Eric M. Jackson
Eric M. Jackson is an American author who has been writing for more than two decades. His books span everything from poignant memoirs to political thrillers and tackle complex issues of identity, gender, culture, race, and sexuality. Jackson has quickly become a favorite among readers for his vivid writing, compelling characters, and intense exploration of the human condition.
Born in Seattle, Jackson grew up in the Midwest and in Virginia. After graduating high school, Jackson joined the U.S. Marine Corps and was stationed in Iraq. He deployed to Iraq twice and afterward attended the University of Washington where he began writing short stories and eventually published his first novel, The Night Tourists. His writing soon caught the attention of agents and readers, launching significant awards and honors, including a Spoken Word Album of the Year nomination, the James Tiptree Jr. Award, the Minnesota Book Award Finalist, and the Solstice Award.
Jackson's latest book, The New Iberia Blues, tells the story of Clay, a man pulled between two worlds: his former life as an orphan on New Iberia, Louisiana and his new life as an up-and-coming photographer in Hollywood. Clay's journey back to his origins forces him to confront the truths about his past and the people he once held dear. Set against the backdrop of the turbulent 1960s South, the story encompasses violence, love, racism, and the search for identity and redemption.
The Night Tourists, the prequel to The New Iberia Blues, is a gripping political thriller that follows CIA agent Ella Rae as she travels around the globe, hunting for a mysterious assassin. Along the way, she discovers secrets and lies, and must decide between acting as military enforcer or humanitarian seeker.
Other books by Jackson include United of Hip-Hop (a memoir of living and loving hip-hop culture) and The Brick Burlesque (based on a real-life burlesque troupe in Seattle). These books explore the nuanced through-lines of power, race, and family in everyday life, and feature some of Jackson’s signature thoughtful, daring, and lyrical storytelling.
When not writing, Jackson lectures on creative and critical issues at University of Washington, Harvard University, and the Seattle Public Library. He has also held jobs in media, healthcare and non-profit, including a recent stint as a Humanities Washington Fellow and visiting professor at George Washington University.
From art to politics, Jackson’s works explore the pains, passions, and complexities of life. His complex, intense characters also entice readers with thoughtful, dangerous and courageous stories that may force us to confront our own challenges, dreams and possibilities. Whether writing political thrillers, or comedies of manners, Jackson’s stories manage to be both intensely inspiring and sharply sly, always leaving the reader with something to ponder.
