Attica Locke is a gifted and award-winning African-American author and screenwriter. She was born in Houston, Texas, in 1974, and spent most of her childhood living in black-owned neighborhood communities. Locke was brought up in a family full of teachers, writers, and political activists who instilled in her a love of literature and social justice.

She graduated from Northwestern University's prestigious School of Communication, where she studied film and television. Her expertise in writing and producing outstanding screenplays earned her a variety of distinctions, including the Humanitas Prize, which is awarded to creatively conscious films and television programs that inspire viewers to live better lives.

Branching out into the world of literature, she published her first novel, Black Water Rising, in 2009, which won the 2010 Edgar Award for Best First Novel. She followed that up with The Cutting Season, which was a national bestseller and also received an Edgar nomination for Best Novel.

Her 2017 novel, Bluebird, Bluebird, which introduced a new protagonist, Texas Ranger Darren Mathews, has received widespread critical acclaim, including being a finalist for the 2018 Edgar Award for Best Novel. The book was assigned the NEA's Big Reads in numerous cities throughout the nation.

Locke's career is driven by her determination to tell powerful stories of individual and social struggle, and to make a difference in the world around her. Her work is widely recognized for its integrity, sophistication, and deep connection to black history and culture.

In addition to her accomplishments in literature, she has also written and produced for critically acclaimed shows such as Empire and When They See Us, co-created the series Highway 59 and Little Fires Everywhere with Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington, and is currently developing a series based on her book Bluebird, Bluebird.

Attica Locke is an advocate for the arts, social justice, and education, consistently demonstrating her unwavering commitment to her community and ensuring that people of all ethnicities and backgrounds are represented in her work. Her storytelling captures the essence of America – its triumphs, its struggles, and its ongoing search for identity – and is sure to leave any reader spellbound.