Aleksandr Jackson's Blog

Gold Medal Dreams

Well, I finally had a dream where I wasn’t caught using a toilet right in the middle of the Mall of America.

I was at the Summer Olympics in South Africa (“South Africa never hosted an Olympics,” you say? Well, those kinds of things don’t stop my dreams.) Somehow, I ended up in the 100 meter backstroke heats. My wife couldn’t keep from snorting at hearing that one. Anyway, I was assigned a lane at the edge of the pool. You know how they have 8 lanes in international competition? I must have...

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

The following is a post from my CaringBridge blog from September 9th, 2015:

St. Elizabeth is the first American citizen to be canonized a saint, the 40th anniversary of which is approaching on September 14th. Pope Paul VI said of her on that occasion in 1975:

“Elizabeth Ann Seton is a saint. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is an American. All of us say this with special joy, and with the intention of honoring the land and the nation from which she sprang forth as the first flower in the calendar of...

Bartholomew (aka Nathanael)

Today is the feast of St. Bartholomew, also known as Nathanael.

I enjoyed researching him while writing Twenty Mysteries. In The Proclamation of the Kingdom, he is paired with Philip and together, they visit the Decapolis, the region with a strong Hellenistic culture. When they start in the village of Scythopolis to tell people about Jesus, they are challenged by a 'doctor' there. I can't give away what happens next, but it's probably the grossest scene in the entire book...

A Lesson in Investing

I enjoyed reading this article by Tammer Kamel, founder and CEO of Quandl, an informational system I have found tremendously useful in my day job.

The bit about the French actors inquiring about wheat for Napoleon's army was especially entertaining.

Come to think of it, that sounds like something right out of Eliot's playbook. In my first novel, LIONS, Eliot is Justin's boss and manager of Crystal Ball, a hedge fund with out-of-this world returns. Consider Justin's reaction during his intervi...

Giving Back

Thank you so much to everyone who visited our booth at the Diocese of Madison St. Therese Lecture last week. Special thanks goes to Michelle Nilsson, Marie Lins and Eric Schiedermayer at the Diocese as well as my very beautiful assistant Noelle. Dr. Ralph Martin of Renewal Ministries gave an awesome talk. In addition to seeing old friends and meeting new ones, I'm happy to announce that we in the Unveiled Media family raised $100 for the Women's Care Center in Madison to support their mission...

Young Again

I had a dream the other night. I was back in high school, and we traveled to a rival team's field for a football game. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I think I was excited to be young again. However, my eagerness to get on the field deflated when, in the middle of Coach's impassioned pre-game speech, I realized I was wearing regular clothes when all my teammates were dressed in their pads and jerseys.

I slowly wiggled myself backwards out of the group and went to the locker room. Surely my...

Our Lady of the Rosary

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. On this day in 1571, naval forces loyal to Pope St. Pius V faced the Islamic armada of the Ottoman Empire who were threatening an invasion of Europe. You can read more about it in many places; I like this account in particular.

I love the Rosary. It’s a Biblically-based series of prayers meant to draw us into deeper communion with Jesus. When I meditate on it, it enables me to pray in my own words. Some people ask me, “why don’t you just pray your...

I Left Something in the Cab...

I couldn't help but think that perhaps our friend Grigori was the mystery passenger.

From English Russia

"You Have the Power; You Have the Time"

Reading that quote and the story behind it sent chills down my spine. Who said it, and to whom was it said? I'll get to that in a minute.

Last week, I had the honor of listening to Mother Olga speak about her incredible life journey. Mother Olga is like a contemporary Mother Theresa. Being in the same room and watching this 4'10" Iraqi woman who radiated pure joy, I got the feeling that I was in the presence of a living saint. From her bio:

Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart, founder and mother...

Helsinki

After an interminable winter, we are at last seeing some brilliant rays of light at dawn. This morning was no different. As I enjoyed the early morning peace, one of my news feeds lit up with a story that reminded me of another time and place when I was starved for sunshine: Helsinki, the capital city of Finland.

I have very fond memories of that place, so indulge me for a moment while we step back a bit in time. We'll go back via Justin Lowe's character in my first book Lions. Justin is on...