Nick

Brooks

Young Adult & Middle Grade Author

Award-Winning Filmmaker

Travels from: Los Angeles, CA

“Brooks excels in creating protagonists worthy of applause and truly foul villains, whose presences linger long after this atmospheric read ends.” ― Publishers Weekly, starred review

Nick Brooks is an award-winning author, ﬁlmmaker, and musician from Washington, DC. He’s a 2020 graduate of USC’s MFA Film/TV Production program, with his ﬁlms earning him both the prestigious George Lucas Scholar Award and the James Bridges and Jack Larson Award for Writing and Directing. His films have been recognized by film festivals across the world, including International Children’s Film Festival, Forbes 30 Under 30 Film Competition and American Black Film Festival (ABFF), to name a few.

In 2022 he published his ﬁrst middle grade novel, Nothing Interesting Ever Happens To Ethan Fairmont, the ﬁrst book in a three-book series. and the third and ﬁnal book released in 2024. His ﬁrst YA novel, Promise Boys, debuted January 2023 and was the largest Young Adult debut publishing deal in history. The book received critical acclaim including winning the 2024 Odyssey Award and being a 2023 Boston Globe–Horn Book award honoree. His second YA novel, Up In Smoke, releases in May 2025. He’s currently writing an unannounced Marvel graphic novel. In TV/Film, Nick is writing and co-executive producing several projects— Promise Boys, with the Obamas producing, Manifest Atlas, a horror mystery and Redemption Prep, a sci-ﬁ mystery with MGM. Nick is also currently writing on his ﬁrst video game with Rockstar, GTA 6.

Truly a multi-hyphenate, Nick is also a rapper known by the moniker, Ben Kenobe, and has composed music for ﬁlms such as NETFLIX’s, They Cloned Tyrone, and HBO’s, The Cypher. Before becoming full-time artist, Nick was an educator working primarily with at-risk youth. During that time he earned his M. Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction while holding his undergraduate degree from Howard University.

Nick's Featured Titles

My Writing Process

In this talk Nick takes students through his writing process and how he creates the most compelling story possible.

Storytelling 101

In this talk Nick takes students through the fundamentals of storytelling, including defining a story and determining what elements should be included.

Story of Self and Career Readiness

Typically for college students, in this session Nick walks students through exercises that help them discover who they are and plan for what career trajectory they’d like to have.

“Nothing short of astounding. A spellbinding, propulsive mystery while simultaneously presenting a searing critique of structural injustice. I recommend it to anyone who loves books or doesn’t.” ― Jeff Zentner, award-winning author of The Serpent King and In the Wild Light

“An edge-of-your-seats, street-smart, exploding-with-talent novel.” ― Francisco X. Stork, author of On the Hook

“A top-notch page-turner and deep character study . . . will grip readers, who won’t want to stop reading.” ― Booklist, starred review

“I was at the edge of my seat trying to figure out if I was reading a story about boys becoming men or boys becoming killers―you will be too. A brilliant pulls-no-punches mystery with bruised hearts at its core.” ― Adam Silvera, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of They Both Die at the End

“Thrilling, captivating, and blade-sharp. Promise Boys will stay with you long after the last page.” ― Karen M. McManus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying

“Along with cheering for Ethan and his six-eyed, junk-food-loving buddy through adventures both comical and suspenseful, readers are bound to have nuanced reactions to the tale as a whole.” ― Booklist

“I can’t wait to see this expertly crafted mystery take the world over.” ― Nic Stone, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Dear Martin

“This cinematic thriller deftly entertains readers while leveling a sharp indictment of society’s mistreatment of Black and Latinx teenage boys. A tense and urgent mystery that can help break the cycle it condemns.” ― Shelf Awareness, starred review

Nick’s Films

Nick’s Music

Nick’s Press

Honors, Awards & Recognition

2024 Black Caucus of the American Library Association and School Library Journal Winner – PROMISE BOYS
2024 Texas Library Association TAYSHAS Top Ten Book Selection – PROMISE BOYS
2024 Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production for Young Adults – PROMISE BOYS
2024 Project LIT Community Book Club Pick – PROMISE BOYS
2023 Amazon Best Book of the Year So Far – PROMISE BOYS
2023 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honoree – PROMISE BOYS
New York Public Library & Kirkus Best Book of 2023 – PROMISE BOYS
2023 Waterstones Prize Shortlist – PROMISE BOYS

Media clips

Tamron Hall | Nick Brooks’ Book “Promise Boys” is Being Adapted for Netflix

NPR | Nick Brooks on his new young adult novel ‘Promise Boys’

AP News | Emerging filmmaker receives 7-figure book deal for thriller

Media Kit

By clicking the link below you will be directed to a Google Docs Folder
where you can download author photos and cover images.