“Stafford has no shortage of material … ever the Renaissance man.”
– The Atlanta Journal Constitution
“Stafford has no shortage of material … ever the Renaissance man.”
– The Atlanta Journal Constitution
Meet Clay
Clay Stafford is a bestselling author, award-winning filmmaker, creative consultant, and dynamic speaker whose stories explore the depths of resilience, identity, justice, and human connection. With nearly four million books sold and translations in sixteen languages, his storytelling spans novels, screenplays, stage plays, poetry, short stories, essays, and nonfiction, each known for emotional depth, moral complexity, and timeless relevance.
But Clay’s identity has never been confined to the page. As a director, producer, composer, actor, editor, and publishing and entertainment industry mentor, he has built a career at the intersection of artistic expression and industry execution. He doesn’t just tell stories; he creates the ecosystems that bring them to life.
His work crosses genres from gripping crime fiction and pulse-pounding thrillers to heartfelt romance, psychological horror, and spiritual nonfiction. Whether crafting immersive novels or composing music to elevate film and stage, Clay approaches story with the structure of a screenwriter, the sensitivity of a poet, and the vision of a world-builder.
Clay holds a B.A. in Film and Television and a double M.F.A. in Writing and Film Production. He has collaborated with major studios and networks, including Disney, Warner Bros., Universal, PBS, ABC, CBS, NBC, and Esquire magazine, and has served as a story consultant, executive, and studio support staff on major productions. Clay was a stage and screen actor for several decades and appeared on tour in leading rolls in productions of The King and I, The Fantasticks, Carnival, Ten Little Indians, Lone Star, Angels Fall, and onscreen on the soap Days of Our Lives, Clue: Movies, Murder, and Mystery with Martin Mull, and going way back in time, The Jerry Lewis Telethon. In major studio productions, he has worked on such projects as Back to the Future, Mask, Legal Eagles, Hannah & Her Sisters, The Money Pit, Out of Africa, Weird Science, Amazing Stories, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Jurassic Park, Psycho III, Howard the Duck, Dynasty, The Equalizer, Simon & Simon, Knight Rider, Airwolf, Magnum, P.I., Murder, She Wrote, and Miami Vice.
As an educator, he has taught and designed curricula for universities, including Miami Dade College, where he co-designed the original film program to train Florida’s studio technicians. He has also lectured at the University of Miami, the University of Tennessee, and Belmont University, where he serves on the Executive Board of the Parent Leadership Circle.
Clay is the founder of the internationally acclaimed Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference, publisher of Killer Nashville Magazine, and founder of Killer Nashville University, a streaming educational platform for career-focused creatives. His work as a business leader in the arts is matched only by his devotion to helping others find clarity, courage, and purpose in their own creative lives. He has been officially praised for his work on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives and the floor of the Tennessee State House of Representatives. He has been a Guest of Honor at such outstanding conferences as Bouchercon. A member of the state-appointed committee, he helped in creating film initiatives that have brought numerous film and television productions to the state of Tennessee.
In addition to expanding Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference, Killer Nashville University, and his monthly columns for Writer’s Digest and Killer Nashville Magazine, Clay is currently working on a nonfiction book for writers based upon his years of being a bestselling and award-winning writer and filmmaker and working with other celebrity writers, publishers, and studios; a mystery/thriller novel set in Appalachia; a memoir of his journey from a childhood in Appalachia to working with some of the biggest names in publishing and Hollywood; and a thriller screenplay exploring the darkness of human emotion. In addition, he regularly publishes short stories, poems, and essays in various literary journals.
When he’s not writing, mentoring, speaking, or developing new projects, you’ll likely find Clay savoring quiet moments with his family, wandering the wooded hills of Tennessee and Georgia, or breathing in the sunlight along Florida’s coast.
At his core, Clay Stafford is a storyteller, a creative force committed to building meaningful, lasting stories and helping others do the same.
“Stafford doesn’t just write stories—he builds worlds that breathe.” —Publishers Weekly
Clay’s work spans genres, including:
- Crime fictionthat keeps readers on the edge of their seats
- Nonfiction about the art, craft, and business of writing
- Inspirational essays about living with purpose and creativity
- Screenplays and films that explore moral dilemmas, transformation, and human complexity
- Musical compositions for film, theater, and story-rich performance
- Cross-genre literary work that blends the poetic and the practical
Clay’s Circle – Past & Present
Through the Years
Some walk a single path, and then some build the road itself.
Clay Stafford is not defined by one title, genre, or medium. He is a man of many lives, lived all at once: an architect of stories, a steward of voice, a conductor of meaning. From backstage to boardroom, from the hush of a theater to the hum of a film set, from the solitude of the writing desk to the energy of the stage, his journey has never been linear, never complete, but always intentional.
His career is shaped not by convention, but by conviction. A life of creative multiplicity, interwoven by purpose.
Clay’s story begins in the Appalachian hills, the grandson of a rural bootlegger, raised on oral tradition, family lore, and the belief that stories could shape not just minds, but destinies. That fire led him, as a teenager in 1976, to found The Clay Stafford Company, with one goal: to create meaningful works of entertainment and education. What began as a spark eventually grew into a production powerhouse, becoming American Blackguard, Inc. in 2003, and anchoring a lifelong legacy of innovation and storytelling.
Over the decades, Clay has built a body of work that spans the globe. He is an international bestselling author and award-winning filmmaker, with over 4 million books sold and works translated into 17 languages. His fiction and nonfiction alike are praised for their emotional depth, moral complexity, and commitment to human connection. Whether crafting a pulse-pounding thriller or a tender essay on creative purpose, Clay draws audiences in with honesty, resonance, and truth. His most significant accomplishments are the lives he’s touched through the years. But to call him a creator of stories alone would miss the magnitude of his contributions.
Creator & Storyteller
Clay has worked across every form of storytelling imaginable:
- Author (novelist, short story writer, essayist, nonfiction writer, poet)
- Screenwriter
- Playwright
- Lyricist
- Composer
- Filmmaker
- Director (film, stage, and video)
- Producer (film, TV, music, theater)
- Executive Producer
- Cinematographer
- Editor (film and publishing)
- Book Packager
- Publisher
- Showrunner
- Script Doctor
- Story Consultant
- Development Executive
- Narrative Strategist
- Creative Consultant
- Story Architect
Clay has worked in executive roles and in the trenches. His early career saw him in studio support positions across PBS, Universal Studios, Hollywood Pictures, Disney, Warner Bros., and more. From there, he transitioned into directing, producing, and developing creative works that merged cinematic technique with literary depth.
Performer & Artist
Before working behind the camera, Clay spent years on stage and in front of it:
- Actor (film, television, and primarily live theater)
- Singer
- Dancer
- Stage Performer
- Radio Personality
- Model
- Public Speaker
- Voiceover Artist
These experiences taught him rhythm, timing, emotional nuance, and audience connection, lessons that still shape his work today.
Educator & Mentor
Clay is also a passionate educator and mentor. Holding an M.F.A. in Creative Writing and Film Production, he has taught at numerous institutions, designed university curricula, and empowered thousands of writers to find their voice.
- Educator (university and workshop instructor)
- Curriculum Designer (including co-designing the original film program at Miami Dade College to train studio technicians)
- Keynote Speaker
- Writing Coach
- Publishing Mentor
- Conference Founder (Killer Nashville)
- Workshop Leader
- Panelist & Moderator
- Podcast Host
- Streaming Platform Creator (Killer Nashville University)
He is the founder of the Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference, voted the #1 writers’ conference in the U.S. by The Writer magazine, as well as the publisher of Killer Nashville Magazine and founder of the streaming educational platform Killer Nashville University.
Leader & Entrepreneur
Clay Stafford is a creator, but he is also a builder of systems, companies, platforms, and movements:
- Founder, The Clay Stafford Company
- Founder & CEO, American Blackguard, Inc.
- Founder, Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference
- Publisher, Killer Nashville Magazine
- Founder, Killer Nashville University
- Business Consultant
- Media & Arts Industry Leader
- Studio Support Staff (early-career titles across multiple major studios)
Music Industry
His talents also extend to music, where he has composed and produced award-winning works:
- Music Producer (including AM Radio Top 10 producer)
- Composer
- Lyricist
- Musician (instrumentalist and/or vocalist)
- Sound Designer / Film Scorer
Industry & Advocacy Work
Driven by a deep commitment to literacy, equity, education, and access, Clay has served numerous local and national boards:
- Board Member (education, literacy, press freedom orgs)
- Philanthropist / Literacy Advocate
- Diversity and Education Champion
- Environmental and Preservationist Supporter
- Donor (via American Blackguard’s charitable programs, donations have previously been made up to $100,000 annually in books and funds delivered to underserved communities, libraries, disaster zones, preservation causes, and the military)
Recognition & Honors
His influence has not gone unnoticed:
- Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree
- Named one of the Top 50 “accomplished up-and-comers” in North American publishing by Publishers Weekly, Frankfurter Buchmesse (Frankfurt Book Fair), and the American Booksellers Association
- Quoted, reviewed, and profiled in The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, Esquire, Publishers Weekly, and more
Publishers Weekly once said Clay “plays an essential role in defining which books become bestsellers” across “the nation’s book culture.” He continues to influence not only what gets published but also how stories are shaped, shared, and sustained in a changing world.
Personal Dimension
Beyond public life, Clay remains grounded in what matters most:
- Appalachian Grandson (part of the storytelling legacy)
- Father
- Husband
- Outdoor Explorer
- Southern Storyteller with a Global Reach
Clay lives with his family and a menagerie of animals across Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida, where stories continue to find him in the hills, the cities, and along the sunlit coastlines he calls home.
As Clay once said in one of his live keynotes, “I was never chasing fame. I was chasing meaning. Every story I’ve told, every stage I’ve stood on, every hand I’ve reached for, it’s all been to prove that words can heal, art can lead, and one voice, when used with purpose, can echo far beyond its time.”
Career Highlights
Stafford has edited companion books for PBS series and served as Editor-in-Chief, Publisher, and Book Packager for various organizations.
In addition to his other books, his adaptations of classic novels for children have sold approximately 3.9 million copies and been translated into several languages. Notably, these books appeared in the film Must Love Dogs.
Clay Stafford has contributed to several Universal Television productions, including Magnum, P.I., Murder, She Wrote, Knight Rider, Miami Vice, Airwolf, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Amazing Stories, Simon & Simon, The Equalizer, MacGyver, and Dynasty
In addition to television, Stafford’s film experience at Universal Studios includes involvement with Back to the Future, Out of Africa, Weird Science, Psycho III, Legal Eagles, The Money Pit, Mask, and Hannah and Her Sisters.
In addition to being invited as a speaker many times, Clay Stafford was featured as the guest of honor at Bouchercon 2024 in Nashville.
Stafford’s personal favorites include his screenplay Pork Pie Hat, based on Peter Straub’s novel, which was optioned for production. His TV series Richland Heights was optioned for Sony Pictures. His documentary One of the Miracles: The Inge Meyring Smith Story has received critical acclaim at film festivals.
He has produced, directed, and written numerous series and movies.
He has also served as an executive or consultant to numerous film studios and production companies.
Awards & Honors
- Tennessee Public Relations and Media Award from the Tennessee branch of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution for his work as a writer/filmmaker.
- 2024 Bouchercon Guest of Honor
- International Bestselling Author (4 million books sold / available in 16 languages)
- Battle Ground Academy Writer-in-Residence
- BGA Greer
- Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded – Amazon Bestseller
- The Writer: The Best Writing Conferences in the USA (multiple years), #1 U.S. voted writers’ conference 2020 (Clay Stafford, founder/producer Killer Nashville)
- “Your Shadow” – Hollywood Music and Media Awards: Best Country Song Nominee
- PW Star Watch Honoree – One of the Top 40 North American publishing industry professionals to watch by Publishers Weekly, Frankfurter Buchmesse (Frankfurt Book Fair), American Booksellers Association
- Bringing Daddy Home: The Call – Award of Excellence Winner – Film Advisory Board
- Tell Me Why Why: Flight – Silver Honors Winner – Parents’ Choice Award
- “Near the Silver Mine” – Top 10 AM Hit
- Bringing Daddy Home: The Call – Aurora Awards Winner
- Bringing Daddy Home: The Call – Davey Award Winner -Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts
- Tell Me Why Why: Flight – Children’s Video Magazine Four-Stars Winner
- Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded – National Indie Excellence Award Finalist
- Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded – John Kremer Prize – USA Regional Excellence Book Awards
- Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded – REBA Award Winner / Anthology Category – USA Regional Excellence Book Awards
- Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded – Sponsor’s Choice Award Winner – USA Regional Excellence Book Awards
- Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded – Next Generation Indie Book Award Finalist
- Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded – Beverly Hills Book Awards Finalist
- Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded – Best Book Awards Winner – American Book Fest
- Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded – SIBA Okra Pick – Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance
- “Two Young Souls” – American Council on Aging Poetry Contest Winner
- We Are Family – Certificate of Recognition Annual National Mass Media Awards – National Conference of Christians and Jews
- One of the Miracles: The Inge Meyring Smith Story – Utopia Film Festival Selection
- One of the Miracles: The Inge Meyring Smith Story – Old Glory Chapter Media Award by the Daughters of the American Revolution
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