I can’t imagine life without a dog …

It was Will Rogers who said, “If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” I couldn’t agree more.

While I wish I could say I was born in a log cabin on a cold desolate prairie, the truth is that I debuted into this world in Morristown, New Jersey, the youngest of five boys. My father was a World War II veteran and my mother was an immigrant from Canada. We moved several times when I was very young, but eventually settled in Texas, where I have lived most of my life and never want to leave.

All in all, I’m a pretty regular guy – I like watching football, golf, running and barbequing a great steak over an open fire. I’m also a bit of a computer wonk. Though being a writer has long been my personal passion, I do maintain a day job. I received my MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago in 1984, and have spent almost my entire career as a financial consultant to the utility industry. Over the past three decades I have served over 200 clients across the USA and 5 foreign nations, and am generally recognized as a national expert in utility ratemaking. I’m one of those guys who loves both numbers and the written word — believe me, there aren’t too many of us!

I met my wife Cheryl at church in early 1992; we were married just over a year later. In March 1995 our daughter Melissa Paige was born, followed closely by Rachel Elaine in April 1996. Melissa graduated from Baylor University and now works in New York City as a production manager for People Magazine. Rachel graduated from the University of Oklahoma and also lives in New York City where she works as a medical scribe at Mt. Sinai Hospital. I miss them terribly, but we do get to see them a few times a year.

For much of my life I have had the pleasure of owning dogs. As a child my family owned a series of cocker spaniels. Then, as a teenager we adopted an elderly miniature schnauzer; though he wasn’t with us for long, I’ll never forget the joy he brought to my childhood. Shortly after we got married, Cheryl and I adopted Norman, a miniature schnauzer, and he gave us 15 wonderful years of love and companionship. After Norman passed, we adopted the sisters, Abby and Bella. A few years later, Melissa brought home a stray puppy, and Sammie constantly fills our home with manic energy and goofball antics.

It is my love of our loyal, devoted canine companions that has served as the inspiration for my new novel, Rainbow Bridge. This family story seeks to answer the question asked by everyone who has ever cared for, loved, and ultimately lost a dog – do we get to see them again? Rainbow Bridge is the first of an upcoming series of similarly-themed books, all of which I hope will bring comfort to those who have experienced the heartbreak of saying goodbye to a beloved pet.

If you would like to contact me, you can do so through my web site, https://danvjackson.com. I always enjoy hearing from my readers!