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MEET BARRY E. JACKSON
by Bonnie O'Brian

What books influenced you most when you were growing up?

Barry E. Jackson

Dr. Suess wrote the stories that were the most vivid for me. I never forgot HORTON HEARS A WHO and those poor little Who’s trying to shout loud enough to be heard. It is a very memorable story and most kids can understand it. Of course, that was just one of his great stories. I also never forgot the scene in THE CAT IN THE HAT COMES BACK, when Little Cat Z takes off his hat and cleans up the snow. Then there is THE GRINCH THAT STOLE CHRISTMAS and the Who’s being happy even though their material things have all been stolen. It’s amazing that many of these stories make a stronger and more permanent impression than many of the $100 million dollar films Hollywood produces.

When did you start writing and what inspired you to start?

I always liked to write stories for as long as I can remember. I don’t think in my elementary education this was encouraged enough. I think in my educational experience from K thru 12 th grade it was more important to convey researched facts than your fantasies. For some reason, my educators didn’t see value in the exploration and development of the imagination. Maybe fiction and fantasy is too hard to measure, I don’t know. When I got to college I leaped at a chance to take fiction writing 101. During this course the instructor suggested reading books by J.D. Salinger, Ray Bradbury, George Orwell, Aldous Huxley, and yes, I got inspired. . I worked harder on my first short story than I did for any term paper, ever.

What gave you the idea for DANNY DIAMONDBACK?

I think the idea for the book originated when I lived in New York. My wife and I visited a Middle Eastern nightclub where we found people from all over the Middle East dancing to various songs of the region. Greeks, Turks, Syrians, Persians etc., all together having a great time dancing to an exceptionally talented band. We were surprised to learn later that the band was Israeli. This experience made an impression upon me that has never left. Music is a universal language that has the power to defeat prejudice. I saw it plain as day.

When I decided to venture into children’s books I talked to a number of experienced people first. The advice I got was that if you choose a story that uses talking animals remember that the animal you choose cannot be arbitrary. Certain animals stand for certain things. A dog might be a vehicle for loyalty; a mouse might be a good vehicle for over coming fear.

When I got ready to write this story about overcoming prejudice my memory took me back to a rattlesnake pit I once visited in a junkyard in New Mexico. I was fascinated with these animals. Nothing could strike fear into your heart faster than an aroused rattlesnake. Could this be the vehicle for my story?

Rattlesnakes are largely misunderstood. They are not evil. They simply have been given a certain job in our eco system. They spend their lives keeping rodent populations down, something quite necessary. Yet for reasons perhaps going back to the Bible, they are regarded as nasty and evil. How about a story where the rattlesnake is a good guy and has to overcome the prejudices of others? How about a story where a confrontation is settled with music instead of violence? This is what lead to DANNY DIAMONDBACK.

How did your life change when you got married? and had children? Did it make it easier or harder to find time to write?

Yes, my life changed in many ways with the addition of children. One of the most profound ways was the bedtime story. Kids are a little uneasy about turning out the lights and going to bed. Every parent needs to take some time to help them feel comfortable. Reading a story is the long established convention and I have found nothing else more suitable. Reading a story helps mold your child’s values and gives you something to share and remember, and most importantly, it creates a moment of connection between the two of you. The value of this time cannot be under estimated. After spending years shopping and reading children’s books it also became apparent to me that good stories are hard to find. This inspired my writing and pointed me towards writing children’s books.

Do you enjoy researching or do you prefer working totally from your imagination?

Imagination and research are essential to one another. When I get an idea it is usually a small seed that needs watering. Research is the water. I like to research and build the idea. I like to build it until I am emotionally ready to dive in and make it happen. When I get stumped and a page is blank before me, the answer almost always lies in research. You need facts to shape a fantasy. You need fantasy to make facts interesting.

What are you working on now? When do you expect to start submitting it to publishers?

I am currently working on my second children’s book called HARE BRAIN. It is the story of a rematch between the tortoise and hare and deals with the futility of revenge. I have a draft that looks pretty solid and I have roughed out the artwork. I am in a type of tennis match with an editor who is giving me feedback. Finishing this book will probably take another six months.

What other jobs you had before you became a writer/illustrator?

Upon leaving college, I worked in the record industry doing album cover art, in the movie industry, doing movie posters and advertising. Eventually I settled in the world of digital animation and became a production designer. I still work in the movie industry and recently worked on HORTON HEARS A WHO.