Author
Reading is Fundamental!
Hi all!
Thank you for stopping by for a visit. I am Bryan D. Jackson, and I'm from Charlotte, NC. I have devoted much of this time in my life to writing fiction for young people. I am of mixed-ancestry, with my mother's family coming from places like England, France, and Germany. My father's family were Cherokee, an Indian tribe native to the United States, and others in his family line came from Scotland, Ireland, and England. Being Cherokee is intensely important to me. My Cherokee community is the Mt. Hood Cherokees, a wonderful part of the great Cherokee Nation.
As a child, I had a lot of trouble in school and was extremely insecure. I was considered a slow learner, was bullied a lot, and was awkward around girls. Truth is, I was scared to death of them! (Later in life, I married the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, who still puts up with me today, but that's another story).
I had so much difficulty with school, in fact, that I dropped out because I didn't believe in myself and felt my life was going nowhere. But, I went back and finished. I refused to let the world get the best of me. It is important that you know that you can overcome the obstacles in your life. I eventually went on to college and graduated. Despite my early school troubles, my mother instilled in me a love for reading and writing. She would take me to the public library as a reward. My favorite children's picture book is Go, Dog. Go!
I worked a lot of different jobs over the years. I was a theater concession attendant. I washed dishes for a time. I was a policeman. I was a dog trainer, doing a job that I dearly loved. The dogs are some of my best friends in the universe; I love all animals and, as a Cherokee, I believe they are our relatives, just as humans are.
Later in life, I went to seminary and became an ordained minister. I was a children's pastor for a time. I worked for a while as a hospital chaplain, a minister who visits and prays with the sick and dying. I served in pediatric oncology, ministering to children with cancer and their families. As a young person, I became terribly sick with cancer myself. It was an awful, scary time, but I survived, and I am thankful that I went on to write books for young people. I love writing for you!
Although I am older now, my 6th-grade teacher, "Miss Reed," still stays in touch with me. She is my all-time favorite teacher! She reads my stories, articles, and generally cheers me on. She has been one of the great blessings in my life. These days, we chat on the phone, send each other emails, and we love to hear each other laugh.
I now live in the Seattle, WA, area. Besides children's fiction, I sometimes write about spirituality, genealogy, and Native American history and culture. A book I hope to have out sometime in 2019 is Chattahoochee Rain. It is what we call historical fiction, and is based on one of my Cherokee great-grandmothers. I hope you will be on the lookout for it!
You can reach me at bdjackson86@gmail.com
A much younger me, with Aslan, during my dog training days in Charlotte, NC. THANK YOU for visiting my site!
Thank you for stopping by for a visit. I am Bryan D. Jackson, and I'm from Charlotte, NC. I have devoted much of this time in my life to writing fiction for young people. I am of mixed-ancestry, with my mother's family coming from places like England, France, and Germany. My father's family were Cherokee, an Indian tribe native to the United States, and others in his family line came from Scotland, Ireland, and England. Being Cherokee is intensely important to me. My Cherokee community is the Mt. Hood Cherokees, a wonderful part of the great Cherokee Nation.
As a child, I had a lot of trouble in school and was extremely insecure. I was considered a slow learner, was bullied a lot, and was awkward around girls. Truth is, I was scared to death of them! (Later in life, I married the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, who still puts up with me today, but that's another story).
I had so much difficulty with school, in fact, that I dropped out because I didn't believe in myself and felt my life was going nowhere. But, I went back and finished. I refused to let the world get the best of me. It is important that you know that you can overcome the obstacles in your life. I eventually went on to college and graduated. Despite my early school troubles, my mother instilled in me a love for reading and writing. She would take me to the public library as a reward. My favorite children's picture book is Go, Dog. Go!
I worked a lot of different jobs over the years. I was a theater concession attendant. I washed dishes for a time. I was a policeman. I was a dog trainer, doing a job that I dearly loved. The dogs are some of my best friends in the universe; I love all animals and, as a Cherokee, I believe they are our relatives, just as humans are.
Later in life, I went to seminary and became an ordained minister. I was a children's pastor for a time. I worked for a while as a hospital chaplain, a minister who visits and prays with the sick and dying. I served in pediatric oncology, ministering to children with cancer and their families. As a young person, I became terribly sick with cancer myself. It was an awful, scary time, but I survived, and I am thankful that I went on to write books for young people. I love writing for you!
Although I am older now, my 6th-grade teacher, "Miss Reed," still stays in touch with me. She is my all-time favorite teacher! She reads my stories, articles, and generally cheers me on. She has been one of the great blessings in my life. These days, we chat on the phone, send each other emails, and we love to hear each other laugh.
I now live in the Seattle, WA, area. Besides children's fiction, I sometimes write about spirituality, genealogy, and Native American history and culture. A book I hope to have out sometime in 2019 is Chattahoochee Rain. It is what we call historical fiction, and is based on one of my Cherokee great-grandmothers. I hope you will be on the lookout for it!
You can reach me at bdjackson86@gmail.com
A much younger me, with Aslan, during my dog training days in Charlotte, NC. THANK YOU for visiting my site!
