Saintjones’ ‘The Chinaberry Tree’ Receives Royal Dragonfly Book Award

Alabama A&M University alumnus and longtime former public relations director Jerome Saintjones has earned another national accolade for his debut novel, “The Chinaberry Tree,” which recently received an Honorable Mention Award in the Cultural Diversity category from the Royal Dragonfly Book Awards.

The Royal Dragonfly Book Awards, established in 2011, is an international competition recognizing excellence in literature across more than 70 categories, including fiction, nonfiction and children’s literature. Judges evaluate entries based on creativity, originality and overall impact, with awards presented only to books that meet a rigorous scoring threshold.

Set in the fictional town of Ebonia, “The Chinaberry Tree” centers on Arnold Giovanni, a white professor at a historically Black college whose curiosity about the culture surrounding him leads  to a complex and often uncomfortable journey of self-discovery. Much of the story unfolds inside a neighborhood bar known as The Chinaberry Tree, where Giovanni becomes an uneasy observer to deeply personal stories of trauma, joy, resilience and Black legacy. Told through a perspective that is intentionally imperfect, the novel examines the limits of allyship, the pull of cultural voyeurism and the weight of historical truth that lingers across generations.

Saintjones’ recognition places “The Chinaberry Tree” among a select group of titles honored for their contribution to cultural storytelling. The novel, published in spring 2025, has continued to build momentum on the national stage, earning finalist status in the 2025 American Fiction Awards and a win in the International Impact Book Awards.

“This latest honor is a morale booster,” Saintjones said. “It confirms that the story is connecting with readers and that the characters and setting are resonating beyond the page. As a debut novelist later in life, it’s gratifying to know people are still willing to slow down, turn the pages and immerse themselves in another world.”

Saintjones retired in May 2023 after more than three decades of service as Alabama A&M’s director of public relations, but his creative output has only accelerated since then. In addition to his fiction work, he recently completed a collaborative book highlighting the First Ladies of Alabama A&M University, authored both extended and abridged poems for the University’s 150th anniversary and is currently developing an “as told to” biography centered on a notable Black Alabamian.

He is also preparing to bring “The Chinaberry Tree” to a new audience through audio, with recording for the audiobook scheduled to begin in late January 2026. The project will feature narration by Jeremy “Midnite” Michael Durm, an emerging local voice actor whose recent work includes John Hope Bryant’s “Financial Literacy for All” and several corporate productions.

“Every chapter of this journey reminds me that stories still matter and that it’s never too late to tell one,” said Saintjones. “I’m grateful to Alabama A&M University and to readers everywhere who continue to affirm that meaningful stories have a place in our lives.”