Writer, Consultant, and Educator
Jac Nelson
“If you could do one thing for the rest of your life, and that was the only thing you could do — what would it be?” It was a big question to ask a 12-year old, let alone in Peter Piper Pizza. My answer still surprises me: “Write.”
I love beautiful writing that opens up new worlds, or better yet, opens up our shared world in new, surprising ways. Of all genres, I love creative nonfiction and picture books most of all. Poetry is pretty great, too.
I was born in Southern California and grew up in the Arizona desert. Graduate school at Duke University brought my wife and me from sunny San Diego to the South, where we still live (in Durham, NC) with our two children, one rabbit, and a varying number of chickens.
I hope this site will tell you a little more about me and the world I hope to leave behind one day through the stories I tell and those told about me.
What I’m Working On
Home in the Animal House: A Memoir about Place, Parenting, and Power
The Yellow House meets National Lampoon’s Animal House and Winnie-the-Pooh — Home In the Animal House tells the story of living with young daughters among college students for eight years in Duke University’s residence halls. It’s a book about community, parenting, environmental harm, and institutional power.
These Three Acres: An Episcopal Church, Southern Land, and Race
These Three Acres is an eight-episode podcast series that tells the story of Church of the Holy Family’s land in Chapel Hill, NC, highlighting it’s raciaized history. It asks questions of what restitution or reparations looks like for a 3rd-generation Episcopal Church. This podcast is being produced with support of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. Anticipated release: September 2027.
Tick Tock Kit Tuck
A picture book about a plucky girl born on Leap Day who sets out to get rid of it forever.
This is just lovely. Thanks for sharing it. You’ve gained a following of word nerds.
– Shannon | durham, nc | responding to “What I’m learning these days…”
Upcoming Events
October 14-15, 2026
Dismantling Racism Training • Neptune, NJ
Just Space LLC will be facilitating a two-day racial equity workshop sponsored by the Greater New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania Conferences of the United Methodist Church.
November 21-22, 2026
The Episcopal Diocese of NC Convention • Winston-Salem, NC
Jac will be a lay delegate with Church of the Holy Family at the Episcopal diocesan convention.