In 2020, Dhonielle Clayton M.A. ’09, an alumna of Hollins University’s graduate programs in children’s literature, joined with five other bestselling African American young adult authors to create 停电, a collection of stories about Black teenagers navigating love during a power outage in New York City.

Now, Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions is partnering with fellow production company Temple Hill (《暮光之城》, 《星运里的错, 为父之道) to develop 停电 as what The Hollywood Reporter （用力推） describes as “a film and TV ‘event’” for Netflix. “The project,” 用力推 explains, “is being developed concurrently as a TV series and film adaptation. That means that some of the six stories could wind up in the film, while others are in the TV show.”

Netflix says of the project, “From the perspective of 12 teens with six shots at love, 停电 takes place as a heatwave blankets New York City in darkness and causes an electric chaos. When the lights go out and people reveal hidden truths, love blossoms, friendships transform, and all possibilities take flight.”

In addition to Clayton, 停电 features stories by Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon. 自今年6月出版以来，这本合集获得了广泛好评。 NPR’s review states, “In 停电, young Black love with all its insecurities, mistakes, emotion, honesty, and humanity makes for a lush read. Even amidst their fears, these characters are wonderfully respectful of each other’s choices. 你会支持他们在合适的时间找到合适的爱人。 And though it was written for young adults, 停电 is a must-read for all generations.” 《出版人周刊》 calls it a “joyful collaboration” that “brings a necessary elation to stories of Black love, queer love, and alternative forms of affection, all of which are all tenderly highlighted in these narratives.” And, the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books remarks, “There’s plenty to smile, sigh, or swoon at here, and readers will happily keep the lights on to see these charming romances to the end.”

All six of 停电‘s authors are on board as screenwriters for the Netflix adaptation. 播出日期尚未公布。

停电 will be Clayton’s second association with Netflix. In 2019, the internet TV network ordered 10 episodes of 美丽的小东西, an hour-long series based on the novel co-written by Clayton and Sona Charaipotra. 该系列的第一季于2020年12月首播，讲述了一所精英舞蹈学院学生的胜利和挑战，在那里成功的竞争非常激烈。

克莱顿来自华盛顿特区的马里兰州郊区，拥有维克森林大学的文学学士学位。 After earning her M.A. in children’s literature at Hollins, she completed her M.F.A. in creative writing at The New School. A former secondary school teacher and elementary and middle school librarian, she is co-founder of 蛋糕的文学, which is described as “a creative kitchen whipping up decadent – and decidedly diverse – literary confections for middle grade, young adult, and women’s fiction readers,” and is also chief operating officer of the nonprofit 我们需要多样化的书籍. Her other works include 的美女 (her debut solo novel, released in 2018) and 永恒的玫瑰 (Book Two in 的美女 series, published in 2019). She has also contributed to the story collections 《够黑：美国年轻黑人的故事; 遇见可爱的人：有些人注定要遇见; and 《坚不可摧：13个残疾青少年的故事》. Her middle grade fantasy series, 的Marvellers, is forthcoming. She joined the faculty of Hollins’ graduate programs in children’s literature in 2020.