L. L. McKinney

McKinney BW photo

about me

Named one of The Root’s 100 most influential African Americans of 2020, Leatrice “Elle” McKinney, writing as L.L. McKinney, is an advocate for equality and inclusion in publishing, and the creator of the hashtags #PublishingPaidMe and #WhatWoCWritersHear. 

Elle’s also a gamer, Blerd, and adamant Hei Hei stan, living in Kansas City, spending her free time plagued by her cat–Sir Chester Fluffmire Boopsnoot Purrington Wigglebottom Flooferson III, esquire, Baron o’Butterscotch or #SirChester for short.

Her works include the Nightmare-Verse books, Nubia: Real One through DC, Marvel’s Black Widow: Bad Blood, and more.

PROJECTS

read my books

A Blade So Black

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A Dream So Dark

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UPCOMING APPEARANCES, CELEBRATIONS, & SIGNINGS

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Locus Magazine

"A Blade So Black is a novel that roars mightily in the face of all those Wonderland tales that have come before. L.L. McKinney is on her way to someplace special with this debut; get onboard now."

Locus Magazine
UPDATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

news

Nubia makes her epic return in DC Future State!

Earlier this month, DC announced the upcoming event Future State, where the comic juggernaut’s heroes new and old will find themselves thrust into a number of possible futures that allow readers to see many of these iconic characters take on a fresh look or pass on their legendary mantles. For this two-month-long event, starting in […]

Charmed meets Girlfriends for some Black Girl Magic

Authors LL McKinney and Bethany C. Morrow have teamed up with Serial Box to bring readers and listeners of the serialized publisher’s special brand of storytelling a whole new tale of literal Black Girl Magic with MOURNING GLORY. Described as Charmed meets Girlfriends, we see a set of sisters take on an ancient evil via […]

Making The Root 100

This year, LL McKinney was named one of The Roots Most Influential African Americans in 2020. The honor came as a surprise when the post went up this September. OH MY GOD…WHAT…WHAT!!!! https://t.co/BaR3NA59Gu — LL McKinney (@ElleOnWords) September 21, 2020 Noted for her accomplishments in creating the #PublishingPaidMe hashtag, which highlights disparities Black authors face […]

A Cover Reveal of L.L. McKinney’s Nubia: Real One

She’s Much More Than Wonder Woman’s Twin Sister. After announcing the Nubia graphic novel for their young adult line of books, DC has revealed the cover for Nubia: Real One, written by LL McKinney with art by Robyn Smith. Can you be a hero…if society doesn’t see you as a person? Nubia has always been a […]

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