Ray Blackston
Encyclopedia
Ray Blackston is an award-winning Christian
novelist. He quit his stock-broking business in 2000 and started writing Christian fiction. He has written six novels; the first three were part of a series which started with his debut, Flabbergasted (2003
). His most recent novel was called Last Mango in Texas, released in March 2009.
, South Carolina
. He did his schooling in Texarkana
, Texas
and obtained a BS degree in Finance and Economics from the University of South Carolina
. Blackston worked as a stockbroker for two years and a financial consultant for several firms such as AT&T
, Allie Signal, and General Electric
. He then left his job in the corporate world and started writing his first novel, Flabbergasted. After initial rejection of the manuscript, the novel was published in May 2003
by the Baker Book Group. The book was well-received by critics and readers alike, though some criticized the book for its excessive use of a particular style. The book was written as a beach novel for young believers. The design of the cover has attracted praise for its different-looking, fresh feel. The cover is illustrated with the lime green car, which is featured in the novel as being owned by Darcy, a supporting character to the book's protagonist
. Flabbergasted was one of three finalists for the Christy Award
for best first novel (2004
) and was selected by the Dallas Morning News as the Inspirational Novel of the Year in 2003.
After Flabbergasted, Blackston wrote two more novels, A Delirious Summer (2004) and Lost in Rooville (2005). Both utilized the characters from Flabbergasted. After Lost in Rooville was published, Blackston chose the Time Warner Book Group (now called Hachette Book Group USA
) to publish his next novel from amongst several publishers who showed interest in publishing his books. His first novel which did not utilize characters from Flabbergasted, A Pagan's Nightmare, was then published on October 25, 2006. Blackston has described A Pagan's Nightmare as
Blackston released his next novel, Par for the Course, on February 12, 2008. Like the Flabbergasted trilogy, the action in Par for the Course takes place in South Carolina
and addresses young adult Christians in relationships. Except for cameos, however, the characters in Par for the Course are all new.
Blackston's most recent novel was Last Mango in Texas. It features young adults in Texas, with trips to Alaska, France, and Africa. According to his web site, Blackston said the book began as a prequel to Flabbergasted, before he decided to take it in a different direction with a new cast. Blackston stated he's also working on a non-fiction book about relationships from a Christian perspective.
Blackston also serves on the Missions committee of his own church. He has traveled to Ecuador
during a summer missions program.
He also states that Flabbergasted is amongst his list of favorite books.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
novelist. He quit his stock-broking business in 2000 and started writing Christian fiction. He has written six novels; the first three were part of a series which started with his debut, Flabbergasted (2003
2003 in literature
The year 2003 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-New books:*Peter Ackroyd - The Clerkenwell Tales*Atsuko Asano - No...
). His most recent novel was called Last Mango in Texas, released in March 2009.
Biography
Blackston was born in GeorgetownGeorgetown, South Carolina
Georgetown is the third oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and the county seat of Georgetown County, in the Low Country. Located on Winyah Bay at the confluence of the Great Pee Dee River, Waccamaw River, and Sampit River, Georgetown is the second largest seaport in South Carolina,...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. He did his schooling in Texarkana
Texarkana, Texas
Texarkana is a city in Bowie County, Texas, United States. It effectively functions as one half of a city which crosses a state line — the other half, the city of Texarkana, Arkansas, lies on the other side of State Line Avenue...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and obtained a BS degree in Finance and Economics from the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
. Blackston worked as a stockbroker for two years and a financial consultant for several firms such as AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
, Allie Signal, and General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
. He then left his job in the corporate world and started writing his first novel, Flabbergasted. After initial rejection of the manuscript, the novel was published in May 2003
2003 in literature
The year 2003 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-New books:*Peter Ackroyd - The Clerkenwell Tales*Atsuko Asano - No...
by the Baker Book Group. The book was well-received by critics and readers alike, though some criticized the book for its excessive use of a particular style. The book was written as a beach novel for young believers. The design of the cover has attracted praise for its different-looking, fresh feel. The cover is illustrated with the lime green car, which is featured in the novel as being owned by Darcy, a supporting character to the book's protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
. Flabbergasted was one of three finalists for the Christy Award
Christy Award
The Christy Awards are awarded each year to recognize novels of excellence written from a Christian worldview. Awards are given in several genres, including contemporary , historical, romance , suspense, and visionary...
for best first novel (2004
2004 in literature
The year 2004 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* Canada Reads selects Guy Vanderhaeghe's The Last Crossing to be read across the nation....
) and was selected by the Dallas Morning News as the Inspirational Novel of the Year in 2003.
Hachette Book Group USA
Hachette Book Group is a publishing company owned by Hachette Livre, the largest publishing company in France, and the second largest publisher in the world. Hachette Livre is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lagardère Group. HBG was formed when Hachette Livre purchased the Time Warner Book Group from...
) to publish his next novel from amongst several publishers who showed interest in publishing his books. His first novel which did not utilize characters from Flabbergasted, A Pagan's Nightmare, was then published on October 25, 2006. Blackston has described A Pagan's Nightmare as
Blackston released his next novel, Par for the Course, on February 12, 2008. Like the Flabbergasted trilogy, the action in Par for the Course takes place in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
and addresses young adult Christians in relationships. Except for cameos, however, the characters in Par for the Course are all new.
Blackston's most recent novel was Last Mango in Texas. It features young adults in Texas, with trips to Alaska, France, and Africa. According to his web site, Blackston said the book began as a prequel to Flabbergasted, before he decided to take it in a different direction with a new cast. Blackston stated he's also working on a non-fiction book about relationships from a Christian perspective.
Blackston also serves on the Missions committee of his own church. He has traveled to Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
during a summer missions program.
Novels
- Flabbergasted (20032003 in literatureThe year 2003 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-New books:*Peter Ackroyd - The Clerkenwell Tales*Atsuko Asano - No...
), ISBN 978-0-80-071837-4 - A Delirious Summer (20042004 in literatureThe year 2004 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* Canada Reads selects Guy Vanderhaeghe's The Last Crossing to be read across the nation....
), ISBN 978-0-80-075958-2 - Lost in Rooville (20052005 in literatureThe year 2005 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*February 25 - Canada Reads selects Rockbound by Frank Parker Day as the novel to be read across the nation....
), ISBN 978-0-80-073057-4 - A Pagan's Nightmare (20062006 in literatureThe year 2006 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Literature:*Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Half of a Yellow Sun*Chris Adrian - The Children's Hospital *Martin Amis - House of Meetings...
), ISBN 978-0-44-657959-9 - Par for the Course (20082008 in literatureThe year 2008 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*January 1 - In the 2008 New Year Honours, Hanif Kureishi , Jenny Uglow , Peter Vansittart and Debjani Chatterjee are all rewarded for "services to literature".*June 15 - Gore Vidal, asked in a New York Times...
), ISBN 978-0-44-617815-0
Influences
The author has been known to list the following works as his favorites, which also influenced his writings:- Works by the Apostle Paul, specifically Ephesians and Philippians
- Angela's Ashes, Frank McCourtFrank McCourtFrancis "Frank" McCourt was an Irish-American teacher and Pulitzer Prize–winning writer, best known as the author of Angela’s Ashes, an award-winning, tragicomic memoir of the misery and squalor of his childhood....
- The Water is Wide, Pat ConroyPat ConroyPat Conroy , is a New York Times bestselling author who has written several acclaimed novels and memoirs. Two of his novels, The Prince of Tides and The Great Santini, were made into Oscar-nominated films.-Early life:...
- Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Annie DillardAnnie DillardAnnie Dillard is an American author, best known for her narrative prose in both fiction and non-fiction. She has published works of poetry, essays, prose, and literary criticism, as well as two novels and one memoir. Her 1974 work Pilgrim at Tinker Creek won the 1974 Pulitzer Prize for General...
- Bird by Bird, Anne LamottAnne LamottAnne Lamott is a novelist and non-fiction writer. She is also a political activist, public speaker and writing teacher. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, her nonfiction works are largely autobiographical...
- The Testament, John GrishamJohn GrishamJohn Ray Grisham, Jr. is an American lawyer and author, best known for his popular legal thrillers.John Grisham graduated from Mississippi State University before attending the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1981 and practiced criminal law for about a decade...
- Gilead, Marilyn Robinson
- The Single Truth, Lori Smith
He also states that Flabbergasted is amongst his list of favorite books.