Q&A: Tammye Huf, Author of ‘Inharmonious’

We chat with author Tammye Huf about Inharmonious, which is a compelling love story-inspired by the author’s own family history-set in the segregated South during and after World War II.

Hi, Tammye! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hi, everyone! I’m originally from America, but now live in the UK, where my husband and I have raised our three kids. I love to immerse myself in new places and experiences, and I love the way that books allow me to do that, travelling the globe or even back in time with the turn of a page. Over the years, I have worked as a teacher of various ages and abilities, as a copywriter and as a translator, and now I’m enjoying a new chapter as a writer!

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

In grade school. I started writing poetry in third grade, and I still remember my first effort: a poem about air. Then I moved on to short stories, which primarily featured my pets. At college (Wellesley) I took my first creative writing class and started to think of storytelling in terms of craft, and I discovered the joy of editing a story until you’ve moulded it into what you want it to be. 

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: This is going way back, but the first book I remember reading is Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel. I loved that book!
• The one that made you want to become an author: I’d say it was an author rather than a single book. I was into Judy Blume books for a while there. They really spoke to me, and I remember thinking how great it would be to write a novel that speaks to other people like that.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. That book spoke to me on a whole different level, and not just because it was the first book I’d ever read that centered Black characters, or because it was the first book I’d ever read by a Black author. The there was music in the prose and a solidness in the narration that made you sit up and pay attention.

Your latest novel, Inharmonious, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Family, love, race, hidden-history-you-should-know-but-probably-don’t, hopeful

What can readers expect?

This is a story of family, friends, and lovers struggling with a bad situation and making it better. Inharmonious will take you on an emotional ride as you cheer for these characters who do not give up, no matter what life throws at them. I think readers will be surprised by some of the things they face, and even more surprised to discover how much of this book is rooted in historical facts. And it is a book that firmly celebrates love.

Where did the inspiration for Inharmonious come from?

My novel is inspired by grandmother and her brother, my great uncle.

My grandmother lived at a time when women, especially Black women, were expected to be docile and obedient and not make waves. They certainly should not try to change things, but that wasn’t who my grandmother was. If something wasn’t right, she spoke up. And if people didn’t listen, she acted.

My great uncle was a Black man in the segregated South who could pass for white. When he enlisted in World War II, the officer in charge didn’t want to be accused of trying to desegregate the barracks so made him enlist as a white man. After the war, he remained “white”. In those days, when people passed, they usually also cut off ties to their families so that they wouldn’t be found out. Passing was dangerous and illegal. But my great uncle refused to abandon his family and remained close with them until his death.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I loved writing Cora and Benny. Since they were inspired by my grandmother and great uncle, immersing myself in their world and developing them as characters was a way to connect to my family. 

I also enjoyed exploring the World War II scenes. My knowledge of the war was pretty generic, and I was blown away by all the fascinating history I discovered, much of which I was able to include in the book.

And I loved developing the three love stories in this book: Cora and Lee, Benny and Gloria, and Roscoe and Megan. I’m a firm believer in the power of love to help us grow into our best selves, and that belief is reflected in my novel.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

I wanted Inharmonious to be historically accurate in everything from battle dates to Supreme Court legislation to major sporting events, but sometimes while focusing on the story I wanted to tell, I’d wind up out of alignment with certain events in history. More than once, I’d have to go back and rework sections to make sure that everything lined up within a true historical timeline.

What do you hope readers take away from Inharmonious?

Inharmonious takes place at a time when America was not delivering on its promise of democracy or offering liberty and justice for all. I hope that when people read my novel, they’ll be reminded that we have already overcome so much. Right now, America is once again going through a rather inharmonious period, and at times like these, it’s good to remember and to see that the small actions of individual people can slowly start to move the needle.

I also hope readers will recognise the importance of knowing our whole history. It’s sad to see books being banned all over America and teachers forced to water down history lessons. I believe we should all know more of our history, not less, and books like Inharmonious help readers see a fuller picture.

And finally, I hope my story will inspire readers to believe in love as a force for change.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on my next novel, which is a historical fiction love story set in 1960s America.

It’s about Deedee and Rob, who meet as kids and become fast friends despite segregationist efforts to keep Blacks and Whites apart. Their friendship grows through the years into a forbidden, doomed romance. As social norms are overthrown and laws are rewritten throughout the turbulent 1960s, a relationship that once seemed impossible is within reach, if only they are brave enough to grasp it.

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?

• Land by Maggie O’Farrell – I learned a lot about the Irish famine when writing my debut novel, A More Perfect Union, and I continue to be fascinated by the inexcusable tragedy of it. I love O’Farrell’s writing and I feel certain she’ll do an amazing job with this.
• Kin by Tayari Jones – Again, I love her work, and this story of sisterhood in various forms is one that I think will speak to me on many levels.
• Song in a Weary Throat by Pauli Murray – This is not a new book but one I have only recently heard about. Both Thurgood Marshall and Ruth Bader Ginsburg cite Pauli Murray’s work as foundational to their iconic legal arguments. This is her memoir.

Will you be picking up Inharmonious? Tell us in the comments below!