Jon Nelson

Jon Nelson is a writer whose debut novel, The Retributionist, blurs the line between truth and fiction in what he calls "faction," a powerful blend of fact and imagination that leaves readers questioning what's real and what's not. While the storyof Jack Kade, a CFO sentenced to 25 years for white-collar crimes, is informed by themes and experiences familiar to Jon, it remains a work of fiction at its core. The Retributionist presents a raw and thought-provoking examination of the justice system, human judgment, and the resilience of the human spirit.
The novel, along with its two sequels, was written entirely by hand during Jon's time in federal prison. While working as a janitor in the chapel, he transformed a mop closet into a makeshift writing space, spending his days studying scripture, journaling, and writing page after page with pen and paper. Over time, he mailed the manuscript home to be typed and preserved by the woman who would later become his wife.
The CARES Act enabled Jon's early release from prison by seven years during the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 21, 2020, after a nine-week lockdown, he walked out of prison and stopped by that same mop closet one last time to retrieve his journal. It wasn't until he was home and rereading the final entry, written on March 17, 2020, that he realized it closed with a plea that now reads like a prophecy:

Father, protect and deliver.
M2 and I look to you, we both look within, we seek your presence and your Kingdom.
No more bondage! No more separation, debt or exilement.
Open the prison gates. You can do it in a holy instant.
I love you, Jesus.

Jon now lives with his wife and enjoys time with their six children and four grandchildren, with number five on the way. He continues to write and reflect on the fine line between justice and judgment, truth and fiction, pain and redemption.