Jeffrey

Blount

Award Winning Novelist

Emmy Award Winning Director

Travels from: Washington, DC

“If you aren’t already ‘woke, ‘ you will be after reading this book.”–Mary Batten, author of Aliens from Earth

Jeffrey is the award-winning author of three novels — Almost Snow White, winner of the 2013 USA Best Book Awards. Hating Heidi Foster, winner of the 2013 Readers Favorite Book Award for young adult literature. The Emancipation of Evan Walls, winner of the 2020 National Indie Excellence Award for African American fiction, winner of the 2019 Readers Favorite Book Award, winner of the 2019 American Bookfest Best Book Award and a Shelf Unbound 2019 Notable Book. He is also an Emmy award-winning television director and a 2016 inductee to the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame. During a 34-year career at NBC News, Jeffrey directed a decade of Meet The Press, The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, and major special events. His forthcoming novel, Mr. Jimmy From Around the Way will be released in January 2024.

He was a contributor for HuffPost and has been published in The Washington Post, The Grio.com and other publications, commenting on issues of race, social justice and writing. He is also an award-winning documentary scriptwriter for films and interactives that are now on display in the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture. the Newseum, America I AM: The African American Imprint at the National Constitution Center, The Museum at Bethel Woods, at the site of the 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Fair, and others. These projects have won Cine Golden Eagle Awards, Muse Awards and a Thea Award. In 2017 and 2018, Jeffrey served as Journalist in Residence and Shapiro Fellow at the School of Media and Public Affairs at The George Washington University.

Recently, Jeffrey earned his university’s alumni achievement award – the VCU Alumni Star – for his professional achievements as a director at NBC, script writer and author. He also served as a member of the advisory board at the Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture at Virginia Commonwealth University, his alma mater. Presently, he serves as a member of the national board of the non-profit Reading Partners, dedicated to the mission of child literacy. Born and raised in Smithfield, Virginia, he now lives in Washington, DC.

Jeffrey’s newest novel, Mr. Jimmy From Around the Way, is about a famous and beloved humanitarian who suffers a highly publicized, sudden, and severe fall from grace. In an attempt to hide from his sin, he buys a house in rural Mississippi— unaware that his new home/hideaway is perched on the edge of the poorest community in Ham, Mississippi. His new neighbors live aside his enormous wealth in abject poverty. Mr. Jimmy From Around the Way is a story about failure, self-discovery, empowerment, and the possibility of redemption.

Jeffrey's Featured Titles

Mr. Jimmy From Around the Way

Beaufort Books |

January 16, 2024

Literary Fiction

James Henry Ferguson doesn’t belong here.

After a highly publicized fall from grace, James attempts to flee from the chaos in his life. He ends up in a community he had never heard of before, one that has been neglected and ignored by everyone in rural Ham, Mississippi. A place of abject poverty, the neighborhood is commonly referred to as “Around the Way.”

Within a place forgotten by the rest of the world, politics can be a dangerous game. When a troubling discovery is made, the entire neighborhood is rocked to its core and James is forced to confront his own past in order to help the community have a future. He will have to find the strength to fight for the neighbors he once disregarded and avert a heart-breaking disaster.

A self-identified failure is forced to uncover the wisdom of his past in order to recognize that money can’t solve every problem. Full of never-ending twists and turns, no one can prepare themselves for the surprises in store. Mr. Jimmy From Around the Way is a story about failure, self-discovery, empowerment, and the possibility of redemption.

BIPOC Representation, Black Voices, Civil Discourse & Social Justice, Class & Economic Inequality, Fiction, Friendship & Community

The Emancipation of Evan Walls

Koehler Books |

June 19, 2019

Novel

“If you aren’t already ‘woke, ‘ you will be after reading this book.”–Mary Batten, author of Aliens from Earth

EVAN WALLS IS TERRIFIED by the birth of his ﬁrst child because he doesn’t want her to suffer the isolation he had as a child. Seeing his torment, his wife, Izzy, prods him to explain. He tells of being a black child growing up in the racially charged 1960s. Inspired to overcome the racism and class status imposed on blacks, he dreams of a life bigger than that lived by most everyone he knows in the small Virginia town of Canaan. He is resented by friends and family for desiring a life better than theirs. Among the smartest in his class, Evan becomes a target of white kids threatened by the forced integration of their schools. Caught in a crossﬁre of hate from whites and his own people, who question whether he is black enough, Evan is often alone and bewildered. Only the love of his great grandmother, Mama Jennie, and his mentor, Bojack, keeps him on track. Together, they help Evan ﬁnd perspective and peace.

BIPOC Representation, Black Voices, Book Club & Library Favorites, Community Reads, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Fiction

The Emancipation of Evan Walls Book Talk/Keynote Address

Story - The Cornerstone of Creating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The Power of Education

The 10 Minute Book Talk from Jeffrey Blount on Vimeo.

Rebecca Long, MacArthur Jr High Media Specialist
“Let’s save our wonderful Jonesboro Public Library! Just today, I took a group of 12 young ladies from our book club to meet and hear Author Jeffrey Blount, who is also an Emmy-winning television director with a successful 34-year career at NBC News, Meet the Press, and The Today’s Show, speak about his powerful book, “The Emancipation of Evan Walls.” We loved every minute!!! When we returned to school afterward, I overheard one of our boys ask, “Where have y’all been?” One of my girls replied, “Mrs. Long took us to meet a life-changing author at the Jonesboro Public Library.” Those were her exact words.”

National Association for Gifted Children, 2021
“Powerful Keynote in troubling times. As someone with a background in Urban Education, this session was very applicable. I find that white teachers are often unaware of the cultural stigmas that surround education and how many gifted and talented brown and black students often go unrecognized. Thank you for this presentation!”

Southern Lit Alliance, 2020
“Jeffrey was an incredible speaker and such an inspiration to everyone. He was probably the best speaker we have had and received a standing ovation, which we have never had happen before.”

For Book Clubs!

Jeffrey’s Photo Gallery

Honors, Awards & Recognition

Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book
USA Best Book Awards Winner
2013 Readers Favorite Book Award for young adult literature
National Indie Excellence Awards Winner