D. Watkins is a renowned author, renowned for his New York Times bestselling and award-winning literary works. His impressive bibliography includes the critically acclaimed novels "The Beast Side", "The Cook Up", "Where Tomorrows Aren't Promised", and "We Speak for Ourselves", which was chosen as the Enoch Pratt Free Library's 2020 One Book Baltimore selection. His most recent publication, "Black Boy Smile", was released in May and has garnered significant attention in the literary world.
In addition to his literary pursuits, Watkins serves as Editor-at-Large for Salon, a prominent online publication. He is also a writer and host for the HBO mini-series "We Own This City", and has been featured in the HBO documentary "The Slow Hustle". His work has been published in numerous esteemed publications, including the New York Times, Esquire, New York Times Magazine, The Guardian, and Rolling Stone.
Watkins is a dedicated educator and currently lectures at the University of Baltimore, where he earned his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. He also holds a Master of Education degree from Johns Hopkins University.
Throughout his illustrious career, Watkins has received numerous accolades, including the Johns Hopkins Distinguished Alumnus Award, the BMe Genius Grant for Dynamic Black Leaders, the City Lit Dambach Award for Service to the Literary Arts, the Maryland Library Association's William Wilson Maryland Author Award, and Ford's Men of Courage Award for Black Male Storytellers. He was also a finalist for a 2016 Hurston Wright Legacy Award and "The Cook Up" was a 2017 Books for a Better Life finalist.
Watkins resides in Baltimore, Maryland with his wife and daughter, where he continues to inspire and captivate readers with his thought-provoking literary works.
