James W. Jennings
James W. Jennings is a writer, artist, and educator with a BA in English from Emory University in Atlanta, and an MFA from CUNY-Brooklyn College. Originally from Hartford, Connecticut, James worked for many years as a basketball coach, substitute teacher, dean of students, and English teacher within the NYC Department of Education and on Martha’s Vineyard in the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School and the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School. James is currently promoting his novel Wings of Red, preparing his 2024 Inspirations Tour, and painting in his living room in the Highlands.
In Wings of Red, June Papers, a recent MFA grad and current substitute teacher, finds himself homeless in the city. What follows is a sharp commentary on the sacrifices working-class people must make to dedicate themselves to their art, family, and community. Told in a distinctive narrative voice that flows to its own unforgettable rhythm, Wings of Red is flush with truth, wit, and compassion.