JohnHoffert.com

***I've received inquiries as to how one can purchase my books. You still can buy them directly from me off this site via secure Paypal transaction, or by sending me a check, whichever you prefer. You also can order them from Infinity Publishing's 'Buy Books On The Web' page. As yet I have not been able to cut ties with Amazon; that may take a bit longer, so for the time being you still can purchase them from there as well***

After months of false re-starts and dead ends, I have come to the conclusion that my fourth book, The Lion's Wrath: A Pyrrhic Victory, will not work as is. It needs an overhaul, and I might not even use some of the material I already have. Without a doubt, this is the most difficult of the series- much tougher even than the first, which I always thought would be the hardest of all. I'm breaking new ground, and trying at the same time to keep my edge sharp. I have to back up and regroup. I believe I will finish the project at some point, but under the circumstances I have no idea when that will be.

Another announcement: I will contact my publisher this week and sever my relationship with Amazon. I never have been comfortable with their business practices, in particular the way they buy back and re-sell used books, screwing authors out of royalties. I really don't care that I will be losing lots of exposure; that kind of exposure, I don't need or want.

Honestly, it doesn't matter to me if I don't sell another copy for that reason or any other. I write mainly to vent- to get my feelings and visions out, and try my best to tell a good story in the process, same as nearly any other creative soul. If people feel some sort of connection with the story or characters and enjoy them, that's great. Better yet if they share my disdain for the sorry state of our nation and act upon the need to speak out and take action to change things for the better, and I mean, real change- not the version of it the latest cult of personality in the White House brings, along with his apparent obsession with publicity and spin.

Take all this for what it's worth, but again, selling books is not my primary concern and never will be a deal-maker or breaker for me. I am removing chapter one of book four and don't know if I will repost it. All depends upon me getting this latest project to where I want it to be, and ready for publication. The story itself knows better than I do when that will happen, or if.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend and remember those whose sacrifices gave us the opportunities we have squandered for the past 30 years, if not longer. Just as I hope to finish my fourth book, I also hope we as a nation will get enough of the game two political parties and their wealthy masters have been running on us for too long, throw them all into the garbage along with the hopelessly corrupted system they're running, and start anew.

After all, our own Declaration of Independence tells us if our government no longer is serving us, we have every right to overthrow it. Food for thought from the brilliant group whose courage, determination, vision and intelligence led to a new, independent nation. I hope to see the same thing happen in my lifetime...