Gayl Carolyn Jones, better known as Gayl Jones, is an eminent American author hailing from Lexington, Kentucky. Recognized as a pivotal figure in the landscape of 20th-century African-American literature, Jones made her literary debut with the acclaimed novel Corregidora in 1975, when she was merely 25 years old. Published under the editorial guidance of Toni Morrison, Corregidora received laudatory reviews from intellectual giants such as James Baldwin and John Updike. Her subsequent work, Eva's Man, garnered attention for its unflinching portrayal of cruelty and violence.

Throughout her career, Jones has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to her craft, publishing notable works in the late 1990s like The Healing and Mosquito. The Healing was distinguished by being shortlisted for the National Book Award. Despite achieving significant success, Jones faced personal tragedy with the suicide of her husband in 1998, which led her to retreat from the public eye.

In a triumphant return to the literary scene, Jones released Palmares in 2021, her first novel after a 22-year hiatus, which became a finalist for the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Esteemed critics Imani Perry and Calvin Baker have highlighted Jones's literary prowess, with Perry calling her "one of the most versatile and transformative writers of the 20th century" and Baker referring to her as "The Best American Novelist Whose Name You May Not Know."

Jones's academic achievements include a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Connecticut College, where she also received the Frances Steloff Award for Fiction. She continued her education at Brown University, with a focus on creative writing, obtaining a Master of Arts in 1973 and a Doctor of Arts in 1975. It was during her time at Brown that Jones's talent was spotted by poet Michael Harper, who introduced her work to Toni Morrison, thus setting the stage for her first novel's publication.

During her illustrious career, Jones has also served as a visiting lecturer at the University of Michigan, further cementing her status as a literary icon. Her works have reimagined the lives of Black women in various historical and geographical contexts across the Americas, earning her a legendary status among her peers and readers alike.