Dhonielle Clayton


Dhonielle Clayton is an American author and chief operating officer of We Need Diverse Books. Her works include The Belles and Tiny Pretty Things.

Biography

Clayton, who was born in Washington, D.C., has discussed how her interest as a teenager in magazines, beauty and how they affected how she viewed herself later served as inspirations for her book The Belles.
She graduated with a B.A. from Wake Forest University in 2005, with an M.A. from Hollins University in 2008, and with an M.F.A. in creative writing from The New School in 2012.
Along with her work with We Need Diverse Books and as an author, Clayton also serves as a sensitivity reader. She has also advocated for books to better represent people of color.

Awards

Clayton's The Belles was a finalist for the 2019 Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book.

Published works