After experiencing a remarkable journey to stardom, Hudson Williams, a 24-year-old actor based in Vancouver, has embarked on a new venture of writing his own narratives. Williams gained prominence in November of the previous year through his role as hockey standout Shane Hollander in the hit series “Heated Rivalry,” which has become the most successful show on the streaming platform Crave Original series. The show’s success even caught the attention of Prime Minister Mark Carney, who met with the Canadian lead and director at the Prime Time 2026 gala in January.
In a recent interview with Wonderland magazine, Williams disclosed to his co-star Sophie Nélisse that he is currently working on a book and finds solace in writing and journaling. He mentioned, “I’ve been writing a lot. I have two separate journals. One is a manuscript – semi-autobiographical – about this period in my life, where I blur the lines between fiction and real life.”
Inspired by renowned American writer Joan Didion, known for works like “The Year of Magical Thinking” and “Play It As It Lays,” Williams shared his admiration for journaling. He described maintaining a Google document where he records his internal musings and emotions in hotel rooms between events, citing Didion’s practice of journaling to reconnect with herself in old age.
Apart from Didion, Williams also enjoys reading novels categorized as “hot girl reads,” a subgenre of popular literary works by female authors. In a video with Vanity Fair last December, he mentioned reading “Sex and Rage” by Eve Babitz. Before his rise to fame in “Heated Rivalry,” Williams frequently shared his reading choices online, ranging from Anne de Marcken’s absurdist novel “It Lasts Forever and Then It’s Over” to DC Comics’ “Nightwing.”
During the Wonderland interview, Williams expressed his deep connection to reading and writing at home in Vancouver, where he immerses himself in books and films to fuel his creativity. Despite the anticipation surrounding his debut novel, Williams has yet to announce a book deal. Literary agent Samantha Haywood noted that publishers are eager to secure the rights to publish Williams’s semi-autobiographical novel, given his association with the global hit “Heated Rivalry.” Haywood emphasized that publishers are likely to compete fiercely for territorial rights worldwide, especially if the novel leans towards a spicy romance genre.
While CBC Books reached out to Williams and his team for comment, there has been no response yet.