Authors keep on experimenting to entertain and inspire readers in new ways. Spiritual fiction, a rather new genre, is one such experiment that is being appreciated by new-age readers. Nathalie Jackson, the author of All the Light & Dark Things, also has brilliantly merged spirituality and fiction with a pinch of mystery to give readers an all-new experience.
With the release of her latest book, All the Light and Dark Things, we had the chance to have a candid conversation with author Nathalie Jackson. She shared deeply about her life, her writing journey, her inspiration, her future projects and much more.
Before we dive into this amazing interview, let us first know a little more about Nathalie Jackson.
About the Author: Nathalie Jackson
Nathalie Jackson is an author, a dynamic spiritual leader, and a healer whose journey reflects a deep commitment to personal and communal transformation. She published her debut book ‘All the Light and Dark Things’ in 2024 which is an innovative work that intricately weaves spiritual teachings with fictional narratives, inviting readers on a journey of self-discovery through the lives of several archetypal characters.
Originally trained as an electrical engineer, Nathalie’s life took a profound turn following a challenging period of motherhood. Her son’s severe health issues led her to explore the healing arts, which became a transformative part of her life.
In 2002, she founded the Circles of Light, a holistic healing center in Edmonton, Alberta, which became a vibrant community hub for deep trauma healing and joyful communal experiences.
After closing the center to focus on her personal practice, Nathalie Jackson launched Village Lifestyles in 2007, creating a space for shared growth and celebration.
Her further journey into the Priestess Path Apprenticeship with ALisa Starkweather deepened her spiritual practice, culminating in the creation of the Woman Unveiled School of Women’s Mysteries.
Nathalie’s work, which includes Fire Walk and Shadow Work® facilitation, blends technical expertise with spiritual depth, empowering women to rediscover their innate magnificence and live fully.
Further, author Nathalie Jackson shared more about her childhood, her writing journey, her inspirations, and more interesting things about herself. Let’s get straight to his interesting answers.
Tell us about your parents, kids, and family.
I was born and raised in Alberta, Canada, coming from a family of 4 girls. We all continue to live here in Alberta. My childhood was happy for the most part. I felt supported and my dreams validated.
I now have 3 sons of my own, having also raised them all here in Alberta. They are adults and well-adjusted, confident young men. I live on a beautiful small farm with my husband of 26 years, dogs, chickens and an abundance of vegetables growing in our garden. Life continues to inspire and enliven me each and every day.
When and where were you born and brought up?
I’ve lived my entire life here in Alberta, which is in western Canada. I come from farming ancestry. I was born in 1974, before the internet and long before AI! Our greatest joy growing up was playing outside and finding frogs.
What were you like at school? Any childhood memory you would like to share?
I loved school!! Being an extrovert and a lover of people, I often found myself bored and lonely at home. Everything changed when I started school. Finally, I had more people around than I could imagine!
I loved playing sports and most of my friends were boys. Rough and tumble were my favorite ways to play.
One memory that stands out is I had a favorite junior high school teacher who really encouraged me to write. I remember the not-so-gentle ways she would push me to explore my thoughts further and deeper. This was a catalyst for my love of writing.
What are your educational/professional qualifications?
I received my Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering in 1998 and continued to become a professional engineer in my early 20s. Then, I left engineering for the healing arts when I was 28, getting my Holistic Practitioner Diploma. I am qualified in over a dozen different healing modalities, including Fire Walking and Shadow Work (R).
What is your biggest achievement till today?
My biggest achievement is having survived motherhood!! No really. It was a challenging first 15 years, having a son with a brain injury. We needed to learn and grow and adapt in ways I never would have foreseen. We did. He’s finding his way in life, as am I. I wouldn’t change any of it for the world.
Which writers inspire you?
Sidney Sheldon, Sharon Blackie, Dan Millman, Wayne Dyer, Alexandra Pope, Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Writing is stressful at times. How do you relax your mind?
My daily routine includes meditation, a morning sitting practice, listening to the sound of nature, walking barefoot on the ground, tending to my animals and plants, imagining fantastical images in the clouds.
What is your favorite motivational phrase?
“Not to dare is to lose oneself”
~ Soren Kierkegaard
To me, this speaks to the need to challenge your comfort zone in order to create a different reality than what you’re currently living. Without the willingness to dare, nothing changes. This means taking chances and challenging the beliefs you have about yourself and your limitations.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
I would tell my younger self to keep believing in my dreams, no matter how crazy, far-fetched, and out there they may seem. Dream big. And when others try to squash your dreams, keep going forward anyway. Your dreams are worthy of being fulfilled.
What books do you like to read personally? What are you reading currently?
I love self-help, inspiration, esoteric, and classics. My current favorite author is Sharon Blackie. She writes in archetypal, mythological prose, bridging ancient stories into her current lived reality. She’s scientific and poetic. It’s a unique blend of right and left-brain thinking. I really love her style.
If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why?
Not a typical response to this question, I’m sure, however, I would have wanted to author the original Kabbalistic text The Zohar.
It was written at a time in history when theologians, philosophers, and scientists discussed and debated the theory of reality and universal existence. They sat together, broke bread with one another, and learned the art of debate and healthy conversation. I would love to experience and time in history when this was the norm!
What made you decide to sit down and actually start writing?
I have had a need to understand my life on such a deep level and the words have poured from me in the form of journaling since I was young. The journaling turned into poetry and sharing esoteric principles as I stepped into my art. The words then expanded into ebooks and short teaching documents. I believe they will continue to pour from me, so I might as well give them a conscious and artistic outlet!
Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?
I love morning writing. It’s the time of day when I am the quietest and most tuned into the world around me. I reflect on the dreamtime in the morning. This informs much of my writing.
What is the reason you write for; is it for the readers or your own self or some other thing?
I write to understand myself better. I write to make sense of the difficulties of life and to mark the joys with words I can return to someday, knowing that the moment has been captured, and hopefully will inspire my tomorrows. I write to leave my legacy. I write to inspire.
About your Book: All the Light and Dark Things
All the Light and Dark Things by Nathalie Jackson is a captivating novel that follows the lives of six distinct characters as they embark on their own journeys of change. The story blends ancient wisdom and mystical insights with the everyday experiences of ordinary people.
As you read, you’ll explore the intricate and fascinating nature of the mind, discovering new perspectives that can inspire your own personal growth. This book offers a heartfelt and enlightening look at transformation through the lens of its richly developed characters.
What genre is your book? What draws you to this genre?
My book is a work of Spiritual Fiction. This is a rare genre of book. I’ve read self-help and inspirational books since I was a teenager, and most are structured textbook-style. They typically give you an A to Z manual on how to improve your life.
I could easily have offered these esoteric teachings in this format and it would have been dull, just like the rest.
Instead, I chose to add mystery and intrigue into the storyline, so that the reader is engaged in the flow and wants to see what happens. The esoteric teachings are woven throughout, giving small doses of wisdom to learn from, hopefully through the eyes of each character. It’s a slow drip release of wisdom, etched in between the prose of a story.
What makes ‘All The Light and Dark Things’ stand out in this genre?
Unlike other Spiritual Fiction books, this one incorporates many different principles and teachings throughout. It’s riddled with mystery concepts, symbols, and hidden practices for the reader to maybe absorb, maybe not.
The teachings that resonate on a deep spiritual level will simply land for each reader. At the very least, the reader will have an entertaining story to ponder.
What/who was the inspiration behind the deep yet so relatable characters; especially Hadi and Margarite?
Hadi’s character was based on a university friend of my father’s. We’ve known him our whole lives. He’s one of the kindest, most sincere men I’ve ever met and was my first meditation teacher when I was 15. I often imagined the far-off lands he traveled to and the kinds of mystical experiences he must have been having.
The character of Margarite emulates my own story of motherhood. There are many truths woven into her journey; the hardships, the battle with depression, the years of despair, the triumph and finally the healing of the painful stories. The arc of her story is my arc. It was some of the most painful bits to write.
What should a reader expect from ‘All The Light and Dark Things’?
The reader should expect to be taken on a journey that may just reflect in their own lives and their story of transformation – their hero’s arc. They may have some of their own painful stories surface, as the characters move through their version of hardship. They may even find healing and resolution to some of the most difficult experiences from their past. This is my greatest wish.
The story brings a unique blend of spirituality, mental health, and fiction. What was the hardest & the easiest thing while writing this book?
The hardest thing was the motivation to keep going once I had completed the first draft and it went into the editing phase. It was a true exercise in patience! I found myself getting frustrated with how long it was taking…Still, I persevered. This then became my biggest triumph in the end.
The easiest thing was to envision the characters’ lives, expand on their experiences and color their world. This process was deeply satisfying. I also loved the encouragement I received from loved ones when they knew I was writing a book. It gave me the wind I needed to sail the stormy waters.
Any special experience about ‘All The Light and Dark Things’ that you would like to share?
When I was studying the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, I had a dream one night. In this dream, I was brought through a portal opening into each of the spheres, being shown how to navigate from one to the other. It was all very synchronistic. This dream made its way into the book, as Hadi was synthesizing his own teachings at the time.
This wasn’t the only time the waking dream showed me some of the pieces I was to add to the book. I started really paying attention to these moments, chance encounters, and random messages I received. Over time, the entire process became an exploration of the self.
Future Plans
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
I plan on writing more books in the future. The words continue to come. I cannot seem to stop them.
Are you working on your new project? What will be your next book about?
My next project is an in-depth journey into Magdalena’s world, along with deep healing practices to integrate and resolve childhood wounds. It’s more of a tender piece of work. I can feel the fullness of what this will bring into my life as I begin down this path.
What does success mean to you as an Author?
Success to me is knowing that my words have touched someone in ways I may never even know about. I want to create a ripple of change in the world. I am a guardian of the sacred and a way-shower to those who are seeking. If I’ve shown the way to one person, then my mission is fulfilled.
What are your views on self-publishing and traditional publishing?
Self-publishing is a great way to get your words out there and to challenge any limiting beliefs you may have about your own worth. It will challenge your resolve. And it’s worth every tear.
I went with a small publishing house for this book and I loved the one-on-one connection, the speed with which it moved forward, and the beauty in being one of just a few books they’ve published. It’s special to me.
If you can get in with a large publishing house, they will tackle many of the pieces for you. This is helpful and the end result is a fine literary work of art.
One learning that you’d like to pass on to young debut authors.
If you have a book in you, WRITE IT. It’s such a profound exploration of self. You will get to see where your limiting beliefs are, where you take yourself out, what support looks and feels like to you, and so much more. Don’t die with your book still in you. Leave your legacy.
Your opinion about Vowelor.
I really like the thoroughness of Vowelor! So far, it’s been well worth it.
