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Abrea Armstrong, "Ferry Tales"
Past event
Featured Book
Ferry Tales
Ferry Tales is a debut novel by Abrea Armstrong that follows a black millennial woman on a transatlantic journey of self-discovery, blending travel, romance, humor, and cultural reclamation as she reconnects with her African heritage and confronts the legacies of diaspora, identity, and corporate America.
Born of a legacy forgotten over centuries, Anana Freedman has all the trappings of a Black Millennial dream—cash in her purse, smoke in her lungs, liquor on her lips, and lovers in rotation. But the one thing she lacks is herself. When an unexpected wedding invitation to West Africa arrives, it cracks open the illusion, thrusting her into the troubled waters of her birth. There, between sips of whiskey, puffs of smoke, sweat of romance, and tears of mud, she must reassemble her deepest truth—one that lies somewhere between the story she’s been told and the one etched in her soul—or drown trying.
About This Event
Join Abrea Armstrong at the Book Cellar to discuss her new book, Ferry Tales, in conversation with Nikki Carpenter!
Featured Author
Abrea Armstrong
Abrea Armstrong was born and raised in North Carolina and is a proud descendant of enslaved Africans. She earned her BA in Spanish Language & Literature from St. John's University in Queens, New York. While living in NYC, she contributed to publications such as XXL Magazine, Revolt TV, and HuffPost Live, and was awarded a private poetry grant. Her poetry is now part of the Special Collection at the Z. Smith Reynolds Library at Wake Forest University. Throughout her career, Abrea has been recognized for her excellence in mass communications, receiving honors including the Triad Business Journal's 40 Under 40 Most Influential African-Americans, 20 in their 20s, and Leader in Diversity in 2020. She was also named Most Valuable Emerging Leader by the National Urban League and received the 2022 MLK Young Dreamer Award from the City of Winston-Salem. Ferry Tales is her debut novel, inspired by her own life experiences. Since her first journey to the Motherland, she has deepened her connection to her roots and officially became a Ghanaian citizen in November 2024. Abrea currently resides in her hometown of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
In Conversation With
Nikki Carpenter
About the Venue
The Book Cellar
What could be a better combination than books, wine by the glass, and cozy couches? Browse for the books you love to read at The Book Cellar in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood, an independent bookstore featuring books by first-time authors, local authors, and more. The Book Cellar welcomes book clubs and discussion groups.
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