Funds for Bookworm are provided in part by Lannin Foundation.

Boots!

Where would we be without boos?

Where would we be without good?

No.

It's a rhetorical question, sir.

But where would we be without books?

From KCRW and KCRW.com, I'm Michael Silverblatt, and this is Bookworm.

My guest today is Walter Mosley.

I'm delighted to be talking to him again after a few years,

especially because the National Book Foundation's medal for his distinguished contribution

to American letters has just been awarded, distinguished contribution to American Letters has just been awarded.

Distinguished contribution to American letters.

That's Decal.

And it's a lifetime achievement award.

Walter has just written a book of short stories called The Awkward Black Man.

And it seems to me to be of particular relevance to our time.

Walter, welcome. Who is the awkward black man?

The awkward black man is the majority of us who don't appear in most books, most forms of literature, most poetry, and most films.

And so it's that guy, you know, who just is taciturn, maybe a little confused,

trying to do things like the big thing in his life might be trying to lose weight,

but realizing he has cancer instead.

...