In this episode of the Libro.fm podcast, hosts Craig and Karen interview Aaliyah Bilal, author of the 2023 National Book Award finalist Temple Folk.
Aaliyah discusses her creative process and journey to becoming a writer, why she prefers to write short stories and the inspiration behind her collection, and book recommendations for those interested in exploring Islam in Ghana and Sudan.
Listen to the full episode
Since I was a teenager, I’ve always preferred the short story form. I just love how efficient they are, I love how mathematical they are, and my mind just takes to the challenge in a different kind of way. I really, really like the challenge of a short story. And so I knew, as I was conceptualizing this collection, that it was going to be a short story collection.”
—Aaliyah Bilal on the Libro.fm Podcast
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About our guest
Aaliyah Bilal is an American writer acclaimed for her debut short story collection, Temple Folk, which explores the lives of Black Muslims in 1970s America. The collection was a finalist for the 2023 National Book Award for Fiction and the 2024 Aspen Words Literary Prize. Bilal received the 2024 Whiting Award and the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence.
