Keeper of Lost Children: Unveiling Untold Stories of Resilience

About this episode

Sadeqa Johnson discusses her novel Keeper of Lost Children, inspired by Mabel Grammer's efforts to help mixed-race children in post-World War II Germany.

Victoria Christopher Murray hosts a conversation with Sadeqa Johnson about her new novel, Keeper of Lost Children . Johnson shares that her inspiration comes from Mabel Grammer, a woman who dedicated her life to helping mixed-race children in post-World War II Germany. She explains her choice to tell the story through three characters—Ethel, a version of Grammer; Ozzie, an African American GI; and Sophia Clark, a teenager wrestling with her identity. This structure helps explore themes like parental love, identity struggles, and second chances as key parts of the story. Johnson also discusses her research and the emotional scenes designed to connect with readers and highlight the important, often overlooked, history of Black women’s contributions. The episode ends with a Q&A from the audience, deepening the discussion of these themes and her writing journey. Takeaways: Ramunda Young, co-owner of Mahogany Books, opens the podcast by introducing the esteemed moderator, Victoria Christopher Murray, a prominent author. Victoria Christopher Murray engages Sadeqa Johnson in a profound discussion of her novel Keeper of Lost Children , which draws on historical events. Sadeqa Johnson…

People in this episode

Host: Victoria Christopher Murray

Guest: Sadeqa Johnson

Topics covered

• resilience
• identity
• parental love
• historical fiction
• Black women's contributions

Keywords

• Keeper of Lost Children
• Sadeqa Johnson
• Mabel Grammer
• identity struggles
• parental love
• historical fiction
• Black women

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Keeper of Lost Children

Places: Germany

More episodes of MahoganyBooks Front Row: The Podcast

• Self-Publishing Success: Strategies from Three Dynamic Independent Authors · May 21, 2026 · 49 min
• Ben Crump on Civil Rights, Literature, and the Fight for Justice · May 7, 2026 · 55 min
• Reclaiming History: The Importance of Black Literature in Modern Society · April 23, 2026 · 46 min
• Unveiling 'The Way Love Goes': Da Brat and Judy's Blueprint for Relationships · April 8, 2026 · 53 min
• Resisting Erasure: The Role of Black Women in Historical Fiction · March 25, 2026 · 48 min
• Inside 'The Seven Daughters of Dupree': An Evening with Author Nikesha Elise Williams · March 11, 2026 · 1h 6m