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• Junie - 2025 Ballantine Books, New York, NY

• Erin Crosby Eckstine website - https://erincrosbyeckstine.com/

  Erin Crosby Eckstine is the author of Junie, forthcoming from Ballantine Books in January 2025. She writes speculative historical fiction, personal essays, and anything else she’s in the mood for.

  Born in Montgomery, AL, Erin grew up between the South and Los Angeles before moving to New York City to attend Barnard College. Eckstine worked in a variety of digital media internships and jobs before pivoting to education and earning a master’s in secondary English education from Stanford University.

  Eckstine went on to teach high school English in Brooklyn, NY for six years before becoming a full-time writer. When she’s not writing, she’s usually making pottery, reading, cooking, or playing The Sims. She lives in Brooklyn with her partner and cats.

  Erin is represented by Danya Kukafka at Trellis Literary Management.

• Writer's Digest - https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/erin-crosby-eckstine-writing-a-book-is-a-collaborative-process

  Erin Crosby Eckstine: Writing a Book Is a Collaborative Process
  In this interview, author Erin Crosby Eckstine discusses fulfilling her grandmother’s lifelong dream in writing her debut novel, Junie.
  Robert Lee Brewer
  Published Feb 8, 2025 4:00 PM EST
  Erin Crosby Eckstine is an author of speculative historical fiction, personal essays, and anything else she’s in the mood for. Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Eckstine grew up between the South and Los Angeles before moving to New York City to attend Barnard College. She earned a master’s in secondary English education from Stanford University and taught high school English for six years. She lives in Brooklyn with her partner and their cats. Follow her on Instagram.

  Erin Crosby Eckstine
  In this interview, Erin discusses fulfilling her grandmother’s lifelong dream in writing her debut novel, Junie, how writing a book is a team effort, and more.

  Name: Erin Crosby Eckstine
  Literary agent: Danya Kukafka
  Book title: Junie
  Publisher: Ballantine Books
  Release date: February 4, 2025
  Genre/category: General Fiction/Historical Fiction/Magical Realism
  Elevator pitch: Set in antebellum Alabama, Junie is a coming-of-age tale of a 16-year-old enslaved girl who must make a pivotal choice after awakening her sister's spirit. Facing an increasingly unfamiliar world beyond her control, she asks herself: When we choose love and liberation, what must we leave behind?

  Bookshop | Amazon
  [WD uses affiliate links.]

  What prompted you to write this book?
  I adapted Junie from a family story my grandmother, Callie Crosby, told me. My ancestor Jane Cotton escaped slavery in Alabama before the Civil War, settling in a rural community where, to this day, many family members remain.

  How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?
  I got the idea for the book on a visit to my grandparents’ house in 2018. I wanted to write a multigenerational family novel, similar to Allende's House of the Spirits, about our town. I expected this project would die in my Google Drive, but I couldn’t resist coming back to Junie, the original ancestor in the story. I decided to fulfill my grandmother's lifelong dream of writing a book inspired by our ancestors. I took a writing class and joined a local writing group, but after about six months, I lost momentum, and all but gave up on drafting.

  That all changed in March 2020. What started as a two-week stint teaching high school remotely from my Brooklyn apartment with my cat turned into almost two years of quarantine. A literary agent signed me after reading early chapters, and I wrote the novel in quarantine. Outside of my Zoom teaching, I dedicated all my free time to writing Junie’s story, completing the book before year's end.

  It took around two years to edit the novel while juggling full-time, in-person teaching. Then, after finding a home at Ballantine, we spent an additional two years preparing for the big day!

  Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?
  I now understand that writing a book is a collaborative process. Even if one name is on the cover, it takes a team to write a good book. My agent, Danya Kukafka, and editor, Wendy Wong, provided essential guidance throughout the creation of Junie; their insights were indispensable to the final product.

  Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?
  I struggled to fully develop Junie, my main character. While I found it straightforward to develop the non-POV characters in the course of writing this book, Junie’s characterization needed substantial revision. For me, the protagonist always presents the biggest challenge, as writing them is akin to self-characterization. I spent considerable time crafting an objective perspective on her and enabling readers to share her feelings.

  What do you hope readers will get out of your book?
  My goal was for Junie to be a realistic and complex character—someone battling awful things, but still fully human, experiencing hope, love, loss, and all the messiness that entails. Authors commonly limit portrayals of enslaved individuals to two simplistic and inaccurate tropes: the blissfully ignorant slave who conforms to a white-centric perspective, or the relentlessly miserable slave who lacks individual development. This story reflects my time thinking about the harsh realities of slavery. American slavery lasted for over a quarter-millennia; it weighed on me that enslaved people lived the full spectrum of the human experience, good and bad, under this horrific system. I wanted to show what slavery was like for one person, focusing on their mind, feelings, and soul.

  This book also examines the damaging effects of oppressive systems, especially malignant caste systems, on all levels of society. Without revealing too much, the plantation holds more than one victim of prejudice and discrimination, and Junie is only one of them. Bellereine is meant to be a microcosm of the larger social structure, and I also wanted to delve into the profound challenges of liberation and revolution, even when they are necessities for growth.

  If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?
  My dad raised me on sports metaphors, so I’m going to go with one of his classics: You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Every step of this process has required some level of risk; signing up for a writing class, joining a writing group, sending my pages to an agent, the list goes on. Embrace boldness; step outside your comfort zone—rejection is just part of the journey! You might sit on the next great American novel, but no one will know if you don’t share it!

• Los Angeles Public Library website - https://www.lapl.org/collections-resources/blogs/lapl/interview-author-erin-crosby-eckstine

  Interview With an Author: Erin Crosby EckstineDaryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch Library, Thursday, May 15, 2025
  Author Erin Crosby Eckstine and her debut novel, Junie
  Photo of author: Alida Rose Delaney
  Erin Crosby Eckstine is an author of speculative historical fiction, personal essays, and anything else she's in the mood for. Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Eckstine grew up between the South and Los Angeles before moving to New York City, where she taught high school English for six years. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and their cats. Her debut novel is Junie and she recently talked about it with Daryl Maxwell for the LAPL Blog.

  What was your inspiration for Junie?
  I intended Junie to be a realistic and complex teenager. I wanted a flawed, yet hopeful, human character. Literature frequently reduces enslaved people to two stereotypes: the docile slave who accepts the white worldview and the suffering slave devoid of personal growth. This story reflects my time thinking about the harsh realities of slavery. American slavery lasted for over a quarter-millennia; it weighed on me that enslaved people lived the full spectrum of the human experience, good and bad, under this horrific system.

  In your Author's Note, you talk about how several of the characters in the novel, including Junie, were inspired by your ancestors and their experiences. Do you remember how old you were when you first started hearing these stories? How old were you when they started resonating with you and you decided to write your novel?
  I adapted Junie from a family story my grandmother, Callie Crosby, told me. My ancestor Jane Cotton escaped slavery in Alabama before the Civil War, settling in a rural community where many family members remain. I got the idea for the book on a visit to my grandparents' house in 2018 when I was 26. I want to write a multigenerational family novel about our town. I expected this project would die in my Google Drive, but I couldn't resist writing about Junie, the original ancestor in the story. I decided to fulfill my grandmother's lifelong dream of writing a family book.

  How did the novel evolve and change as you wrote and revised it? Are there any characters, scenes, or stories lost in the process that you wish had made it to the published version? Were there any changes you made to your ancestor's stories for the novel?
  The story stayed pretty consistent, but I did rearrange events throughout revisions. I did make a major change to my ancestor's story, but I can't share that since it's a spoiler! If you read the book and the author's note, you will know what it is.

  How familiar were you with the pre-Civil War South, in general, prior to writing Junie? Did you have to do a bit of research? If so, how long did it take you to do the research and write your novel?
  I wouldn't consider myself an expert, but I used some of my existing knowledge, coupled with research, to fill in the gaps. I read a lot of other fiction set during the same time. I focused most of my research on antebellum Montgomery to find little details I could add about the exact time and place. I did most of my research at the same time as drafting.

  What was the most interesting or surprising thing that you learned during your research?
  I don't want to say because I use them in the novel!

  Do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever had an encounter with something paranormal?
  I don't 'not' believe in ghosts—I've never encountered one, but I've had some moments where I've questioned if something supernatural is going on.

  Your biography says that you were born in Montgomery, Alabama, that you've spent some time in Los Angeles, and that you now live in Brooklyn. Do you have any favorite places in Montgomery, Los Angeles, and/or Brooklyn? Hidden gems that someone visiting should not miss, but would only learn about from someone who has lived there?
  I wasn't born in Los Angeles, but my dad is a native Angeleno, so I've at least partially lived in Los Angeles my whole life. I went to 3rd-12th grade in LA, grew up in the valley, and still visit to see my family all the time, so I consider myself an Angeleno. Most of my LA hidden gems are questionable nonsense I got into with my friends as teenagers, which I would definitely not recommend publicly, so I'll stick with food. My family is very hardcore about Yucca's Tacos in Los Feliz. When I was in high school, I used to eat a salami sandwich from Larchmont Wine and Cheese nearly every day. I also try to always go to Lilly's in Malibu and Tony's Mexican Grill in Valley Village when I'm home. Otherwise, I usually spend as much time by the beach as I can—I'm a big ocean girl!

  In your Author's Note, you also tell how you lost your grandmother before she had a chance to read Junie. If you had the chance, is there something you'd ask her? Something you'd tell her now that the novel is published and out in the world?
  It's less than I'd want to say something to her, and more than that, I want to hear what she'd say. My grandmother was so opinionated and smart, and I know she'd have something to say, whether it be kind, insightful, or just funny. I'd probably have her out on interviews with me if she were still here!

  As a debut author, what have you learned during the process of getting your novel published that you would like to share with other writers about this experience?
  That it is worth taking the risk and sharing your writing! I was always so scared to share my writing with others, but once I did, it was life-changing!

  What's currently on your nightstand?
  The Remains of the Day, by Kazuo Ishiguro.

  Can you name your top five favorite or most influential authors?
  Favorite is too hard, so I'll go with influential. Charlotte Bronte, Isabel Allende, Jesmyn Ward, Elena Ferrante, Octavia Butler.

  What was your favorite book when you were a child?
  Under 7, Yertle the Turtle. 7-13, Harry Potter. 13-18, The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

  Was there a book you felt you needed to hide from your parents?
  No, my family was always pretty open with what I could read!

  Is there a book you've faked reading?
  I was an English major, I basically have a degree in fake reading… I no longer pretend I've read things I haven't since there's not much of a reason to, but I think the most shocking book I haven't finished is Beloved, since it has a lot of parallels with Junie, which are totally unintentional as I hadn't read it at all prior to starting the book. I love Toni Morrison, especially Sula and The Bluest Eye—I just need to pick up and start Beloved again.

  Can you name a book you've bought for the cover?
  Our Share of Night, by Mariana Enriquez.

  Is there a book that changed your life?
  Looking back, there’s a good case for A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray! I loved the Gemma Doyle series, and it ended up getting me into 19th-century literature and culture, and eventually into historical fiction. I met Libba recently and got to gush about this, which was really cool.

  Can you name a book for which you are an evangelist (and you think everyone should read)?
  I'll say Giovanni's Room, James Baldwin, but I have a lot of books that fall in that category!

  Is there a book you would most want to read again for the first time?
  Jane Eyre or Villette by Charlotte Bronte. I’m obsessed with Charlotte Bronte.

  What is the last piece of art (music, movies, TV, more traditional art forms) that you've experienced or that has impacted you?
  Severance! I couldn't stop thinking about all the literary allusions.

  What is your idea of THE perfect day (where you could go anywhere/meet with anyone)?
  Wandering around a foreign city (Paris and Madrid come to mind), going to a music festival with ample seating/VIP access (I'm in my 30s and am no longer trying to rough it) with all my favorite artists, and then getting to meet them afterwards and talk about books, writing, and songwriting.

  What is the question that you're always hoping you'll be asked, but never have been?
  Which musicians and songwriters have had the biggest impact on your writing? I grew up in a music family and find a lot of writing inspiration in music. I think if I hadn't ended up on the path I'm on with books and teaching, I'd probably have eventually ended up working in music.

  What is your answer?
  Phoebe Bridgers, SZA, Frank Ocean, Lucy Dacus, Julien Baker.

  What are you working on now?
  I'm moving into the editing phase of another historical fiction story—stay tuned!

When Alabama native Erin Crosby Eckstine decided to write a book, she wanted to create a persona she rarely sees depicted in literature a well-rounded and human portrayal of an enslaved character.

Many slavery narratives feature angelic tropes or showcase figures suffering the most horrific trauma possible, Eckstine writes in the authors note of her sparkling debut novel Junie, a speculative work of historical fiction centered on 16-year-old Delilah Junie June as she comes of age while enslaved on a plantation in 1860s Alabama.

Eckstine dug into her familys lore about her third great-grandmother to craft Junies story. The authors ancestor was a young wife and mother who escaped slavery before the Civil War and went on to live a long and successful life. No records exist about her early years, prompting Eckstine to use her vivid imagination and captivating storytelling skills to construct Junies world.

The result is an enrapturing tale of survival that is simultaneously melancholic and passionate, introspective and propulsive, character-rich and plot forward, as Junie barrels toward freeing herself from more than a few states of bondage.

An intelligent and restless young woman who has been given a taste of agency and wants more, Junie has lived her entire life on Bellereine Plantation in Lowndes County, Alabama, serving the McQueen family. Her role as&17-year-old Aislinn Violet Margarets personal maid affords Junie some advantages. Most notably, Violet secretly taught Junie how to read.

Violet is a sweet but sheltered young lady. She believes Junie is her best friend and wants to discuss the Victorian novels she adores as if they are equals. But Junie experiences their relationship with more complexity and refrains from revealing she isnt nearly as impressed with Wuthering Heights as Violet. While their friendship provides Junie with certain benefits, it also places her in peril when Violet is careless about following the rules.

But Junies ability to read opens her up to the world. It is while cleaning Violets bookcase that Junie falls in love with poetry. The works of literary greats like William Wordsworth and John Keats offer her glimmers of hope and help fortify her identity.

Yet ghosts haunt Junie, both figuratively and literally. While she resides with her relatives who remain at Bellereine, some key players are missing. Her mother was sold, and her father died shortly after her birth. And Junies sister Minerva Minnie May died the previous winter. Not only does she miss Minnie terribly, Junie blames herself for her big sisters death and is burdened to distraction by guilt.

Junie is in constant conflict with her grandmother, greataunt and cousin, which magnifies her sense of alienation. They chide her when she disappears into the forest to daydream and be carefree, something she does frequently. Junie has a creative mind, a healthy ambition and a thirst for freedom to contend with. Deep in her heart, she knows she certainly isnt destined to spend her days emptying chamber pots. Her favorite bard Keats never had to. Junie wants a life like Violets, where she can while away her afternoons writing poetry.

Junie is an endearing character who is impossible not to root for, even if she is often stressful to observe. In a different environment, her self-possession may have led to her downfall. But the McQueens are too wrapped up in their own tumble from grace to crush Junies spirit as she struggles to come of age.

The family is on the precipice of financial ruin and, much like the other ghosts Junie encounters, are existing in the shadow of their former selves. Their only hope is to marry the beautiful Violet to a wealthy suitor willing to look past their diminished social standing and save Bellereine.

Eckstines intricate setup weaves together a vibrant cast of connected characters who hurtle toward surprising outcomes as her plot kicks into high gear. When the Taylor siblings from a wealthy Louisiana family arrive for an extended stay, the McQueens pull out all the stops hoping to impress as Junies relations scramble to stretch the meager provisions still on hand.

The Taylors arrival complicates life for everyone at Bellereine. Junie doesnt know what to think about their valet Caleb, a boy her age who insists on calling her Delilah June. And while Violet seems smitten with Beau, an eligible bachelor who is easy on the eyes, Junie sees through his genteel facade.

As Beau reveals his true colors, the tensions at the plantation ratchet. Junie fears Violets carefree days may be ending and realizes that although her captivity may come with different trappings, Violet isnt any freer to choose her own life than Junie. Unfortunately for them both, as things get harder for Violet, her relationship with Junie is squeezed.

Junie figures out that once Violet is married, they both will be leaving the farm and visits Minnies grave site searching for a way to stay with her family. As if things arent complicated enough, Junie comes face to face with the impossible at the cemetery Minnies ghost who has unfinished business and demands Junies assistance.

Theres a lot going on in Junie, and it comes together impressively. Erin Crosby Eckstine has poured a ton of heart into her characters as she constructs a plausible environment to explore the emotional and psychological hardships experienced during enslavement. From passion to betrayal, and heartache to triumph, Junie experiences them all as she stumbles toward self-governance

Junie is in constant conflict with her grandmother, great-aunt and cousin, which magnifies her sense of alienation.

FICTION

Junie

by Erin Crosby Eckstine Ballantine Books 368 pages, $30

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 Cox Enterprises d/b/a The Atlanta Journal Constitution
http://www.ajc.com/
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Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
Tyler, Leah. "There's a lot going on in 'Junie': Debut novelist makes it all come together adroitly in coming-of-age story set on plantation in 1860s." Atlanta Journal-Constitution [Atlanta, GA], 23 Feb. 2025, p. E3. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A828496062/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=fc1c2fc0. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

Eckstine, Erin Crosby JUNIE Ballantine (Fiction None) $30.00 2, 4 ISBN: 9780593725115

On the eve of the Civil War, an enslaved Black teen awakens her sister's ghost and embarks on a dangerous journey to freedom in this debut novel.

For 16-year-old Junie, the cotton plantation of Bellereine in Lowndes County, Alabama, is the only home she's known. In the summer of 1860, the enslaved teenager spends her days working as a house servant with her bossy cousin, Bess, and tending to the needs of Violet McQueen, the redheaded only daughter of the plantation's white owners. Junie illicitly wanders the local woods at night, mourning her recently deceased older sister, Minnie. It was Minnie who had tried to curb Junie's carefree spirit, which was a source of tension among older relatives fearful of drawing unwanted attention from the master. The arrival of the wealthy Taylor siblings from Louisiana suggests the possibility of a match for Violet and exile for Junie as Violet's maid. To avoid this catastrophe, Junie commits a desperate act that raises Minnie's ghost from the grave and propels Junie down a dangerous path toward liberation. Drawing on her own family's history as outlined in a note at the end of the book, Eckstine offers a compelling portrait of the psychological, emotional, and social degradations of slavery. If Junie is naive about her status in the novel's early chapters, she grows determined and resilient as she realizes the true nature of her "friendship" with Violet and the impossibility of her life as an enslaved person on the plantation. Clunkers (characters "smirk" at least nine times) and anachronistic language (Violet curses like a sailor) occasionally mar the lush prose, but Eckstine is a talented writer to watch.

Featuring a spirited protagonist, this compelling mix of the historical and the supernatural will resonate.

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Eckstine, Erin Crosby: JUNIE." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Feb. 2025. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A827101048/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=a5edab51. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

Junie. By Erin Crosby Eckstine. Feb. 2025. 368p. Ballantine, $30 (9780593725115).

Growing up enslaved on an Alabama cotton plantation, Junie is often called carefree by her older sister Minnie, but it's not a compliment. Taught to read and treated as a confidante by the McQueens' only daughter, Violet, 16-year-old Junie is impetuous and romantic, seeking "the sublime" described by her favorite poet, Wordsworth. After Minnie's sudden death, Junie struggles to take her sister's place as a maid in the McQueen house. Plagued by nightmares and secret remorse, Junie returns again and again to the site of Minnie's death. The McQueen family is also in disarray. At risk of losing their land, Mr. McQueen schemes to make an advantageous match for his only daughter. Junie is conflicted about the impending marriage; as Violet's maid, she will be sent to live with her mistress, far away from her family. Seeking a way out, she inadvertently conjures up the troubled spirit of her dead sister. As Junie uncovers hard truths about her family and the McQueens, she struggles to figure out where her loyalties lie. Eckstine combines the lyricism of Jesmyn Ward and Toni Morrison with the speculative historical fiction of Tananarive Due and Leslye Penelope in a stunning debut that will also appeal to fans of Percival Everett's James (2024). --Lindsay Harmon

YA: Teens will empathize with Junie's and Violet's struggles to live authentically within the confines of slavery and the era's other harsh societal expectations. LH.

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
Harmon, Lindsay. "Junie." Booklist, vol. 121, no. 11-12, Feb. 2025, p. 47. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A846924761/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=200012d8. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

Junie

Erin Crosby Eckstine. Ballantine, $30 (368p) ISBN 978-0-593-72511-5

An enslaved teen girl in 1860 Alabama uncovers secrets about her family in Ecks-tine's finely crafted debut. Junie labors with several relatives on a plantation, which is being run into the ground by its alcoholic owner, William McQueen. When Junie's older sister, Minnie, dies of fever after rescuing Junie from a river she'd fallen into, she's wracked with guilt. Junie serves as maid to William's 17-year-old daughter, Violet, whom William and his wife hope will marry wealthy Louisiana cotton merchant Beauregard Taylor. Junie learns that if the marriage goes through, she'll be forced to accompany Violet to New Orleans and leave her family behind. Distraught, she makes a late-night visit to Minnie's grave. When she opens the small jar of Minnie's favorite things left there by her relatives, she inadvertently summons Minnie's ghost. It turns out Minnie is caught in the In-Between, which holds the spirits of Black people who have left their earthly missions undone. Minnie asks Junie to help free her spirit by locating a small box she has hidden in the plantation house. Junie succeeds, and finds evidence that her family and the McQueens are linked in ways she never imagined, which, along with news of Violet's engagement, drive her desire to escape. The complex plot and righteous protagonist will keep readers turning the pages. Eckstine evokes the earthly and supernatural to equally powerful effect in this richly layered tale. (Feb.)

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Junie." Publishers Weekly, vol. 271, no. 47, 9 Dec. 2024, p. 102. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A820017289/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=61dee0cd. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

Tyler, Leah. "There's a lot going on in 'Junie': Debut novelist makes it all come together adroitly in coming-of-age story set on plantation in 1860s." Atlanta Journal-Constitution [Atlanta, GA], 23 Feb. 2025, p. E3. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A828496062/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=fc1c2fc0. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025. "Eckstine, Erin Crosby: JUNIE." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Feb. 2025. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A827101048/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=a5edab51. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025. Harmon, Lindsay. "Junie." Booklist, vol. 121, no. 11-12, Feb. 2025, p. 47. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A846924761/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=200012d8. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025. "Junie." Publishers Weekly, vol. 271, no. 47, 9 Dec. 2024, p. 102. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A820017289/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=61dee0cd. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

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