By Marissa Wells
Contributing Writer
CRENSHAW — Readers of all ages gathered at Malik Books in the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza May 27 to celebrate literary icon Walter Mosley and the release of his newest novel, “Ghalen: A Romance in Black.”
Hosted in partnership with Malik Books and the Pan African Film Festival, the evening featured a conversation between Mosley and acclaimed actor, director and author Eriq La Salle, offering attendees a glimpse into the mind of one of the most influential authors of his generation.
Since the publication of his debut novel “Devil in a Blue Dress” in 1990, Mosley has become one of the nation’s most celebrated authors, known for creating richly layered Black characters and stories that challenge readers to see the world through a broader lens.
“People read because they want to find themselves in a book,” he said. “They want to find what they love and what they’re interested in. So, I try to write in every genre I can come up with.”
That philosophy has guided his literary career which spans over five dozen books across genres including mystery, crime fiction, literary fiction, science fiction, memoir, and young adult literature.
When asked about the origins of “Ghalen,” Mosley explained that the story began not with a message or lesson, but with two characters.
“I started writing about these two people,” Mosely said. “A woman who was incredibly smart and follows the rules of being smart, she was going to be a doctor or a scientist. And there’s this guy who’s on the spectrum and he’s studying to be a vegan cook.”
His latest work, “Ghalen”, is a coming-of-age tale that addresses neurodivergence, incarceration, immigration, friendship, grief and the many forms of love that shape human relationships.
Throughout the evening, the conversation returned to the idea that stories take on new meaning when they reach readers. Mosley reflected on the relationship between writers and readers, emphasizing that stories belong as much to those who read them as those who write them.
“Reading is really important because the people who read create what they’re reading,” Mosley said. “I create it in a way, but when I give it to you, you create a whole different story.”
La Salle noted that this ability to leave room for interpretation is one of Mosley’s superpowers as a writer.
“I think you do an exceptional job,” La Salle said. “You own your book in creating it, but you release your book for it to mean what it means to me.”
Mosley hopes readers not only engage with his characters, but also bring their own experiences and interpretations to the story.
“Writers don’t have students, they have readers,” he said in an earlier interview. “And the thing that I’m always looking for is for readers to see what I’ve said and to change it into something that works for them, but at the same time create something different and new.
“I don’t mind if people are entertained, because part of the job of the writer is to make sure that people keep turning the pages,” Mosley said. “But there’s a deeper place where people actually begin to think about themselves, their friends, and their world.”
Marissa Wells is a freelance writer for Wave Newspapers.
