Interview with LaToya Council, Co-Author of “Love without Bounds”

Love without Bounds was co-written by you and two other people, both of whom are also sociologists and women of color. What did you take away from this collaboration process?

Working as a collective is what makes Love without Bounds a feminist project. The feminist spirit is about being in community and knowing that justice and excellence are only possible when we work together. Each of us brings unique skills and talents to the work–Chelsea’s passion is in design, Carolyn is our organizational guru, and my expertise is in the theory behind this book.

Working as a group on both Love without Bounds and IntersectionAllies was also essential because so many perspectives are represented. We each brought unique personal experiences of vulnerability, love, and longing that contributed to the nuances of each character.

And honestly, I’m not sure there would be two books if we went about it solo. Having partners means we each have time to rest when we need to rest and balance the multiple demands of family and our outside careers.

Love without Bounds is your second book; it follows IntersectionAllies: We Make Room for All. How did the writing process change from the first book to the second? What insights from the first book were helpful in the creation of the second?

Thank you for that question. We went into writing Love without Bounds knowing we wanted to write a book that applied the lens of intersectionality to the topic of families, showing how families are impacted by the larger social systems they live and love within. However, what we were surprised by is how vulnerable we had to become in order to convey the main idea behind the book– how love is what makes each family special despite unique shapes, sizes, and backgrounds. That meant having difficult conversations with each other and ourselves about the experiences we’ve had in our own families, and the challenges of accepting them despite appearing differently from “the norm.”

So, what did that look like? Well, when I was a child, I used to be ashamed of the fact that I was reared in a single-parent-mother headed home. My father died when I was 4-years-old. As I collaborated with Chelsea and Carolyn, I recalled stories where I had to constantly defend my family’s composition to other kids who always asked, “where is your dad?” I couldn’t participate in Father’s Day activities like other kids I knew. Those memories hurt, but I had to draw on them to make the characters in our book feel real. We had to do self-reflection with the first book for sure, but this book meant going more personal and getting uncomfortable.

We also listened to what resonated with readers from the first book and used that insight to guide our approach to Love without Bounds.  For example, we received positive feedback about the use of rhyme, despite that we were advised by a big press that rhyme was not trendy. But to our surprise, the general public appreciated the rhythm and levity of rhyme since the topics we write about tend to be very heavy and responsible. So, we maintained the use of rhyme in Love without Bounds.

Lastly, everyone raved about our illustrator, our dear friend Ashley Seil Smith. Ashley’s artwork brought the IntersectionAllies characters alive, and that was a compliment we received in each city and classroom we visited. That important piece of insight is why we continue to collaborate with Ashley, and view her as an important member of our sister collective.

What are some meaningful conversations you’ve had with readers of Love Without Bounds - with children or adults?

Connecting with Diverse Families: During book events and discussions, readers have shared their experiences of feeling seen and represented by the diverse family structures depicted in the book. Children who come from non-traditional families have expressed appreciation for seeing families like theirs in a children's book, helping them feel accepted and understood.

Navigating Family Changes: Both children and adults have engaged in conversations about family transformations, such as divorce, incarceration, or the arrival of a new baby. The book has provided a platform for readers to express their feelings and emotions related to these changes and find comfort in knowing that such experiences are part of the larger human experience.

Understanding Intersectionality: The book's emphasis on intersectionality has sparked discussions among readers about how various societal factors, such as race, class, gender, and ethnicity, intersect with family dynamics. This has allowed readers to explore the complexities of family relationships and how larger societal structures like marriage laws and national borders impact individual experiences.

Recognizing Chosen Family: The concept of "chosen family" in the book has resonated with readers who have expressed the importance of friends and individuals outside of blood relatives who have played significant roles in their lives. This has led to discussions about the value of supportive communities and non-traditional forms of kinship.

Embracing Love Without Bounds: Readers have reflected on the book's message of loving without boundaries and discussed ways they can show compassion, empathy, and acceptance to those around them, regardless of their family structures or backgrounds.

In every room we enter, we are humbled by the conversations with both children and adults, who are often for the first time given the space to talk openly about one of the most intimate facets of their lives– their family.

What are some of your favorite books (children’s, YA, or adult) that celebrate Black Love?

I’ll share a book in each category:

Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry (Children's Book) is a beautiful picture book (and also, now, a short film!) is one of my favorites. It tells the story of a father learning to style his daughter's hair for the first time. It beautifully portrays the loving bond between a father and his child– a relationship we don’t see enough in kids lit.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson (YA) is a lovely memoir based on Woodson’s childhood, her family experiences, and the people she encountered throughout her youth outside of her family. The book beautifully captures the complexities of life, the importance of self-love and the experiences we have that make us, us.

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones, my Spelman sister (Adult Fiction) is a powerful novel centers around a young Black couple, their love, and the challenges they face when the husband is wrongfully imprisoned. It delves into the resilience of love and the impact of systemic injustice.