Nella has the opportunity (and an immense amount of pressure) to share the details of her live, the moments big and small, that show him where love lies and hope blooms.
The nightcap
First, a pomegranate cosmopolitan! It’s a nod to when this drink became Bri’s go-to and to the Greek myth of Persephone, a bit symbolic of Nella’s experience and being tied to Death.
One is not enough in this instance because Death would need something “full-bodied.” Bri’s second nightcap recommendation is whiskey and amaretto. We might suggest the classic Godfather cocktail! It’s typically made with Scotch whisky, but you can easily swap the scotch with bourbon for a warmer, smoother drink.
Whichever sip you prefer, either is the perfect toast to Nella’s deal with Death, an epic journey, and a life of love and loss that echoes across time.
In the episode
Get to know Bri in our episode of Narratives & Nightcaps. We talk about:
The initial spark for this story, or as Bri says, “when Death walked onto the page…”
The themes of time, legacy, resilience, and hope — even in moments of darkness
How Bri decided which historical threads and Black history moments were most crucial to Nella’s journey (plus her research and influences)
Bri’s path to publication, what this book taught her about herself as a debut author, and her advice for other writers
Listen or watch to the full author interview on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts
Purchase your copy here.
Connect with Bri on her website and Instagram!
Special thanks to Over The River PR for coordinating this conversation.