Mr. Jimmy From Around the Way by Jeffrey Blount

Mr. Jimmy From Around the Way by Jeffrey Blount

James Henry Ferguson doesn’t belong here.

After a highly publicized fall from grace, James attempts to flee from the chaos in his life. He ends up in a community he had never heard of before, one that has been neglected and ignored by everyone in rural Ham, Mississippi. A place of abject poverty, the neighborhood is commonly referred to as “Around the Way.”

Within a place forgotten by the rest of the world, politics can be a dangerous game. When a troubling discovery is made, the entire neighborhood is rocked to its core and James is forced to confront his own past in order to help the community have a future. He will have to find the strength to fight for the neighbors he once disregarded and avert a heart-breaking disaster.

A self-identified failure is forced to uncover the wisdom of his past in order to recognize that money can’t solve every problem. Full of never-ending twists and turns, no one can prepare themselves for the surprises in store. Mr. Jimmy From Around the Way is a story about failure, self-discovery, empowerment, and the possibility of redemption.

“Mr. Jimmy from Around the Way is a mesmerizing look at one man’s fall from grace and the age-old struggle for redemption. James Henry Ferguson is a philanthropic Black businessman whose wounded ego leads him to a self-destructive act that destroys all he holds dear. Finding himself outcast and reviled not only by society but also by his beloved family, he retreats to his roots, seeking to reclaim the values that brought him the success and esteem he once enjoyed. James Henry Ferguson becomes plain old Mr. Jimmy to his new neighbors in a poverty-stricken town in rural Mississippi, and it is there he finds the true meaning of love, respect, and community. This tender story is for any of us who have fallen and found the only way up is by reaching out a hand to others.” - Cassandra King, author of Tell Me a Story: My Life with Pat Conroy

“Jeffrey Blount has crafted an important and authentic novel about failure, redemption, the families we are given, and the families we create. We all know a place like Ham, Mississippi. It's the kind of town you drive through while making sure your car doors are locked. Mr. Blount makes us pause and step out of our bubbles to take an up-close and uncomfortable look at poverty and racism in our collective backyard. This powerful novel shows us the true meaning of "it takes a village," and that doing the right thing should be color blind.” - Karen White, New York Times bestselling author of The House on Prytania

“In Jeffrey Blount’s poignant novel, Mr. Jimmy from Around the Way, James Ferguson must lose his life to gain one worth living. The catalyst for his awakening is found in Ham, Mississippi, a community of systemic racism, poverty, and violence. This is where Blount’s writing shines. With a true sense of place and authentic dialogue, the author introduces characters not easily forgotten. I found myself crying and cheering for those characters, lost in their pain and ultimately, joy. Mr. Jimmy from Around the Way is a heartwarming story with the emotional depth of an important read.” –Johnnie Bernhard, author of Hannah and Ariela, winner of the National Federation of Press Women, Novel Award 2023.