Written and photographed by Marika N. Johnson
Originally published by The Bham Times Read it now
It was a bold move that made 23-year-old Ladarrion Williams, a Taco Bell employee and struggling playwright, leave his job in Alabama and purchase a plane ticket to California. With suitcases in hand, he embarked on a journey that included failure, homelessness, and eventually success that brought him full circle back to his hometown in Shelby County, AL. Now as a New York Times best-selling author, Williams celebrated the release of his book, Blood at the Root, at a book signing event at Books-A-Million in Alabaster, AL. Coincidentally, he returned to the same store where he once worked part time. Friends, family, and admirers gathered to honor his remarkable journey.
The event took place Saturday evening where the bookstore bustled with excitement and a line for autographs snaked through the aisles. A table lined with copies of Blood at the Root stood as a testament to Williams’s determination and talent. The book signing felt like a homecoming, and it was clear that Williams’s return to his roots carried profound significance for both the author and his community.
The fantasy young adult novel began as a question on social media, “What if Harry Potter went to an HBCU?” From there Williams penned Blood at the Root. Originally meant to be a TV show, the story was met with rejection but a friend suggested turning the script into a book. He delved into writing the novel which explores themes of identity, resilience, and cultural heritage mixed with magical powers. The main character, Malik, resonated deeply with readers, catapulting it to bestseller status.
In attendance were BOOKS & MELANIN Book Club members, Lareisha, Latanya, Jamara and Shannon that drove from various locations around the state. They all attended Alabama State University together and wanted to support Williams and loved that he wanted “to shine a light on HBCUs”.
Many family members were present in support including parents (Theresa Allen and Greg Williams), a plethora of cousins, his sister Arian Allen and her son Ashton Bevel (to whom the book is dedicated to), all present, beaming with pride. Arian shares that “[Ashton] gets to live vicariously through the book, giving him a picture of how we were as kids”
“I want to write, for us and about us, but not at the expense of us.” Williams told Publishers Weekly. He shared his mission online for writing the story. “No police brutality and no racial drama”. Book club member, Lareisha Higginbottom agreed, “ He tied in being black and our culture and made it so relatable.”
Also amongst the attendees was Williams’ former high school theatre teacher who recalled Williams’ passion for writing. She re-printed and gifted him the first play that he wrote while attending Thompson High School. “We knew he was going to do it, he had the drive”, said Mrs Jane Ganey. “We all knew he was destined for something big, but seeing it happen is just incredible.”
