Charmaine Wilkerson is an American writer and former journalist known for her richly layered storytelling and exploration of identity, family, and diaspora. Born in New York City and raised in Jamaica, she draws deeply on her Caribbean heritage in her work. Before turning to fiction, she built a career as a journalist, writing and editing for major publications and covering stories across the globe.

She gained widespread recognition with her debut novel, Black Cake (2022), a multigenerational story that weaves together themes of migration, belonging, secrets, and inheritance. The novel became a bestseller and was adapted into a television series, further expanding her international readership.

Wilkerson’s writing is noted for its emotional depth, vivid sense of place, and its ability to connect personal histories with broader cultural narratives. Today, she is regarded as an emerging voice in contemporary fiction, celebrated for bringing nuanced Caribbean and diasporic experiences to a wide audience.