WILLIAMSBURG 一 Best-selling author Sadeqa Johnson wants to bring more big-name writers, agents and editors to William & Mary as the university’s 2026-27 Writer in Residence.
Johnson, originally from Philadelphia, moved to Richmond in 2015 from New Jersey. During this time, she switched from writing contemporary fiction to historical fiction.
“I was on the Richmond Slave Trail in 2016, and that was when I discovered the story of Mary Lumpkin, which inspired my first historical, my fourth novel, ‘Yellow White,’” Johnson said.
Mary Lumpkin was an enslaved woman held at Lumpkin’s Jail, a notorious Richmond slave-holding facility, before later becoming free and helping shape the site’s transformation into what would become Virginia Union University
That shift produced three historical novels. Along with “Yellow White,” Johnson wrote “The House of Eve” and “Keeper of Lost Children,” the latter released in February and currently a USA Today bestseller. Her three earlier novels were contemporary fiction.
At a Library of Virginia awards ceremony, where she was a nominee, Johnson sat at a table with William & Mary’s director, who told her about the Writer in Residence opportunity.
Johnson went through the application process, which consisted of forms, essays and several interviews and in-person interviews. Rather than repeat the search, W&M named both finalists to consecutive terms — Lamar Giles as 2025-26 Writer in Residence and Johnson for 2026-27.
Johnson said she plans to continue the publishing conversation that was started by her predecessor. She says she has a few big-name authors she plans to go after as well as some agents and editors to bring into the publishing discussions. She also plans on teaching and organizing a women’s-only day writing retreat next spring.
On the subject of artificial intelligence, Johnson said it plays little role in her own writing process.
“I don’t really lean into AI to help me create a story. What I do like about AI is sometimes it does help a little bit with the research process because I write historical fiction,” she said. “It definitely helps give me sources and places for me to look in order to build my character and my story around.”
Johnson said she hasn’t focused much on taking the role during America’s 250th anniversary, instead thinking more about the impact she can make as a historical fiction writer and a woman of color.
“Being on campus and being able to bridge gaps and open people’s minds to see a different world, — I’m very excited about that,” Johnson said.
