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WORK TITLE: Beyond the Fire
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.prairiepens.com/
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COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in Norton, KS; married Aurelia Smith; children: John.
EDUCATION:McPherson College, B.A. (summa cum laude).
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, novelist, lab technician, farmer, and minister. Sterling Drug, bio laboratory technician. Norcatur Post Office, Norcatur, KS, rural mail carrier, c. 1979-2011. Maintains a music ministry with his wife, Aurelia. Maple Grove Church of the Brethren, Sunday school teacher, youth group leader, and lay speaker.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Novelist Dewayne Jackson was born in Norton, Kansas, and was raised on a farm in the area. The farm had been originally homesteaded by his great-grandparents. Jackson and his wife Aurelia purchased the land in 1979. “Dewayne had always loved tilling the land and working with cattle. The move fulfilled this passion,” noted a writer on the website Prairie Pens. Jackson still lives on the land today, where he continues to farm and raise cattle.
Outside of his work on the farm, Jackson worked for thirty-two years as a mail carrier for the Norcatur Post Office in Norcatur, Kansas, reported the Prairie Pens writer. He also worked as a bio-lab technician for Sterling Drug. He has also been a Sunday School teacher, youth group leader, and lay speaker at the Maple Grove Church of the Brethren and other area churches.
Jackson attended McPherson College and graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture.
Jackson’s debut novel, Beyond the Fire, is a “sprawling, enthralling fantasy epic with Christianity at its core,” commented a Kirkus Reviews writer. The world of the novel is “peopled by unfamiliar tribes and marked by an alien geography, but imbued with the precepts of Judeo-Christian ideology,” observed a writer on the Blue Ink Review website.
Destry Cotton is the book’s protagonist, and the story opens on her as she makes a journey at Christmas to the country of Amity, where her husband’s family lives. She arrives safely, but the weather turns foul and she is forced to stay in her father-in-law Bill Cotton’s home until the blizzard raging across the country is over. During the family’s forced togetherness, Bill tells her about the history of Amity and how the realm came to be.
The story that Bill Cotton spins starts with the land of Shingmar, which was ruled by an evil king who worshiped idols rather than God. Josiah Stafford, who lived in the kingdom, was a believer in God and did not share the other residents’ idolatrous leanings. Eventually, Stafford came into conflict with the King of Shingmar, who put Stafford and his followers into prison and forced them into labor camps. Eventually, Stafford and his group of believers were able to escape and make their way across the mountains, where they founded the nation of Amity. Not long after their escape, Shingmar was destroyed in a massive flood, which Stafford and his group considered punishment from God.
Amity was a haven for Stafford, and Cotton continues to reveal more history of the country, covering political events, social developments, and families that emerged as noted citizens. The modern Amity, however, is not without its troubles, and Cotton reveals some of the problems and threats that the country faces, both from inside and outside its borders. Faith, however, continues to drive the residents of Amity, who believe that their troubles will be relieved with the help of God and their own dedicated efforts.
The Kirkus Reviews writer noted that Beyond the Fire had an unusual origin. The book was expanded from a series of short stories and vignettes that Jackson sent to his nephew, who was serving in the military in the early 1990s during the first Gulf War.
“Jackson writes with remarkable clarity and insight” and his novel is a “skillful, thrilling new spiritual saga,” remarked the Kirkus Reviews contributor. “Craftily fusing fantasy and theology, Jackson offers a narrative of depth and insight,” stated the Blue Ink Review writer. A writer on the website Broadway World commented that Jackson’s novel “puts forth the compelling and adventurous tale of one family’s struggle to overcome upheaval, revolt and war and find ultimate solace in each other and God.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, January 1, 2018, review of Beyond the Fire.
ONLINE
Blue Ink Review, https://www.blueinkreview.com/ (June 11, 2018), review of Beyond the Fire.
Broadway World, https://www.broadwayworld.com/ (November 5, 2017), “Kansas Farmer Releases Debut Fiction Series about Loyalty, Faith,” review of Beyond the Fire.
Prairie Pens, http://www.prairiepens.com/ (June 11, 2018), biography of Dewayne Jackson.
Biography
Dewayne Jackson was born in Norton, KS., and raised on the farm homesteaded by his great-grandparents. In fact, the house in which he grew up was built by his great-grandfather.
He attended school in Norcatur. The high school closed when he was in his Freshman year, so he finished his high school years at Decatur Community High School (DCHS) in Oberlin, Kansas. While at DCHS, he joined the Cross Country and Track teams. He learned that he really enjoyed running distances. By the time he graduated, he had set several school distance records, and was the number one runner on the Cross Country Team. He led the team to state his junior and senior years and finished in the top ten at state both years.
Upon graduation from DCHS, Dewayne attended McPherson College. He led the Cross County team to several first place finishes, and participated at nationals all four years, leading the entire team there his senior year. He was a familiar sight around campus. Everyone knew the guy in the engineer hat and running shorts. He took third place in the University of Kansas Marathon his senior year. He was elected class president his Sophomore year, and listed in Who’s Who of America’s College Students. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture.
The day after graduating from college, Dewayne married his girlfriend, Aurelia Smith. Together, they began a music ministry traveling on weekends with Dewayne playing his guitar and both singing. Dewayne worked as a Bio-lab technician during the day at Sterling Drug, while his wife, Aurelia, taught challenged pre-schoolers.
In 1979 Dewayne’s grandfather died, and they bought his grandparent’s farm, moving from McPherson to Norcatur. Dewayne had always loved tilling the land and working with cattle. The move fulfilled this passion. Aurelia began working at the Northwest Kansas Library System as consultant for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, and Dewayne began remodeling his grandparents home for his growing family. The home was finished by the time Joshua, his first born, was a month old.
Shortly after the move, Dewayne began a second job: carrying mail for the Norcatur Post Office rural route. He continued to carry mail for thirty-two years, receiving many Safe Driving awards.
He served twelve years on the USD 294 school board, serving five years as president. He was also the representative from USD 294 to the Northwest Kansas Educational Service Center.
He served as Sunday School Teacher, Youth Group Leader and lay speaker at the Maple Grove Church of the Brethren and later served as a Sunday School teacher and church chair at the Oberlin Evangelical Covenant Church. He currently serves as Lay-Speaker at several small area churches. At this time, he is committed to two Sundays a month at the Community Presbyterian Church in Lebanon, Nebraska.
He resides on the farm, and continues to farm and ranch the land his great-grandparents homesteaded.
Bio
Dewayne Jackson was born in Norton, KS., and raised on the farm homesteaded by his great-grandparents. In fact, the house in which he grew up was built by his great-grandfather.
He attended school in Norcatur. The high school closed when he was in his Freshman year, so he finished his high school years at Decatur Community High School (DCHS) in Oberlin, Kansas. While at DCHS, he joined the Cross Country and Track teams. He learned that he really enjoyed running distances. By the time he graduated, he had set several school distance records, and was the number one runner on the Cross Country Team. He led the team to state his junior and senior years and finished in the top ten at state both years.
Upon graduation from DCHS, Dewayne attended McPherson College. He led the Cross County team to several first place finishes, and participated at nationals all four years, leading the entire team there his senior year. He was a familiar sight around campus. Everyone knew the guy in the engineer hat and running shorts. He took third place in the University of Kansas Marathon his senior year. He was elected class president his Sophomore year, and listed in Who’s Who of America’s College Students. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture.
The day after graduating from college, Dewayne married his girlfriend, Aurelia Smith. Together, they began a music ministry traveling on weekends with Dewayne playing his guitar and both singing. Dewayne worked as a Bio-lab technician during the day at Sterling Drug, while his wife, Aurelia, taught challenged pre-schoolers.
In 1979 Dewayne’s grandfather died, and they bought his grandparent’s farm, moving from McPherson to Norcatur. Dewayne had always loved tilling the land and working with cattle. The move fulfilled this passion. Aurelia began working at the Northwest Kansas Library System as consultant for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, and Dewayne began remodeling his grandparents home for his growing family. The home was finished by the time Joshua, his first born, was a month old.
Shortly after the move, Dewayne began a second job: carrying mail for the Norcatur Post Office rural route. He continued to carry mail for thirty-two years, receiving many Safe Driving awards.
He served twelve years on the USD 294 school board, serving five years as president. He was also the representative from USD 294 to the Northwest Kansas Educational Service Center.
He served as Sunday School Teacher, Youth Group Leader and lay speaker at the Maple Grove Church of the Brethren and later served as a Sunday School teacher and church chair at the Oberlin Evangelical Covenant Church. He currently serves as Lay-Speaker at several small area churches. At this time, he is committed to two Sundays a month at the Community Presbyterian Church in Lebanon, Nebraska.
He resides on the farm, and continues to farm and ranch the land his great-grandparents homesteaded.
Jackson, Dewayne A.: BEYOND THE FIRE
Kirkus Reviews.
(Jan. 1, 2018): From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Jackson, Dewayne A. BEYOND THE FIRE Westbow Press (Indie Fiction) $44.95 7, 28 ISBN: 978-1-5127-9559-2
Jackson's debut is a sprawling, enthralling fantasy epic with Christianity at its core.
Long ago in the land of Shingmar lived Josiah Stafford. Shingmar was overrun by idolatry, but Josiah was a believer in the one true God, the Word who was there at the beginning. Josiah's true belief, however, ran him afoul of the king of Shingmar, who threw Josiah and his followers into prison and labor camps, where they languished until they were led over the mountains to freedom in the new nation of Amity. No sooner did they arrive than Shingmar was engulfed in a deluge, God's judgment arriving in a wall of water. Jackson's new fantasy is the story of Amity, a kind of semi-Christian nation beset by perils from without and within. Stafford's religion is decidedly biblical, but the world of Amity is not our own, and its history is driven by an intriguing thought experiment: what would the Christian Word look like if it were preached in another world? Jackson says that his influence for Amity--and for the Beyond trilogy--is J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Like Tolkien's books, this new work began as a series of short vignettes sent by Jackson to his nephew, who was serving with the military in the first Gulf War in the early 1990s. Jackson's other obvious literary forefather is C.S. Lewis, whose own fantasy realm of Narnia is built on the foundation of Christian tales and teachings. Like both Narnia and Middle Earth, Amity is a deeply fascinating new land that begs for our exploration. And like the works of Tolkien and Lewis, Beyond seems like the tip of an iceberg. It feels as if for every tale of Amity, there are 10 that remain untold. Jackson writes with remarkable clarity and insight. His characters are convincing and compassionate, and his narrative decisions are decisive. Further, he manages a tangle of storylines deftly, never letting complexity give way to confusion.
A skillful, thrilling new spiritual saga.
1 of 2 5/16/18, 12:23 AM
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Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Jackson, Dewayne A.: BEYOND THE FIRE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Jan. 2018. Book Review Index
Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A520735674/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=c1a58ce9. Accessed 16 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A520735674
2 of 2 5/16/18, 12:23 AM
Beyond the Fire
Dewayne A. Jackson
Publisher: WestBow Press Pages: 535 Price: (paperback) $24.95 ISBN: 9781512795578 Reviewed: January, 2018 Author Website: Visit »
The fantasy genre is no stranger to concepts and values pulled straight from Western religion. For example, C.S. Lewis famously imbued his Narnia series with symbolism from the New Testament. And although giants of the genre like J.R.R. Tolkien and T.H. White were more subtle, their stories recalled epic tales from Christianity’s medieval period.
Dewayne A. Jackson takes the approach a step further in Beyond the Fire. This sprawling, multi-generational epic imagines a faraway, fantasy world peopled by unfamiliar tribes and marked by an alien geography, but imbued with the precepts of Judeo-Christian ideology.
An introduction depicts a country wife’s Christmastime visit to in-laws in a distant land. Destry Cotton is hesitant to leave the comfort of home to follow her husband to his home country of Amity with their young son, but tales spun at the hearth by her father-in-law reveal the locale’s importance.
The imagined country of Amity started as a refuge for followers of an unpopular religion, one that abided by ancient scriptures honoring the majesty of a single, all-knowing and all-powerful creator. Beset by persecution by the pagan powers-that-be, followers had fled to Amity to practice their religion in peace.
Jackson details the country’s history, beginning with the travails of Josiah Stafford, who flees an evil, idolatrous king in the mythical realm of Shingmar. From there, the author spins tales of families, tribes and a larger group of faithful followers centered in Amity on a scale and drama that echoes Old Testament parables.
Craftily fusing fantasy and theology, Jackson offers a narrative of depth and insight. His protagonists are animated with a deep faith, and his work in crafting a spiritual saga echoing the scope of scripture, down to its grammar and pacing, is impressive.
While the story has a narrower audience than most fantasy novels—it’s unlikely to appeal to agnostic or atheist readers, or those whose religious background isn’t Judeo-Christian—it’s bound to entrance fans of the genre with religious roots.
Also available in hardcover and ebook.
Kansas Farmer Releases Debut Fiction Series About Loyalty, Faith
Books News Desk Nov. 6, 2017
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Kansas Farmer Releases Debut Fiction Series About Loyalty, Faith A Kansas-based farmer and rancher has released his debut fiction volume comprised of three books, which unfold the saga of a young, God-fearing nation that must grapple with tyranny from without and dissention from within. In "Beyond the Fire," author Dewayne A Jackson spins a memorable tale about remaining loyal to both family and faith.
Jackson's book opens on protagonist Destry Cotton's Christmas journey to the fictional, blizzard-stricken land of Amity, where her husband's family resides. Trapped with her in-laws by the wintery deluge, family patriarch Bill Cotton details Amity's rich history to Destry and reveals his own need for God's intervention in the face of doubt and fear, which had ravaged their home and nation.
"I grew up in the era of the Vietnam War, and I was appalled as the boys I grew up with served their country only to be spit upon and ridiculed when they returned home," Jackson said. "When my nephew was called to serve in Operation Desert Storm, I wanted him to know he was valuable and honorable. I knew J.R.R. Tolkien had written to his son during World War II with stories that would eventually become 'The Hobbit' and The Lord of the Rings series, so I embarked on a fictional tale of my own, sending him snippets at a time, that became 'Beyond the Fire.'"
With detailed mapping of the story's fictitious world and an eclectic cast of characters, Jackson's book puts forth the compelling and adventurous tale of one family's struggle to overcome upheaval, revolt and war and find ultimate solace in each other and God.< "Beyond the Fire" By Dewayne A Jackson ISBN: 978-1-5127-9559-2 (hardback); 978-1-5127-9557-8 (paperback); 978-1-5127-9558-5 (electronic) Available at the WestBow Press Online Bookstore, ChristianBook.com, Barnes & Noble and Amazon About the author Dewayne A Jackson lives and farms in rural northwestern Kansas. Jackson holds a bachelor's degree in agriculture from McPherson College and enjoys part-time ministry as a lay speaker in several small community churches. He currently resides in Norcatur, Kan., with his wife. To learn more, please visit http://www.prairiepens.com. Review Copies & Interview Requests: LAVIDGE - Phoenix Danielle Grobmeier 480-648-7557 dgrobmeier@lavidge.com General Inquiries: LAVIDGE - Phoenix Maggie Driver 480-998-2600 x 584 mdriver@lavidge.com