[5] As of 2021[update], Jackson is the John O. Whiteman Dean's Distinguished Professor in the Department of English at Arizona State University.

[9] In his youth, he was arrested on drug charges and sent to prison,[10] where he took an interest in literature and began experimenting with autobiographical writing.

[11] In 2012, Jackson published Oversoul: Stories & Essays, an ebook compilation of short fiction and non-fiction.

[1] His debut novel, The Residue Years, was released in the summer of 2013 and was praised by publications such as The New York Times,[12] The Paris Review,[13] and The Sydney Morning Herald.

[19] He has been the recipient of fellowships from TED,[7] the Lannan Foundation,[8] The Center For Fiction,[20] and The Bread Loaf Writer's Conference.