Veteran television writer Mara Brock Akil releases debut novel

Mara Brock Akil earned a reputation in Hollywood by crafting stories about complicated Black women navigating romance, friendships, family and their careers.

As writer, producer, creator and show runner of the television shows “Girlfriends,” “The Game,” “Being Mary Jane” and “Forever,” Akil became known among Black viewers as a prolific and notable voice in scripted programs and film.

Still, she wanted to diversify her storytelling about Black womanhood in a new medium.

“It’s safe to be where you’re known, but in order for us to evolve as human beings, you should always be expanding and growing,” Akil, 56, told UATL. “I love returning to that experience of awe, wonder and being scared trying something new, because I let the fear focus me after almost running from it every time.”

Veteran television writer, producer, creator and show runner Mara Brock Akil is responsible for "Girlfriends," "The Game," "Being Mary Jane" and "Forever" (Courtesy of Emma Feil).

Akil decided to revisit a goal she set in high school: publishing a book.

On Tuesday, she released “The Revelation of Dionne Daphne,” her debut novel about a New York-based, 30-something fashion and beauty magazine editor dealing with childhood trauma after receiving life-threatening medical news. Set in the early 1990s, the period piece has themes around identity, self-discovery, betrayal and overcoming shame.

Akil said she wanted to create a story that forces characters to confront personal struggles pre-Internet.

“The ‘90s were full of all this aspirational possibility, but we had some dark stuff going on at the same time, too. HIV and AIDS really stopped us, curtailed a lot of that freedom, and suddenly it was taking hold of the Black community. We had to look at some of the reasons why we were having our challenges with it,” Akil said.

“A lot of times, we’re moving through life compartmentalizing our challenges, pain, trauma just to survive or thrive in this world. If we pause and look at that tough stuff, we can lighten the load and move more intentionally closer to who we are,” she added.

"The Revelation of Dionne Daphne" published on June 30, 2026. Mara Brock Akil is on a book tour to promote it. (Courtesy of YoYo Lander for Storehouse Voice/Penguin Random House).

Today, the first-time novelist is hosting a book release moderated by entertainer Kandi Burruss at Morehouse College. About 300 people are expected to attend the sold-out event.

Akil said she’s anticipating crowd and moderator reactions to her literary debut.

“Kandi is a powerhouse who owns herself fully, and I’m curious what she will see with her level of honesty and authenticity. I can talk about me, my work, characters, intention and the world I’ve built, but the book is an invitation for us to have deeper conversations. I’m really excited about what they (the audience) are drawn to,” Akil said.

Bunnie Hilliard, owner of Brave and Kind Bookshop, said the event is sold out because Akil’s work spotlights Black women’s shared experiences.

“We appreciate her seeing us. She writes about how we’re moving through the world at different phases and stages of our lives,” Hilliard said

Akil is no stranger to Atlanta’s production scene. “The Game,” “Being Mary Jane” and “Black Lightning” were all filmed in and around the city.

Atlanta-based actress Charmin Lee was cast in recurring roles on several of Akil’s shows. Lee said Akil is a selfless mentor to emerging talent.

“When I was working on ‘Girlfriends’ and my sister and I were looking to do more producing, we asked if we could take her to lunch and bend her ear. She took the time to hang out with us and share Black woman to Black woman, because it’s a challenge for women to be taken seriously in this business,” Lee said.

“She’s one of Hollywood’s icons who paved the way to make my job easier and deserves all the props for that.”

Actress and Grammy-winning songwriter Kandi Burruss sits for a portrait at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution office in Atlanta on May 8, 2026. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Becoming an author meant Akil had to figure out different approaches to storytelling and collaboration. In television, she typically writes scripts and make revisions during production and editing.

In February 2025, she spent two weeks in New York writing and workshopping her manuscript. She said the solitude gave her the chance to flesh out her ideas.

“I gave myself freedom and quietly the permission to give them (the book publishers) the (advance) check back. I was writing 14-16 hours a day and fasted the last week of that in order to do it. I wanted to encourage, give myself the best chance I could, and that’s when I knew it was a book I could really be proud of to have my name on,” Akil said.

Mara Brock Akil poses backstage at the 43rd NAACP Image Awards with the award for outstanding writing in a comedy series for "The Game." (AP FILE)

At a time when film and television productions have slowed down from strikes and diminishing budgets, Akil said writing (and rewriting) fiction has kept her occupied during shifts in Hollywood.

“The industry has changed quite a bit. No matter how much success I had in my career, with the reset of our industry, it’s hard to build on the momentum. I still had that desire, and the book allowed me to stretch out the character’s (Dionne Daphne) full humanity,” Akil said.

Akil also said she relied on a small team to give her feedback and assist her with giving the book structure.

“I was met with a lot of support, trust and value. I didn’t have to prove myself, come in having to be other than myself, and there was a freedom in not needing it,” Akil said.