Jason Anderson
Consumer defense attorney and writer Jason Anderson has always had an interest in cinema, film and writing.
“Growing up, my dream job was being a filmmaker which, years later, helps to give a cinematic influence to my writing,” he says.
The Birmingham resident was born in Rochester Hills and graduated from Avondale High School. His parents were both educators which he said greatly influenced him. He majored in political science at the University of Michigan and then attended law school at Wayne State University, graduating in 2009.
Ironically, it was a film, “Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills,” that inspired Anderson to pursue a law degree. The film tells the true story of three teenagers accused and convicted of the horrific 1993 Arkansas murders of three young boys as part of an alleged satanic ritual. The film highlights issues of the complicated case, including mishandled crime scene evidence, coercion, and jury misconduct. The former teens were released from prison in 2011. as part of an Alford plea deal.
“After seeing the documentary ‘Paradise Lost,’ it made me want to become a lawyer to fight injustice and help people being disadvantaged by others and railroaded by the judicial system,” he explained.
For the past eight years, he has worked as a consumer defense attorney at his law firm, Law Offices of Jason D. Anderson.
Recently, Anderson was also able to realize his writing dream by completing his first published novel entitled Apocalypsing. The book is being released by Roadside Press in November and will be available online and at local booksellers.
The author said he wrote the nearly 300-page book for casual and serious readers in a streamlined, accessible Young Adult style, but with a storyline geared toward adults.
According to Anderson, much of the story takes place in Michigan, with recognizable local landmarks while the balance is set elsewhere, including New York City.
“It’s an entertaining mashup of speculative, satirical, sci-fi and comedy with supernatural elements. The protagonist, David Downey, has just died but is still attached as a ghost to his old life and his girlfriend, Stacey, until her new boyfriend, the Anti-God almighty, walks in and sweeps her off her feet,” he explains.
“After dying, he realizes all the things he took for granted...Sometimes it takes dying to learn how to live.”
While celebrating the publication of his first novel, Anderson enjoys being able to write and do legal work remotely from his Birmingham home much of the time. “I love downtown Birmingham. I love sitting in my backyard, especially when it’s sunny and warm, enjoying how beautiful it is. It allows me to be the person I want to be.”
For aspiring novelists, Anderson advises, “If you want to be a great writer, be prepared to work. Treat it as seriously as possible. You need to commit and consistently put in the work – often eight to 12 hours a day. It’s a slog and not always fun but you need to come to terms with that if you want to be great.”
He adds, “When submitting your book to publishers you also have to be prepared for rejection. Get used to it.”
Currently, Anderson has three other novels in process. “I don’t want to do the exact same genre with every new book. While I still like being a lawyer and helping people, I will always be a writer from this point forward – and I’m working toward becoming a great writer.”
Story: Tracy Donohue
Photo: Laurie Tennent
