Anthony P. Jones

Bio for Anthony P. Jones author of

“Operation Smokeout”

Anthony P. “Tony” Jones was born in Kenbridge, Va. From an early age, he wanted to become a doctor and also joked about one day writing a book. After graduating from Central Senior High in Victoria, VA., Tony attended Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans for three years before being accepted to Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN.

Tony spent six years in management with two national firms in Nashville, TN. He then went on to become a stock broker with Morgan Stanley, where he planned to remain until retirement.

Tony admits that he was never much of a reader, finding it a bit arduous, though he liked to purchase books. Not long after leaving medical school, he picked up a thriller someone had left and found himself hooked. Reading was still difficult, but the contents were too compelling to stop. At age thirty-five, Tony was diagnosed with dyslexia and for the first time realized why he found reading such a chore.

A short time later, Tony began sharing a story that was in his head with his mother. As a teacher, she had always felt he should have pursued the arts and encouraged him to write the story down. After fifteen years as a broker, he could no longer ignore the call of becoming a writer and left the Morgan Stanley to concentrate fully on his first novel “Operation Smokeout.” During that time, he self-published “The Book of Why Is It(s)?” He also provided contract work for New Millennium Studios for the novel adaptation of “For Real”.

Tony is a volunteer with James River Writers and has served as the Secretary, Board of Directors of the Hurston/Wright Foundation. Tony is a self-proclaimed gourmet cook, sings in his church’s choir and enjoys martial arts (he is a black belt in Kempo). He enjoys photography, golf, reading and a good cigar. He is also a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.

Tony currently lives in Richmond, Va. He has four children, Nicholas, Morgan, Alex and Cassidy for whom he is eternally grateful to for allowing him to pursue his dream.

Blurbs and review extracts

“An Intricately plotted political thriller that moves as swiftly as a firing pin set on full automatic. Operation Smokeout is a book that sucks you in and doesn’t let you out of its grasp.”

Ken Nolan— Oscar-nominated screenwriter, Black Hawk Down

“Operation Smokeout is an excellent debut effort…filled with intrigue and intricate political complexity.”

Bill Cox— President/Editor-in-Chief Black Issues Book Review

“Operation Smokeout is an exciting, fast-paced story that thriller readers will enjoy.”

Marilyn Wallace— Author, Primary Target/Editor, The best of Sisters in Crime

“This is a wonderful book!”

Alina Fernandez, Author, Radio Talk Show Host; Daughter of Fidel Castro

“…It [is] a very interesting book and worth reading.”

RAWSISTAZ Literary Group

“…Extremely popular, genre of semi-political thriller…guns, betrayal, conspiracy, action and diabolical saboteurs…why didn’t [President] Kennedy think of that?”

Style Weekly

“…Jones is on the path to becoming one of the best-known thriller writers.”

Pen World

“D8 With F8” keeps you spellbound with one of the most brilliant and elusive serial killers since Hannibal Lector and all of the heart-racing action of the Bourne series. No doubt about it… O’Grady is back!

Jim Clemente, Writer of Criminal Minds

FBI Supervisory Special Agent/Profiler (Retired)

“…Just as any of Tom Clancy’s heroes would…you know from the beginning [Schaffer O’Grady will] win, and you read on only to find out how.”

Black Issues Book Review/Detroit Free Press

Appearances, Lectures & Workshops

November 1995 Attendee— Virginia Writer’s Forum Workshop

Spring 1997 Creative Writing and Novel Workshop— Virginia Commonwealth University, under Marita Golden

June 1997 Attendee— Hurston/Wright Foundation Workshop

1997-2001 Board Member— Hurston/Wright Foundation

2001-2002 Fulltime student— University of Virginia— Creative Writing and Novel workshops

October 2003 Attendee— James River Writers Conference

January 2003 Panelist— Barnes & Noble— “How to Get Published”

September 2005 Lecture— Starbucks (multiple locations)— Operation Smokeout

October 2005 Presenter— Southern Festival of Books, Nashville, TN— Operation Smokeout

November 2005 Lecture— Association of Blacks in Media, Richmond, VA

November 2005 Presenter— Borders Books (multiple locations)— Operation Smokeout

December 2005 Interview— CBS News Morning Show, Richmond, VA—Operation Smokeout

January 2006 Presenter— Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival— Operation Smokeout

May 2006 Presenter— Famous Dave’s Worlds Biggest Backyard BBQ— Operation Smokeout

October 2006 Panelist— James River Writers Conference

July 2007 Lecture— Riverside Writers— Cuba, How to use world events to help sell your book

2003-present Various Duties— James River Writers

2012 Judge— Riverside Writers yearly writing contest

September 2013 Guest panelist— The Mind Set Show, Does Hollywood Get it Right? “D8 With F8” one of the subjects discussed

Publications

Self-Published 2002 Y The Book of Why is It(s)?

2005 Allen Publishing Operation Smokeout

2005 Richmond Times Dispatch Improper use of stereotypical graphics and language— Rebuttal commentary (Unruly crowd acting like wild banshees; coupled with picture of Native American).

2014 Brown Bag Books D8 With F8

2005 Catholic Virginian Death Penalty Calls For Reflection (Stanley “Tookie” Williams has earned forgiveness)

2018 Brown Bag Books Red States

2007 Washington Post Pope’s comments; result of human failure— Rebuttal commentary (Pope Considers Catholics Only True Christians)

2013 Brown Bag Books LLC “D8 With F8”

2018 Brown Bag Books Red States