Dhonielle Clayton was born in the suburbs of Washington, DC and spent her childhood Saturdays at the comic book store with her father and most evenings hiding beneath her grandmother’s dining room table with a stack of books. She earned a BA in English at Wake Forest University. She was an English teacher for three years and worked with educational curriculum. Being surrounded by children, Dhonielle re-discovered her love of children’s literature and earned a masters in children’s and young adult literature from Hollins University. Currently, she is working on both middle grade and young adult novel projects. She moved to NYC where she earned her MFA at the New School's MFA Program. She is co-founder of CAKE Literary, a literary development studio committed to bringing diversity to high concept content.
Genres: Children's Fiction, Young Adult Romance, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction
New and upcoming books
Series
Tiny Pretty Things (with Sona Charaipotra)
1. Tiny Pretty Things (2015)
2. Shiny Broken Pieces (2016)
1. Tiny Pretty Things (2015)
2. Shiny Broken Pieces (2016)
Conjureverse
1. The Marvellers (2022)
2. The Memory Thieves (2023)
3. The Deadly Fates (2025)
4. The Paragon Games (2026)
1. The Marvellers (2022)
2. The Memory Thieves (2023)
3. The Deadly Fates (2025)
4. The Paragon Games (2026)
Novels
Collections
Anthologies edited
Series contributed to
Blackout
1. Blackout (2021) (with others)
2. Whiteout (2022) (with others)
3. Breakout (2026) (with others)
1. Blackout (2021) (with others)
2. Whiteout (2022) (with others)
3. Breakout (2026) (with others)
Books containing stories by Dhonielle Clayton
More books
Award nominations
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Dhonielle Clayton recommends

The Wondrous Life and Loves of Nella Carter (2025)
Brionni Nwosu
"The Wondrous Life and Loves of Nella Carter is a gorgeous tapestry of love, art, loss, survival, immortality, and travel that envelops readers in unspeakable beauty, profound pain, unimaginable loss, and earth-shattering love. A rich, satisfying Faustian bargain is nestled at its core that will challenge your resolve, making you ponder whether you'd take the same seductive deal as our beguiling hero. A decadent debut and a narrative experience not to be missed."

The Manifestor Prophecy (2023)
(Nic Blake and the Remarkables, book 1)
Angie Thomas
"Exploding with heart, humor, and all things Black Girl Magic, Nic Blake and the Remarkables is a triumph of friendship and Black Southern folklore and history."

White Smoke (2021)
Tiffany D Jackson
"With a gripping plot and punch-to-the-heart stakes, Tiffany D. Jackson’s Grown exposes the underbelly of a tough conversationthe seductive abuse of older men who prey on teen girlsproviding a searing examination of misogynoir, rape culture, and the vulnerability of young black girls. Groundbreaking, heart wrenching, and essential reading for all in the #MeToo era."
More recommendations
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