It all began with a post on Twitter. It was 2020 during the height of the pandemic and LaDarrion Williams was thinking about the lack of diversity in the fantasy genre. He proposed: “What if Harry Potter went to am HBCU in the South?” “Growing up, I watched ‘Twilight,’ I watched ‘Hunger Games’ and ‘Divergent’ and ‘Percy Jackson,’ which is one of my favorite books. I didn’t see myself in those stories, and I didn’t feel seen by them,” said Williams. He is a self-taught playwright, filmmaker and screenwriter. The post went viral and started a dialogue online, leading Williams down a long road to make good on his idea. He’s the first to admit though that the process was not a fairytale. Williams’ “Blood at the Root,” the first in a three-book deal, arrives in stores Tuesday. Jalyn Hall (“Till”, “All American”) recorded the audio version. The book follows Malik, a 17-year-old with magical powers who gets accepted into Caiman University, an HBCU with a “Blackgical culture” and a magic program. |
Iraq, U.S. resume dialogue on ending U.S.Israel's airAttacker shot dead after fatally stabbing Israeli soldier300,000 new families eligible for welfare program in Sri LankaHomicide suspect kills himself after fleeing through 3 states, authorities sayOver 800 officials from U.S., Britain, Europe unite to protest Israel policiesCoyotes sale to Utah Jazz owner expected next week, Arizona to get expansion team, AP source saysDylan Larkin scores powerTanzania to host East African petroleum conference 2025Israel's intrusion into Gaza won't gain security: Jordanian FM