A Man Inspired

By Robin Caldwell

Author: Derek Jackson

Publisher Denise Stinson 's Walk Worthy Press has consistently released Christian fiction for an African American market that have led sales in that genre. The most notable titles are Michele Andrea Bowen's Church Folk and Joy by Victoria Christopher Murray. Stinson's most recent find, Derek Jackson , breaks the mold in a genre dominated by female authors.

A Man Inspired (Walk Worthy) offers a voice not often found in contemporary Christian romance fiction. In this work, Derek Jackson challenges his female readers to adapt to a male point-of-view. The most notable differences would be in the portrayal of key relationships between girlfriends, business associates and family. For example, Jackson breaks up a long existing friendship between two women in what essentially is a fight over a man.

The main character or “inspired” man is Jermaine Hill, a motivational speaker for the hip hop crowd. His meteoric rise to super stardom and the fame that follows sends him into an emotional tailspin leaving him to question his sanity.

Jackson portrays Jermaine as a man women long to be with and men want to be like. He's got it going on - on the outside. On the inside, Jermaine lives a twisted existence contrary to what his public expects.

Along the way, Jermaine meets journalist Candace Clark, a woman with a few issues of her own. The chemistry between the two is undeniable and ignites a series of events that threaten to destroy their careers, reputations, lives and a potential love of a lifetime.

A Man Inspired tackles a variety of issues but focuses primarily on mental illness, which is handled rather sensitively by Jackson . Not only does he deal with the issue of Jermaine's mental health; he ventures into other avenues of mental illness that are crucial to the storyline. For example, Jermaine's Aunt Bell struggles with Alzheimer's disease and another character, Ambrose, is institutionalized because his zeal for Jesus is considered fanatical.

If there is any brilliance whatsoever in A Man Inspired , it is in the way Jackson has overlapped the stories of Jermaine, Aunt Bell and Ambrose. The reader is left to question what are authentic and acceptable approaches to faith and walking the Christian walk.

A Man Inspired signals that there is a great novel waiting to happen inside of Jackson . It was refreshing to read about a male protagonist who is not perfect by any stretch. You will not fall in love with Jermaine Hill and that's okay. You will, however, find him to be an empathetic character who survives transformation.

Derek Jackson will do well. He's on to something and his voice is needed. Visit www.walkworthypress.net or www.derekjackson.com to read an excerpt, learn more about the author, or purchase A Man Inspired .