The new book series reimagines Harry Potter at an HBCU

It all began with a post on Twitter. It was 2020, the peak of the pandemic, and LaDarrion Williams was reflecting on the dearth of diversity within the fantasy genre. He suggested, “What if Harry Potter went to an HBCU in the South?”

“Growing up, I watched Twilight, The Hunger Games, Divergent and Percy Jackson, which is certainly one of my favorite books. I didn’t see myself in those stories and I didn’t feel seen by them,” Williams said. He is a self-taught playwright, director and screenwriter.

The post went viral and sparked a dialogue online, leading Williams a protracted solution to bringing his idea to life. However, he’s the primary to confess that this process was not a fairy tale.

Williams’ “Blood at the Root,” the primary of three books, hits stores Tuesday. Jalyn Hall (“Till,” “All American”) recorded the audio version. The book tells the story of Malik, a 17-year-old with magical powers who’s accepted into Caiman University, an HBCU with a “Blackgical culture” and magic program.

Williams spoke to the Associated Press about how his tweet became a novel and the inspiration for “Blood at the Root.”

Responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.

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AP: You posted this… and got plenty of response. And then what happened?

WILLIAMS: I wrote it as a TV pilot. I didn’t plan for it to be a novel. I shared (the method) online and folks sent me money using CashApp and Venmo from the US, Canada and even New Zealand. They said, “Go make it a short film.” It was October 2020. Everything was closed. You couldn’t buy hand sanitizer. I asked some friends and we shot this magical short film within the Los Angeles area. We slipped onto the UCLA campus. Sorry, UCLA, but we desired to shoot on an actual college campus. That’s when I spotted this story was special.

I assumed I had the whole lot. I assumed I had a viral tweet short movieI had a script, I had an idea. I assumed Hollywood would make me a multi-million dollar offer. I quickly became humbled by this. No calls got here. I had difficulty getting meetings with various production firms, showrunners and studios. Nobody wanted to fulfill me. I used to be really confused and fell right into a deep depression.

AP: Is that when you made the decision to change gears and write a book?

WILLIAMS: I felt very sad. There were days I could not even get away from bed. I felt like I had let down my friends who were risking their health. I felt like I let down the individuals who supported her on social media. It was a bit embarrassing. A friend of mine said someday, “Why don’t you turn it into a book?” Considering the whole lot that was happening on the earth and in America, corresponding to civil unrest, I didn’t think the publishing house would want it.

They didn’t do it at first. I used to be getting rejections left and right saying, “We can’t connect to this. It is not suitable for sale.” One of my biggest rejections happened on my birthday, December 3, 2022. In late January 2023, I used to be driving for Uber and I got a call from my agent who said we had a three-book deal.

AP: Were you screaming? Cry?

WILLIAMS: No. I turned off the Uber app and drove home in silence. I went to Ralphs, sat within the parking zone and said, “I sold a book. I didn’t just sell one book, I sold three.” Then I began screaming and calling everyone.

AP: Let’s talk in regards to the essential character Malik.

WILLIAMS: I desired to create a black boy from Helena, Alabama, where I’m from, who has cool magical powers. It’s a coming-of-age story a couple of 17-year-old boy who attends this really cool school. Is funny. Makes friends. Friendship, especially in adolescence, may be very necessary. They form of set you up for all times. Malik also connects together with his family and background. He had childhood trauma and difficulties and he’ll make mistakes, but they are going to not cost him his life. I would like people to know him. The way he talks, the way in which he thinks. I wanted him to be sensitive and delicate. He passes on the love he did not have as a toddler to his adoptive brother. I desired to create all of it through the lens of magic.

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AP: You also laid out in great detail what the quilt should appear to be.

WILLIAMS: The only time I’ve ever seen myself on book covers was “The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963” and “Bud Not Buddy” by Christopher Paul Curtis. This was non-negotiable with my publishers. I assumed, “I would like a black boy on the quilt. I do not care how we do it. That’s what I would like.” I used to be slightly brave, however it’s okay. I also wanted him in a hoodie on the quilt, because, you already know, black boys in hoodies often get punished. I got what I wanted.

AP: Do you continue to see this story as a TV series?

WILLIAMS: There are ongoing conversations about that. I remember watching Twilight as a 6-foot-3 black kid in Alabama. It was a extremely cool time, having the ability to go to the flicks, be on this fandom, and meet people you’ll never otherwise meet. I would like to recreate that moment when “Black Panther” got here out and everybody was buzzing about it. I would like to do it for TV. This is what I would like for black kids.