Bryan D. Jackson Author Q & A, Part 4
Welcome! Today we are taking a peek behind the curtain to discover what ignites a writer’s passion. From cherished childhood memories and influential mentors to beloved books and grounding rituals, we’ll explore the unique journey that shaped Bryan’s literary world. Join us as we uncover the inspirations and practices that bring his stories to life!
What sparked your writing interest?
My mother read to me when I was a toddler. I have always had an interest in books and reading. She read stories and picture books to me, such as Giants, The Little Engine That Could, and Go, Dog. Go! When I was in what used to be junior high school, I had a great English teacher. I wrote my first short story in her class titled, Is It True What They Say About the Haunted House? She praised my writing and was kind. At about the same time, my older sister, Kelly, would pass along books to me that she had read. At thirteen, I was reading Peter Benchley’s Jaws and Irwin Shaw’s Rich Man, Poor Man.
Who is your favorite author/book? Why?
That’s a tough one for me! Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird was a flash of utter genius at the right time in history. It’s a favorite because of Lee’s clarity in writing. So is Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, and for the same reason. The Gospel of Luke, in the King James Version, is the most beautiful story ever written. Concerning middle-grade fiction, I love Joan Hiatt Harlow’s work. She writes with an amazing economy. She also encouraged me in my journey. Thanks, Joan! I loved Roland Smith’s The Captain’s Dog. Louis Sachar’s Someday Angeline and Sideways Stories from Wayside School are others.
Are you a hardback, paperback, ebook, or audiobook user? I suppose that, technically, I’m a user of all of the above. But nothing in this world replaces the smell of a new book, especially hardcover. It’s better than the new car smell! We need to embrace all of the above.
Do you have a ritual that grounds your work?
Regarding ritual, I have several. Since most of my books right now are Cherokee-themed, I tend to ask my Tsalagi ancestors what they want me to do today. That leads automatically to the second ritual, which is smudging. I have smoke-related allergies, so I smudge with a bottle of sage spray that either I bless or someone close to me will bless before first use. I smudge myself, then the four directions, before my writing time. Another long-standing ritual is writing in a warm or hot tub. I thought it was amusing to learn that one of my collateral ancestors on the French-German side, Dalton Trumbo, did the same thing. If you haven’t seen the 2015 movie, Trumbo, check it out!
