Jackson, J. David 1944-

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JACKSON, J. David 1944-

(Dave Jackson)

PERSONAL: Born July 16, 1944, in Glendale, CA; son of Louis (a missionary and aircraft metalworker) and Helen (a homemaker) Jackson; married Neta J. Thiessen (a writer), October 15, 1966; children: Julian, Rachel Jackson Berg, Samantha Sang (Cambodian foster daughter). Education: Attended Multnomah School of the Bible; Judson College, B.A., 1969; graduate study at Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL). Politics: Independent. Religion: Christian. Hobbies and other interests: Bow hunting, fishing, vegetable gardening, camping, mountain bike riding, watching the television series Mystery and Masterpiece Theater.

ADDRESSES: Home and offıce—917 Ashland Ave., Evanston, IL 60202.

CAREER: David C. Cook Publishing Co., Elgin, IL, editor, 1980-85; freelance writer, 1985—. Reba Place Church, member of pastoral staff, 1973-82; Worship Center, member.

MEMBER: Children's Reading Round Table (Chicago, IL).

AWARDS, HONORS: Silver Angel Awards, Excellence in Media, 1994, for Listen for the Whippoorwill, and 1995, for Attack in the Rye Grass; Gold Medallion Award, Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, 1994, for Breaking Down Walls: A Model for Reconciliation in an Age of Racial Strife; citation for "best children's book of the year," Christian Booksellers Association, citation for "best children's book," Christian Booksellers New Zealand, and C. S. Lewis Award for best series, Youth Book Awards, Christian School Children, all 1995, for "Trailblazer" series.

WRITINGS:

FOR CHILDREN; UNDER NAME DAVE JACKSON

(With wife, Neta J. Jackson) Hero Tales: A Family Treasury of True Stories from the Lives of Christian Heroes, four volumes, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1996-2001.

(With Neta J. Jackson and Gordon R. McLean) Too Young to Die, illustrated by son, Julian Jackson, Tyndale House Publishers (Wheaton, IL), 1998.

"TRAILBLAZER" SERIES; UNDER NAME DAVE JACKSON; WITH WIFE, NETA J. JACKSON; ILLUSTRATED BY SON, JULIAN JACKSON, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED

The Queen's Smuggler, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1991.

Kidnapped by River Rats, Bethany House Publishers, (Minneapolis, MN), 1991.

Spy for the Night Raiders, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1992.

The Hidden Jewel, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1992.

Escape from the Slave Traders, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1992.

The Chimney Sweep's Ransom, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1992.

The Bandit of Ashley Downs, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1993.

Imprisoned in the Golden City, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1993.

Shanghaied to China, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1993.

Listen for the Whippoorwill, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1993.

Attack in the Rye Grass, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1994.

Trial by Poison, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1994.

Flight of the Fugitives, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1994.

The Betrayer's Fortune, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1994.

Abandoned on the Wild Frontier, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1995.

Danger on the Flying Trapeze, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1995.

The Thieves of Tyburn Square, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1995.

The Runaway's Revenge, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1995.

Quest for the Lost Prince, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1996.

The Warrior's Challenge, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1996.

Traitor in the Tower, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1996.

The Drummer Boy's Battle, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1997.

The Fate of the Yellow Woodbee, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1997.

Defeat of the Ghost Riders, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1997.

The Gold Miners' Rescue, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1998.

The Mayflower Secret, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1998.

Race for the Record, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1999.

Ambushed in Jaguar Swamp, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1999.

Drawn by a China Moon, illustrated by Anne Gavitt, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 2000.

Hostage on the Nighthawk, illustrated by Anne Gavitt, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 2000.

The Forty-Acre Swindle, illustrated by Anne Gavitt, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 2000.

Journey to the End of the Earth: William Seymour, illustrated by Anne Gavitt, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 2000.

Roundup of the Street Rovers: Charles Loring Brace, illustrated by Anne Gavitt, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

Sinking the Dayspring: John G. Paton, illustrated by Anne Gavitt, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

Several titles in the "Trailblazer" series have been translated into various languages, including German, Norwegian, Korean, Spanish, and Swedish.

"SECRET ADVENTURE" SERIES; UNDER NAME DAVE JACKSON; WITH NETA J. JACKSON; ILLUSTRATED BY JULIAN JACKSON

Spin: Truth, Tubas, and George Washington, Broadman (Nashville, TN), 1994.

Snap: How to Act Like a Responsible Almost Adult, Broadman (Nashville, TN), 1994.

Smash: How to Survive Junior High by Really Trying, Broadman (Nashville, TN), 1994.

Snag: I'm Dreaming of a Right Christmas, Broadman (Nashville, TN), 1994.

"STORYBOOKS FOR CARING PARENTS" SERIES; UNDER NAME DAVE JACKSON; ILLUSTRATED BY SUSAN LEXA

Scared, but Not Too Scared to Think, Chariot Books (Elgin, IL), 1985.

Bored, but Not Too Bored (to Pretend), Chariot Books (Elgin, IL), 1985.

Tired, but Not Too Tired (to Finish), Chariot Books (Elgin, IL), 1985.

Angry, but Not Too Angry (to Talk), Chariot Books (Elgin, IL), 1985.

Shy, but Not Too Shy, Chariot Books (Elgin, IL), 1986.

Stubborn, but Not Too Stubborn, Chariot Books (Elgin, IL), 1986.

Disappointed, but Not Too Disappointed, Chariot Books (Elgin, IL), 1986.

Unfair, but Not Too Unfair, Chariot Books (Elgin, IL), 1986.

The "Storybooks for Caring Parents" series has been translated into Chinese.

FOR ADULTS; UNDER NAME DAVE JACKSON

Coming Together, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 1978.

Dial 911: Peaceful Christians and Urban Violence, Herald Press (Scottsdale, PA), 1981.

(With Patricia Brandt) Just Me and the Kids: A Course for Single Parents, D. C. Cook (Elgin, IL), 1985.

(With Matthew and Lea Dacy) Teen Pregnancy, David C. Cook Publishing (Elgin, IL), 1989.

Lost River Conspiracy, Good Books (Intercourse, PA), 1995.

FOR ADULTS; UNDER NAME DAVE JACKSON; WITH NETA J. JACKSON

Living Together in a World Falling Apart, Creation House (Carol Stream, IL), 1974.

(Editor) Storehouse of Family-Time Ideas: Fall and Winter, David C. Cook Publishing (Elgin, IL), 1987.

(Editor) Storehouse of Family-Time Ideas: Spring and Summer, David C. Cook Publishing (Elgin, IL), 1987.

(With Ed Hurst) Overcoming Homosexuality, David C. Cook Publishing (Elgin, IL), 1987.

Glimpses of Glory: Thirty Years of Community: The Story of Reba Place Fellowship, Brethren Press (Elgin, IL), 1987.

(With Brother Andrew) A Time for Heroes, Vine Books (Ann Arbor, MI), 1988.

(With Kenneth E. Schemmer) Between Life and Death: The Life-Support Dilemma, Victor Books (Wheaton, IL), 1988.

(With Grace A. Wenger) Witness: Empowering the Church through Worship, Community, and Mission, Herald Press (Scottdale, PA), 1989.

On Fire for Christ: Stories of Anabaptist Martyrs, Herald Press (Scottsdale, PA), 1989.

(Editor, with Beth Landis) The Gift of Presence: Stories that Celebrate Nurses Serving in the Name of Christ, Herald Press (Scottsdale, PA), 1991.

(With Gordon R. McLean) Cities of Lonesome Fear, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1991.

(With Kenneth E. Schemmer) Tinkering with People, (in "What You Need to Know about the Medical Ethics Crisis" Series), Scripture Press (Wheaton, IL), 1992.

(With Howard Jones) Heritage and Hope: The Legacy and Future of the Black Family in America, Victor Books (Wheaton, IL), 1992.

(With Steve Wilke) When We Can't Talk Anymore: Stories about Couples Who Learned to Communicate Again ("Recovering Hope in Your Marriage" series), Living Books (Wheaton, IL), 1992.

(With Steve Wilke) When Its Hard to Trust, Tyndale House Publishers (Wheaton, IL), 1992.

(With John D. Bradley) Switching Tracks: Advancing through Five Crucial Phases of Your Career, Fleming H. Revell (Grand Rapids, MI), 1994.

(With Raleigh Washington and Glen Kehrein) Breaking Down Walls: A Model for Reconciliation in an Age of Racial Strife, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1994.

(With Steve Wilke) When Alcohol Abuses Our Marriage, New Leaf Press (Harrison, AR), 1995.

(With Steve Wilke) When the Odds Are against Us, New Leaf Press (Harrison, AR), 1995.

(With Steve Wilke) When We Fight All the Time, New Leaf Press (Harrison, AR), 1995.

(With Kevin Leman) Becoming the Parent God Wants You to Be, NavPress (Colorado Springs, CO), 1998.

(With Ricky Byrdsong and Sherialyn Byrdsong) Coaching Your Kids in the Game of Life, Bethany House Publishers (Minneapolis, MN), 2000.

No Random Act: Behind the Murder of Ricky Byrdsong, Waterbrook Press (Colorado Springs, CO), 2002.

Living Together in a World Falling Apart has been translated into Swedish and Finnish.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Research on circuit-riding preachers in the early 1800s.

SIDELIGHTS: An author of children's fiction and adult self-help books, J. David Jackson has received widespread commendation for his fictional biographies about young men and women whose lives are influenced by historical Christian figures. Jackson is perhaps best known for the "Trailblazer" series of books he initiated with his wife and coauthor Neta J. Jackson in 1991. The "Trailblazer" works are fictionalized biographies of men and women whose pioneering efforts left a significant mark on history and Christianity.

In addition to coauthoring the "Trailblazer" series, Jackson and his wife teamed to create a collection of "Secret Adventure" books featuring lively action designed to teach children Christian virtues and underscore positive values. The same thematic emphasis permeates Jackson's Lost River Conspiracy, a story about a young Mennonite man who becomes involved in a fierce Indian war. While traveling home to Lost River, Oregon, Abraham Miller meets a young pioneer named Mary and her father. When Miller hears that a war has broken out near Mary's home, he decides to try to help diffuse the situation between the Modoc tribe and the United States Army. Miller, acting as a go-between for the Army's Peace Commission and the Modoc warriors, tries to resolve the conflict. After his peace-keeping efforts fail and war erupts, Miller chooses to remain with the Indian tribe and attempt to right the many injustices they suffered at the hands of the U.S. government. Writing in Voice of Youth Advocates, Lisa Prolman commended Jackson's ability to create a character who "shows how a person can stand for his or her beliefs even when those beliefs run counter to majority opinion." Although admitting the book's opening was "slowgoing," Prolman also said that she found the book "compelling" after a few chapters and appreciated the afterword about the history of the Modoc uprising in 1872. In Booklist, a critic found Jackson's recreation of Captain Jack and Scarface Charley, two famous Modoc warriors, "very much to life." Furthermore, the critic praised Jackson's "sure sense" of northern Nevada and the lava beds into which the defeated Indians retreat.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Black Issues Book Review, September, 2000, Fred Lindsey, review of Coaching Your Kids in the Game of Life, p. 48.

Booklist, April 1, 1995, p. 1391; September 1, 1995, p. 56; November 1, 1995, review of Lost River Conspiracy, p. 455; January 1, 1996, p. 834; March 15, 1996, p. 1264; December 1, 1998, John Mort, review of Lost River Conspiracy, p. 659.

Bookstore Journal, October, 1994, p. 99.

Christianity Today, November 9, 1992, p. 76.

Horn Book Guide, spring, 1997, review of Hero Tales, p. 87.

Los Angeles Times Book Review, September 7, 1986.

School Library Journal, December, 1995, Renee Steinberg, review of Danger on the Flying Trapeze, p. 104; July, 1997, Marlene Gawron, review of The Drummer Boy's Battle, p. 94; October, 1997, Carol Beall, review of Hero Tales, Volume 2, p. 147.

Voice of Youth Advocates, April, 1996, Lisa Prolman, review of Lost River Conspiracy, p. 26.