After achieving sudden fame akin to a fairytale, Hudson Williams has ventured into storytelling. The 24-year-old actor from Vancouver rose to prominence in November last year when he played hockey star Shane Hollander on the hit series “Heated Rivalry.” This Crave Original show has become the most successful program on the streaming service, even catching the attention of Prime Minister Mark Carney, who met the Canadian lead and director at the Prime Time 2026 gala in January.
In a recent conversation with fellow actress Sophie Nélisse, as reported by Wonderland, Williams disclosed his current project of working on a book. He shared that writing and journaling help him stay grounded. Williams mentioned, “I’ve been doing a lot of writing. I keep two separate journals—one is a semi-autobiographical manuscript about this phase in my life where I blend fiction with reality.”
Inspired by acclaimed author Joan Didion, known for works like “The Year of Magical Thinking” and “Play It As It Lays,” Williams attributes his affinity for journaling to her. He revealed, “I maintain a Google doc where I jot down my thoughts and feelings during downtime in hotel rooms between engagements. Joan Didion once mentioned that she journals so that she can rediscover herself through her writings in old age.”
Apart from Didion’s works, Williams also enjoys reading novels falling under the category of “hot girl read,” featuring popular literary works by female authors. In a video shared with Vanity Fair last December, he mentioned his interest in reading “Sex and Rage” by Eve Babitz. Prior to his fame from “Heated Rivalry,” Williams frequently shared his current reading choices online, ranging from Anne de Marcken’s 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. He mentioned, “I immerse myself in books and movies here. I feel connected to my wellspring of creativity. I absorb art before I need to create.”
While the possibility of Williams’s debut novel hitting the shelves remains uncertain, as he has not announced any book deal yet, literary agent Samantha Haywood anticipates a significant interest from publishers. Haywood stated in an email to CBC Books that publishers would eagerly compete for the rights to publish a semi-autobiographical novel by the star of the global sensation “Heated Rivalry.” She added, “If it happens to include a spicy romance, publishers will spare no expense.”
CBC Books has attempted to reach out to Williams and his team for comments without success.