Candice Carty-Williams: ‘People feel very attached to Queenie’

Candice Carty-Williams discussed the enduring attachment readers feel to her debut novel's protagonist, Queenie Jenkins, in an interview published on June 20, 2026. Carty-Williams, who is 36 years old, noted that the question of whether she is Queenie is frequently posed, likely due to the character's parallels with her own background as a Black woman from south London working in media. Her debut novel, "Queenie," published in April 2019, chronicles the experiences of a twenty-something journalist grappling with personal challenges including heartbreak, racism, and a sense of losing control. Carty-Williams described her own personality as warm, quick-witted, and lacking self-seriousness, characteristics that contribute to her likability, similar to her literary creation. She also touched upon the significant success of her debut, which reportedly created a surge in publishing interest for Black writers, and questioned whether this appetite for diversity has been sustained. Additionally, Carty-Williams revealed her initial reluctance towards the television adaptation of "Queenie" and expressed her belief that the current timing is ideal for her sequel.