Jeffrey Colvin is an accomplished American author, particularly known for his historical fiction and cultural adult novels. He was born and raised in Alabama, but now resides in New York City. Colvin has made a significant impact in the literary world with his debut novel, Africaville, which was published in December 2019 by Amistad/HarperCollins USA. The novel is also being published in Canada, France, and Australia, further expanding his global reach.
Before becoming a full-time writer, Colvin served in the US Marine Corps for five years and held various positions such as an advertising analyst, congressional aide, and nonprofit manager. His writing has been featured in several prestigious literary magazines and journals, including Narrative Magazine, Hot Metal Bridge, Painted Bride Quarterly, Rain Taxi Review of Books, The Millions, and The Brooklyn Rail. Colvin's work has also received recognition through various grants and fellowships, such as the Paul Cuffee Scholarship to the Cuttyhunk Writers Residency, a Nellie Mae Roe Distinguished Fellowship from Hambidge Center, and grants from Vermont Studio Center, Colgate University, Provincetown Fine Arts Work Center, The Norman Mailer Center, and Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.
Colvin is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Harvard University, and Columbia University, where he received his MFA in fiction. He is an assistant editor at Narrative Magazine and a member of the National Book Critics Circle. His commitment to the literary community is further demonstrated through his teaching and grant writing work for small community-based arts organizations.