Tia Williams

Tia Williams is an American novelist and editor. She has published six books and is best known for The Accidental Diva, The Perfect Find (2016), and Seven Days in June (2021). She is also a long-time fashion editor and the current editorial director for the Estée Lauder Companies.

Early life and education Williams was raised in a suburban area of Virginia. She began writing during childhood and wrote her first book at age seven. Williams received her bachelor's degree from University of Virginia in 1997. She also worked as an editor at publications including Essence, Glamour, Teen People, and Elle. Williams worked as the head copywriter at Bumble and bumble for five years. Since 2020, she has been the editorial director of the Estée Lauder Companies.

Williams published her first novel The Accidental Diva in 2004 during a resurgence of chick lit published by and about Black women. It received a positive review from Publishers Weekly, where her writing was praised: "Williams's gift for sexy if sometimes purple prose...save this energetic romance from being just another uptown girl meets downtown boy tale and signals the arrival of a sharp new talent."

In 2006, she co-authored the book The Beauty of Color with Iman. The protagonist lives with chronic migraines, a condition that Williams also has. Tembe Denton-Hurst of New York reviewed the book positively: "It's been a while since I read a book I was delighted by — a book that made me smile wide for no reason because of how touching or cute it is." BookPage writer Jessica Wakeman gave it a starred review. Seven Days in June is in development to be adapted into a television series produced by Will Packer Media with Williams as executive producer.

Personal life Williams married her husband in 2021. She has two children.

Works

Accolades 2016 – Independent Publisher Award for Multicultural Fiction, Bronze (for The Perfect Find) 2016 – African American Literary Award for Best Fiction (for The Perfect Find) 2021 – New York Public Library Best Books for Adults 2021 – Seven Days in June