September Author Spotlight: Terry J. Benton-Walker
Sep 23, 2022

BIO

Terry J. Benton-Walker writes fiction for adults, young adults, and children, which also means he spends a lot of time holed up in coffee shops. Terry is the author of BLOOD DEBTS, his magical YA contemporary fantasy debut, coming from Tor Teen in Winter 2023, and ALEX WISE VS THE END OF THE WORLD, his apocalyptic MG contemporary fantasy debut coming from Labyrinth Road/PRH in Fall 2023.



Terry grew up in rural GA and holds a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech and a Master's in Business Administration from Georgia State. He lives in Atlanta with his husband and son. When he’s not writing, he can be found gaming, eating ice cream, or both.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BOOK(S)!

Blood Debts is my YA Contemporary Fantasy debut coming from Tor Teen in April 2023. Short Pitch: Thirty years after the greatest magical massacre in their city’s history, the rightful heirs of a stolen throne set out to right the wrongs in their family’s past and bring about the justice they’re owed. Blood Debts is available for preorder now: https://linktr.ee/tjbentonwalker


Alex Wise vs the End of the World is my MG Contemporary Fantasy debut coming from Labyrinth Rd/PRH in November 2023. This story is about a twelve-year-old boy who has to stop the apocalypse and save his little sister after Death possesses her. It's a fun fantasy adventure, but at it's heart, it's a story about this kid's journey to love his authentic self and fight for those he loves.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO WRITE?

I've loved escaping into stories of every kind since I was a kid even though none of the characters I loved looked like me. Now I write books that I would've finished the last word of as a kid and then hugged to my chest because I loved it so much. Through my stories, I want to inspire kids around the world to be the best versions of themselves.

WHAT BLACK AUTHOR HAS INFLUENCED YOU THE MOST?

Nic Stone. She welcomed me into the community and has been an amazing support system for me. She set the example for me for how we should lift up writers of color who come into the industry behind us. I am forever grateful for her presence in my life every day. <3

WHAT DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GET OUT OF YOUR BOOKS?

Not only do I want Black queer children to be seen, but I want to teach them about the world and a lot of the lessons I've had to learn the hard way. Everything I write is personal in that way. I love to explore nuanced concepts about society that will inspire our kids to think critically about the world around them. If I could go back in time and give younger me any advice, I'd simply give him a box of my published work.

WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A BLACK CREATOR IN PUBLISHING?

Access to information and resources. There's so much to manage beneath the surface of publishing that a lot of us are figuring out for the first time, even the most successful of us. Unlike our white counterparts, many us don't come from privilege, so we're building our knowledge base from the ground up with information we've had to claw from various places or simply learn by trying and failing spectacularly (s/o to the $13k and 3+ years that I spent professionally editing and querying a manuscript that I ended up shelving before and after getting tied up with a schmagent--that manuscript will never see the light of day, it was terrible).


I've been fortunate to have people in my network who've freely shared information and resources and support, and I want to keep that positive energy flowing. That's why I try to do all I can through mentorship and free resource sharing (check out my website) to improve our access so we can continue to build up and expand our villages. 

FUN QUESTION! IT'S THE FIRST MET GALA FOR BLACK CREATORS! WHAT ARE YOU WEARING ON THE RED CARPET?

I'm going all out. Definitely getting something one-of-a-kind designed. Might have a thigh out, will definitely have a tiddy or both out. A cape is a must. My look will be bold and edgy, just like my books.

BEST TIP ON WRITING CRAFT?

You will never reach a point where you know everything you need to know, so always be open to learning.

ANY ADVICE FOR OTHER BLACK CREATORS?

Publishing definitely still has a long way to go when it comes to equitable treatment of creators of color, but despite how scrolling social media may make us feel sometimes, it's not hopeless. There are gatekeepers in publishing who are doing the work and genuinely want our stories and want us to do well. There need to be a lot more--but it's not hopeless yet. I've been fortunate to find two great partners to publish with and have encountered many more on my journey who I haven't gotten to work with yet but hope I will in the future. So if you're out there wondering if it's even worth it to keep going in light of everything you see going on on the daily, the answer is YES. Please keep pushing. You're worth it.

WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND YOU?

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