Jeffrey Lofton

On Season 1 of Books By The River, Holly Jackson sits down with author Jeffrey Lofton to discuss his deeply personal and powerful debut novel, Red Clay Suzie.

Jeffrey Dale Lofton, originally from Warm Springs, Georgia, spent over three decades in Washington, D.C., where he became deeply involved in the city’s vibrant arts scene. He performed at prestigious venues, including the Kennedy Center, Signature Theatre and Woolly Mammoth, and even appeared in a high-profile Super Bowl halftime commercial. Though his acting career was marked by several memorable moments, Lofton ultimately shifted his focus to storytelling in a different form, applying his theatrical expertise to communications.

In his professional life after acting, Lofton worked as a communications advisor to leading landscape architects, helping to describe the beauty of thoughtfully designed gardens. He also collaborated with military veterans, assisting them in sharing their personal stories of service and sacrifice. Along the way, Lofton pursued postgraduate studies, earning Master’s degrees in both Public Administration and Library and Information Science. His passion for books and stories led him to his current role as a senior advisor at the Library of Congress, where he feels right at home.