“Everybody has a story. I think that’s what makes us unique as humans. Your story is different from your story,” Jones said, pointing to students in the classroom. “But it’s your story, and nobody can take that away from you. That’s why I encourage you to write, even if it’s just for fun.”
Keenan Jones (keenanjwrites.com), a Twin Cities (MN) based author originally from northwest Indiana and south suburban Chicago, is a passionate educator and literacy advocate. He believes in the transformative power of literacy to inspire and empower young minds. Having always possessed a natural ability for writing, Keenan’s journey led him from the hardwood (basketball court), to the classroom as an elementary school teacher, and now back to his true passion of creating stories. Keenan is also a 2022 Mirrors and Windows fellow from The Loft Literary Center which is based in Minneapolis, MN and is one of the nation’s leading independent literary centers. His debut book, Saturday Morning at the ‘Shop, is scheduled for a January 2025 release by Beach Lane Books (Simon and Schuster) and illustrated by Ken Daley, beautifully captures the essence of the local barbershop and its significance in Black culture and community.
Keenan is the 2026 recipient of the Ashley Bryan Award, presented by the Texas Library Association Black Caucus Round Table.
Click here to purchase signed copies of Keenan’s books.
Books by Keenan Jones
