Today we’d like to introduce you to Gerald L. Jackson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in a single-parent home in West Philadelphia with my mother and brother. My father was absent while battling addiction, leaving me yearning for a father who wasn’t there.
I often felt alone and lacked the love and encouragement I needed. My mother did everything she could, but her efforts couldn’t erase the void left by my father’s absence or the promises he failed to keep.
During my final year of college, my girlfriend—now my wife—told me she was pregnant. Instead of feeling excited, I was scared. I wondered, “How am I going to be a father when I never really had an example of one?”
I didn’t want my child to experience that same pain. I wanted to be present, keep my word, offer encouragement, and remind my children that they were loved and capable of becoming something great.
So I decided that my father’s absence would not determine the kind of father I became.
Fatherhood became part of my healing. I began giving my children the words, love, and presence I had once longed to receive.
Those experiences inspired my three children’s books—A Father’s Message, A Father’s Love, and A Father’s Promise. Each reflects a personal lesson: the power of a father’s words, the importance of showing love, and the responsibility of keeping promises.
My journey has also taken me beyond writing. Through speaking to young people, visiting schools and community organizations, serving in ministry, and sharing my story, I’ve turned painful experiences into encouragement for others.
Today, I’m a husband, father, Veteran, public servant, author, speaker, and man of faith. Beneath those titles, I’m still that little boy from West Philadelphia—but now I understand that my story didn’t have to end where it started.
I can’t change my past, but I can choose what to do with it. I choose to remind children—especially those who feel unseen, unheard, or alone—that their circumstances do not have to determine their future.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Growing up in a single-parent home came with its challenges, and as the saying goes, when it rains, it pours. My mother began experiencing health complications, and eventually my brother and I had to move in with our grandmother.
From sixth grade on, Grandma’s house became home.
As a child, I didn’t fully understand why everything was happening. From my perspective, it felt like no one wanted me. My father wasn’t there, my mother was dealing with her health, and now I was living away from home. I remember feeling alone and wondering where I belonged.
But what felt like another hardship at the time turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
My grandmother introduced me to God in a way that began to change my perspective. She helped me understand that while I was yearning for the presence of my earthly father, I had a Heavenly Father who promised never to leave me nor forsake me.
Slowly, my perspective began to change. I started to realize that being at my grandmother’s house wasn’t rejection—it was redirection. God had placed me in an environment where I could begin developing a relationship with Him.
That didn’t erase the pain or immediately answer every question I had, but it gave me something I desperately needed: hope. I began learning that even during seasons when I felt alone, I was never truly alone.
Looking back now, some of the moments that felt like abandonment were actually shaping me. What I thought was simply a difficult chapter became an important part of the foundation for my faith, the man I would become, and ultimately the way I would approach being a husband, father, and the title author.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Today, I stand as a three-time published author and motivational speaker. I like to say, “I didn’t pick author; the Author—God—picked me.” Writing was a gift I didn’t even know was inside of me until God gave me the opportunity to use it.
I’m known for my unique writing style, creativity, and ability to create stories that are timeless. My books are more than words on a page. They carry encouraging and meaningful messages designed to stay with children long after they finish reading.
What I’m most proud of is that I get to represent something bigger than myself. Through my writing, I have an opportunity to give children hope, build their confidence, and remind them to be proud of who they are. I want every child I encounter to understand that their circumstances don’t define them and that they are somebody—today, tomorrow, and forever.
What sets me apart is the passion and personal experience behind what I do. When I speak to children, I’m not simply presenting a book—I’m sharing a piece of my own journey. I know what it feels like to be the child who needs encouragement, affirmation, and someone to believe in them. That connection allows me to engage and captivate an audience in a way that goes beyond simply reading a story.
For me, this isn’t just about being an author. It’s about using the gift God gave me to make an impact, one child, one message, and one story at a time.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
For me, the Bible is my greatest resource. It has been my safe haven and a source of guidance, wisdom, and direction throughout my life. Its teachings have helped shape the man I am today—my faith, my values, how I approach fatherhood, and how I try to serve others.
My writing is also heavily inspired by what I believe and what I’ve learned through Scripture. Many of the messages I share about love, hope, confidence, perseverance, and purpose are rooted in those principles.
There are plenty of great books, podcasts, and resources available, but for me, everything ultimately comes back to the Word of God. It keeps me grounded and reminds me of who I am, whose I am, and the purpose behind what I do.
Pricing:
- A Father’s Message ($15)
- A Father’s Love ($15)
- A Father’s Promise ($15)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.geraldljackson.com
- Instagram: @westphillyauthor
- Facebook: @westphillyauthor
- Other: https://phillyabcs.org/
