Q&A: Regina Black, Author of ‘August Lane’

We chat with author Regina Black about August Lane, which is a small town romance about the visibility of Black women’s voices in country music, perfect for readers of The Final Revival of Opal & Nev.

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

I’m a former lawyer turned law school administrator, and a first-generation college graduate who grew up in a small town in Arkansas. I write about art, identity, and love in the modern South. My fun fact is that I’m an identical twin who married an identical twin.

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

I consider myself a reader first, a writer second. My writing came directly from my love of books. I always knew I’d write my own someday. I don’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be a writer. I wrote my first poem at the age of nine and have been writing ever since. But really, it was reading that taught me how stories could transport you, how they could make you feel less alone in the world.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss.
• The one that made you want to become an author: Range of Motion by Elizabeth Berg. It’s about a woman whose husband is in a coma after a freak accident, and she’s the only one who believes he’ll eventually wake up. It was the first romance book that ripped my heart out and quietly stitched it back together. I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Back in Blues by Imani Perry. She has a knack for making me see the American South, a region I’ve lived in all my life, in entirely new ways. The way she traces the role of the color blue through Black history is so creative and beautifully written.

Your latest novel, August Lane, is out July 29^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Black country music second-chance romance

What can readers expect?

Readers can expect an emotional, angsty second-chance romance that explores music history, family legacies, and the complexities of forgiveness and redemption. It’s about Luke Randall, a one-hit wonder Black country star, who lied about writing his only hit, returning home to face August Lane, his first love, and the woman he stole it from. The book is structured like a country song with dual timelines that weave together past and present. At its heart, it’s about flawed characters learning to love themselves and each other, set against the backdrop of Black country music’s forgotten legacy.

Where did the inspiration for August Lane come from?

The story started with a song. In 2010, Ben Folds released “Belinda,” about a singer forced to perform his only hit, a song about an ex-girlfriend he’d wronged. I couldn’t shake the idea: what happens when someone’s biggest success is built on their biggest regret?

Then, in 2021, I began listening to Rissi Palmer’s “Color Me Country” radio show. Around the same time, CMT awarded Linda Martell the Equal Play Award. She was the first Black woman to perform solo at the Grand Ole Opry in 1969. It made me realize there was this entire history of Black artists in country music that I didn’t know about.

I’ve always loved country music, but it never felt like something I could claim openly because the genre didn’t seem to welcome Black fans. Learning about Linda Martell and later delving into the research of Dr. Francesca Royster, the author of Black Country Music: Listening for Revolutions, made me understand how deeply our roots lie in this genre. I wanted to write about what it feels like to love something that doesn’t always seem to love you back.

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

I loved creating JoJo Lane, August’s mother. She’s a 90s Black country music star who’s finally getting her flowers after decades of being overlooked. JoJo primarily appears through a podcast interview she recorded after the main events of the story. She represents the voice of Black women in the industry, their resilience, their talent, and their refusal to be erased.

I interviewed several Black women country singers while researching the book, and it was incredible to give voice to their experiences through JoJo’s character.

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

Writing the songs was probably my biggest challenge. I’m not a songwriter or musician, so my first attempts at lyrics were terrible. I told my editor to ignore them during her initial edits and treat them as placeholders.

Eventually, I realized I was approaching it wrong. These aren’t actual songs; they’re book songs. I needed to focus on how they read on the page rather than trying to create melodies no one would hear.

Once I studied the structure and themes of country music—the focus on the past, second chances, regrets, and the desire to go home—I could write lyrics that served the story and felt authentic to the country music genre while also staying true to my characters’ voices.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on another emotional romance with Black southern roots, but I’m playing with genre and structure in ways that have me excited. I can’t say too much yet, but it’s going to be different from August Lane while still exploring themes of identity, family, and what it means to find your creative voice.

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?

The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest and No Ordinary Love by Myah Ariel are two recent romances featuring musicians that I loved. I was lucky enough to read an early copy of The Princess and the PI by Nikki Payne. It’s a brilliant blend of thrilling murder mystery and hilarious, steamy romance, set to be released in September.

I’m also excited to read Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton-Harris. Terah writes gorgeous southern fiction with strong romantic subplots, and I know I’m going to love this one as much as her previous novels.

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