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Hailing from the small town of Helena, Alabama, LaDarrion Williams is a self-taught playwright, filmmaker, author, and screenwriter committed to shaping a new era of Black fantasy. His theatrical work has garnered attention at notable venues, including the Echo Theatre Playwrights Lab, the Great Plains Theatre Conference in Omaha, TSU's Black and Latino Playwrights Festival, and the Boise Contemporary Theater BIPOC Playwrights Festival. An esteemed alum of the Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights Conference, LaDarrion's play Hurt People was selected for the 2024 conference, further solidifying his place as a bold and necessary voice in contemporary theater. His play Coco Queens was featured in the 2019 Sundance Institute's Playwriting Intensive, won the New Works@theWorks Playwriting Award, and celebrated its world premiere at Playhouse on the Square in July 2024. His Jeff Award-nominated play Boulevard of Bold Dreams-a poignant exploration of Hattie McDaniel's historic Oscar win-debuted at TimeLine Theatre Company in Chicago, had its East Coast Premiere at Greater Boston Stage Company in March 2023, and was part of the Orlando Shakes Theater Signature Series in October 2023, with plans for national productions in 2024-2025. Beyond theater, LaDarrion has directed three short films featured on YouTube and made his mark as a debut author with Blood at the Root, a New York Times and USA Today Bestseller. Through storytelling across multiple mediums, he continues to craft narratives that amplify Black voices, history, and imagination.
“Brings magical living to an HBCU in an unforgettable young adult adventure” —People Magazine “A sweeping debut.” —The New York Times Book Review “Drawing on African and Caribbean spiritual traditions and Black history for world building, Williams has crafted a highly entertaining adventure centering a well-rounded character with emotional volatility but also a desire for connection and community.” —Washington Post This story offers a fresh take on familiar YA fantasy tropes, like a secret magical school and a long-lost grandmother.” —BuzzFeed “A story of community and legacy that’s clearly aiming to do something very different in this genre space.” —Paste Magazine “Unveils a world for Black boys and girls filled with creativity and magic.” —Ebony ★ “Williams joins Tracy Deonn, Namina Forna, B.B. Alston, and Tomi Adeyemi in envisioning a world where Black youth uncover and harness their magical abilities. Here Williams offers a fresh perspective in Malik. Everything about Malik’s world, from his neighbors to his internal dialogue, to his emotions, hopes, and fears, is written for Black boys, filling a much-needed gap in magical YA. And best of all, Williams’s debut is rooted in Black history, telling the truth through fantasy...A novel long overdue."" —School Library Journal, starred review “Exuberant contemporary fantasy series opener....a serpentine, high-intensity celebration of Black culture, history, and power."" —Publishers Weekly ""Debut author Williams’ impressive world building blends African and Black American history and cultures with a secret society of influential hoodoo and vodun practitioners...This celebration of Black culture will resonate with readers unused to seeing themselves in traditional fantasies.” —Booklist ""The extensive worldbuilding incorporates West African, Caribbean, and Black American history and cultures to explain a magical reality hidden from view and relevant to the Black diaspora and Malik’s family history....A well-thought-out magical world that provocatively centers Black experiences.” —Kirkus Reviews ""Williams offers a strong foundation of world-building in this series debut, blending creative magical pieces with realistic elements of Black history and culture."" —The Bulletin “A refreshing, thrilling, magical, and all-around good read! Cheering for you, LaDarrion!” — James Bland (Creator of Daytime Emmy Award-winning drama series “Giants”)
