About

A Little About the Author

Born on Dallas’ West side, Alvin E. Jordan, as a fifth-grader, began the whole bit of his writing. It was poetry that he was “hooked” on! He walked around the yards and halls of the George Washington Carver Elementary School with a notebook filled with his most prized possessions .., poems !? All, penned by him. The notebook, entitled “Poems From A to Z”, seemed to always be in his hands. At age thirteen, he had written his first Short story a sort of coming-of-age fictionary about adolescence, the things that he experienced as a boy growing up, at that time. Two years later, on the campus of the L.G. Pinkston High School, his teacher Miss Frances Johnson held a Poetry Contest. Jordan’s submission won 2nd place. However, the winning piece was also written by him. A poem he had written almost two months before the contest was even thought of. He had given it to a classmate. Without his knowledge, she submitted the work as her own. The discovery of this brought amazement to Miss Johnson, She was almost always on Alvin due to his “slouching” posture while attending her class. “Sit up, Jordan!”, she would say. He heard this, about three or four times during the class period. The very next day, she laid down the law! “No more slouching in my classroom!”

In early, 1967, Jordan, at age 16, was introduced to a kind of writing that seemed to light a fire in his mind, journalism. It opened up a whole new world of different and fun things to write about !? The introduction took place at the newly opened Dallas Boys’ Club. The Club’s Educational Director, a woman that he can only remember as “Mrs. Tipton”, showed him the “guts” of newspaper writing. The club’s in-house newspaper, “The Boys’ Club Bugle”, challenged his enthusiasm and helped him to create his own writing style. Though he loved his writing, there was also, another love, boxing. The Boys’ Club had a Boxing Team and he was on it! Putting his writing “on the back burner”, so to speak, he fought as an amateur for a solid twenty years!

During his college years, Alvin sought to enhance his knowledge of journalism but, later decided on changing his “major” to English. His English 101 (Comprehensive Composition) Class, headed by Professor R.P. Dexter was “awe” inspiring! Mister Dexter, not only, enhanced but, also stimulated and influenced his writing skills !? His very first class assignment earned him an “A”! Jordan says, “I never remembered ever, getting a “B” in my English Class?”

As an employee of the Dallas Boys’ Club, Inc., he resigned his newly appointed position as the Athletic Aquatics Director, pursuing a career in Child Development Education. Spending 16 years as a “caregiver”, dealing with children from 6 to 18 years of age, he found that working with children between the ages of 2-6, though it was a more “delicate” venture, it was also satisfying. As a teacher, this helped to develop his story-telling abilities, most of all, it got him back into writing! The first of his creations, “The Tales of Prince Jack”, was the gateway to his first play, “The Magic Muffin”. Now, he’s on his way!