Rasheed Newson is a literary fiction author, best known for his debut novel "My Government Means to Kill Me." Rasheed was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he discovered his love for reading at a young age. His early interests in poetry and fiction were shaped by authors such as Nikki Giovanni and Kurt Vonnegut. However, it took him some time to consider himself a writer, having realized his homosexuality in high school and grappling with his identity in a less accepting time and place.
Rasheed attended Georgetown University, where he pursued his passion for writing by contributing movie reviews to the school newspaper, The Hoya. In addition to his academic and writing pursuits, Rasheed volunteered for five years as a tutor/playmate at Grandma's House, a group home for foster care children living with HIV or AIDS. After graduating, Rasheed moved to Los Angeles and began working in the entertainment industry, taking on various roles such as a production assistant, executive assistant, and assistant to a showrunner, before eventually becoming a second assistant to a network president.
Rasheed's writing career took off when he partnered with T.J. Brady, and together they were hired as staff writers on the Fox drama "Lie to Me." Their successful collaboration led to work on various other drama series, including "Bel-Air," "The Chi," and "Narcos." Currently, Rasheed and T.J. serve as executive producers and showrunners for "Bel-Air."
In his personal life, Rasheed resides in Pasadena, California, with his husband and their two children. He is grateful to his literary agent, Jim McCarthy of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, and his literary editor, Nadxieli Nieto of Flatiron Books, for believing in his passion project, "My Government Means to Kill Me." The novel is a testament to Rasheed's commitment to storytelling and his ability to weave compelling narratives, drawing from his diverse background and experiences.