Author Nathan “S.J.” Dahlstrom (’01) has built a devoted readership through his Wilder Good book series — stories that blend outdoor adventure with reflections on faith, identity and responsibility.
Dahlstrom’s passion for storytelling grew out of a desire to offer young readers something different. He noticed that many children’s books were filled with wizards, vampires and zombies, but he wanted to write stories rooted in nature and shaped by Christian values — two things that mattered deeply to him.
Outdoor Adventures
The result was the Wilder Good series, which follows a teenage boy growing up amid the rugged landscapes of West Texas and the Rocky Mountains. Each book invites readers into outdoor adventures while exploring deeper themes of faith and character.
“I wrote these stories about Wilder Good for kids who grew up in the outdoors and for kids who long for the outdoors,” Dahlstrom said. “Working, fishing, hunting, farms, ranches, mountains and prairies. We should not forget that we have real adventure to offer kids, if we can have the courage to turn off our machines and screens and go outside.”
Dahlstrom’s ninth book, “Never Curse the Rain,” was released in 2025, and he is currently working on the next installment.
Headed North
Dahlstrom came to Michigan from Texas to study with Dr. Steven Eckstein, a former professor, and to earn a bachelor’s degree in religious education.
“I never had to use my biblical degree for a career, but I’ve always valued RCU for the deep biblical well that I still draw
from,” Nathan said. While at Rochester, Nathan formed a lasting friendship with professor and mentor Dr. David Fleer. One piece of wisdom from Fleer’s classes has stayed with Nathan for 25 years: “Your goal is to get it heard, not said.”
Dahlstrom has also lived out another calling that began during his time at RCU. In 2011, he and three others founded Whetstone Boys Ranch in Mountain View, Missouri, a ministry devoted to mentoring troubled and at-risk youth. Nathan met his wife, Melissa, at the Waterford Church of Christ while at Rochester. They and their children live in West Texas. You can support this RCU alumnus by exploring his books at wildergood.com.
Read the full issue of the North Star, RCU’s annual magazine for alumni & friends, here.
article written by Emily Carroll
