John Joseph (Jack) Mackey was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in a large Irish-Catholic family on Long Island ––the source of much of his poetry. After finishing his undergraduate degree and spending a few years was a waiter in restaurants on Long Island and Washington, DC, Jack spent seven years teaching. Awarded a Fulbright Exchange Teacher position, Jack taught in Manchester, England. While teaching school, Jack completed his master's degree in English at the Univeristy of Maryland, defending a collection of his poetry as his creative "thesis."
Jack made the transition from academia to business and became an IT specialists and marketing rep, eventually wrapping up his career as an independent consultant. He returned to writing poetry as he wound down his business career.
Jack's first marriage produced three daughters and a son who died young. He identifies as gay and married his husband in 2013.
Jack lives in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Lisbon, Portugal.