Traci L. Jones

Traci L Groff Jones is the only daughter of Ada and Senator Regis F. Groff. Traci L. Jones holds a B.A. in psychology from Pomona College in Claremont, CA, an M.A. in advertising from the University of Denver, and several courses towards an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Denver.

Before launching a career as a young adult novelist, Traci L. Jones wrote articles for the local business magazines In The Black and Emerging Markets.

Acquired by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (FSG) in 2006, Traci L. Jones’ first YA novel, Standing Against the Wind, won the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award. It was also recognized as a 2007 Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year. Her second novel, Finding My Place, was also published by FSG in 2010. Her third novel, Silhouetted by the Blue (FSG), was released in July 2011, was a CCBC selection, and received a starred review from Booklist. Black Rose Publishing released her fourth YA novel, Ransoming the Captive, in July of 2022. She is represented by Metamorphosis Literary Agency and her agent, Amy Brewer.

In 2016, she began teaching creative writing for the MFA program at Regis University. In March 2020, she joined the instructor staff at the Lighthouse Writing Workshop. In 2022, she began teaching courses on literature and creative writing at the Honors program at the University of Colorado at Denver.

Traci L. Jones is the proud mother of four and owner of the long-standing Jazzercise on Capitol Hill. She lives with her husband in Denver, Colorado.