May 26th 2024.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Sunny Hostin, co-host of The View, shared her experience of facing challenges while working on her novels. The 55-year-old daytime television star opened up about a time when a book executive questioned her ability to succeed.
As her third book, "Summer on Highland Beach," is set to release on May 28, Hostin revealed that a publisher she had approached did not support her idea of a series set in historically Black "elevated beach settings." She recalled, "The first two meetings I had were unsuccessful because the people in the room just didn't understand my vision."
Hostin was inspired to enter the literary space after realizing the lack of romance novels centering on Black women. She vividly remembers being at an airport, searching for a book with a Black female lead and being disappointed by the lack of options. "I remember one executive saying, 'Well, what's the market for this?' And I replied, 'Black women.' She seemed surprised and asked, 'Really? You think so?'"
In response, Hostin pointed out that African-American women are the most educated demographic in the country, with the most degrees. She added, "I was very surprised that not only did these books not exist, but executives didn't even believe there was an audience for it. It was both surprising and disheartening."
However, Hostin was fortunate to have found an editor, Carrie Feron, who shared her vision and supported her Summer series. "She not only saw the characters, but she also saw me and the audience. She saw the potential for three books," Hostin praised.
Despite facing doubts from certain executives, Hostin proved them wrong with the success of her first novel, "Summer on the Bluffs," which sold 25,000 copies in its first week. The book was so well-received that Amazon is considering adapting it into an Amazon Prime Television series, with renowned actress Octavia Spencer potentially producing the project if it fits her schedule.
In addition to her writing career, Hostin is known for speaking her mind and standing up for what she believes in. Recently, she rebuked the Biden administration for mishandling Haitian migrants, a stance that received both praise and criticism. Hostin remains unapologetic about using her platform to bring attention to important issues and advocate for marginalized communities.
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