About the Author
Clay Jacobsen was born in 1956,
brought up on a grape ranch in the San Joaquin Valley of California. He
was raised in a Christian home, giving his life to Jesus when he was
eight years old. Since then he was been involved in the church as a
worship leader, a musician, a home fellowship leader, a teacher, and as
a part time associate pastor.
The Ultimate
Reality Show is
Clay's fifth book, fourth novel,
published by Integrity Publishing. Writing is Clay's second profession,
having been involved in television production for over twenty years. He
attended Oral Roberts University, studying telecommunications while
able to gain valuable experience working on the nationally televised
ministry program. After graduation, Clay started a free-lance career in
Las Vegas, working as a camera operator for a brief period before
predominately technical directing television productions throughout the
country.
Some of his technical directing credits from 1978-1989 include: Solid
Gold, New Year's Rockin' Eve, specials with David Copperfield, Diana
Ross, Kenny Rogers, Chicago, Wayne Newton, Alabama, Frank Sinatra, The
Merv Griffin Show, The Mike Douglas Show, The Arsenio Hall Show,
Hollywood Squares, Jeopardy, The Newlywed Game, Miss Teen USA, Mrs.
America, The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, Alf, Full House, and
Entertainment Tonight.
In 1987 Clay received the opportunity to join the Director's Guild of
America when he took over the final two seasons of The All New Dating
Game. Shortly thereafter, Jerry Lewis called and asked him to direct
his National MDA Telethon. He gladly accepted the invitation, having
been involved with the charity since 1978, and directed it through
1996. Other directing credits include Dennis Miller for CNBC, The Other
Half for NBC, Prime Time Country with Gary Chapman for TNN,
Entertainment Tonight, John & Leeza and Dr. Laura for Paramount
Pictures, Danny! for Disney/Buena Vista, the W.O.W Inspirational Awards
for the INSP Network, and other various pilots, concerts and music
videos.
Clay and his family look at his career in the entertainment industry
as
a mission field. He firmly believes that Christians need to be behind
the scenes in television production, hoping to make a difference in the
show's content as well as being a living ambassador for Jesus to the
lives of the peopl
e in the industry. He has been married for 23 years
to his lovely wife Cindy. They have two daughters, Sharayah fifteen and
Shelby ten. His relaxing moments involve time with his family, golf,
skiing, and reading.
Novels that Challenge Your Spirit
is the driving force behind Clay's
writing. He believes that Christian fiction should entertain while at
the same time bring to bear the Truth of God's Word through the
character's lives. Clay's hope and prayer is that those that read his
novels will not only be entertained by a page-turning thriller, but
also be encouraged and challenged in their own walk with the Lord.
Hebrews 10:24, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on
towards love and good deeds."
The Lasko Interview, Clay's first novel published in 1998 by Broadman
& Holman, dealt with a Hollywood murder mystery while weaving
through the story the spiritual truths of "not just going to church,
but being the Church." These concepts were brought out in a nonfiction
book Clay co-wrote with his brother Wayne, Aurthentic Relationships:
The Lost Art of One Anothering (Baker Books, 2003). In Circle of Seven,
(2000, Broadman & Holman) while dealing with the controversy of
manipulated public opinion polls and the liberal bias of the press,
Clay also brin
gs to light how a Christian walks out his faith in the
secular entertainment industry. Interview with the Devil (2002 Barbour
Books) takes a hard look at Islam and the conflict evident throughout
the world between Christians and Muslims.