I always was an idealist, and a bit of a dreamer. For a very long time I had no idea what I wanted to do and where my talents lay; nothing seemed to challenge me or keep my interest for very long. During this stretch my 10th grade English teacher, Mr. John Kotchen, pulled me aside after reading a short story I'd written as an assignment. As always was the case, I hadn't even started it until the night before it was due. He told me I seemed to have a knack for creative writing and that maybe I should pursue something in that field. I didn't heed his advice at the time, in part because I had a rebellious streak a mile wide, but I never forgot his positive feedback and how good it made me feel…
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My first stop in the search to find myself was the Army. As a career choice it wasn’t a good fit for me, but I got to see a lot of the world I otherwise wouldn't have seen and my perspective broadened considerably. Then, the ROTC scholarship enabled me to earn a B.A. in Political Science from Loyola College. Better yet, I graduated magna cum laude, which showed me I could focus and do well at something when I applied myself. I also ended up taking a creative writing course, and found some old stirrings coming back. As for my Army service, it did give me the wake-up call I needed in the form of a swift kick in the butt. Even so, it took me a while to shake out the cobwebs, which took the form of several false starts after that. Studying acting in Los Angeles, being a locksmith, starting a business with a ‘friend’ and getting shafted…even though none of those courses worked out for me, I was getting myself out there and exploring the options, which also was a big step in the right direction.
During these attempts to find my place, I finally decided to heed Mr. Kotchen’s advice. In February of ’98 I started work on my first novel, The Zero Factor. When I started it I had a very different ending in mind, but as the story sucked me in, I chucked the outline and let it take its own course. A one-and-done suddenly became the first in a series. I have no doubt that part of the reason for that alteration was my change in perspective; I was finding my voice and my passion, and suddenly becoming a ‘glass half-full’ kind of person. I started to feel confidence in myself that I'd never had at any point. I also realized that a big part of the problem was, I never searched my soul and asked myself 'what do you WANT to do?' As a result my heart never was truly in anything until The Zero Factor took me over. However, between the completion of book 3 and the start of book 4 in the series I did another thing I'd always wanted to do: run for public office. In 2006 I was an Independent candidate for Congress in Maryland's 3rd District.
Professionally speaking, I did find a good counterbalance to my creative side in the form of my present position as a junior Staff Accountant with an excellent firm. Not only do I enjoy what I do- I also work with and for some great people!
Besides my love for writing, I also have the travel bug, which dug its teeth into me during my Army time and never let go. I’ve visited 38 of the 50 United States, along with Bermuda, Japan, Wake Island, Thailand, South Korea, England and Canada. There are plenty more places I want to see and cultures I want to experience. I also enjoy skiing, SCUBA-diving, kayaking, the beach, weightlifting and nature walks. I love watching the shows on the biggest screen there is: the visible horizon. I’ve seen a perfect sunrise while sitting on the sands of Dewey Beach, Delaware and a perfect sunset while on a shoulder of the Pacific Coast Highway just below Carmel, California. I’ve witnessed two total lunar eclipses and a spectacular Leonid meteor shower. I also love animals, including my two cats, Tarzan and Jane.
- John F. Hoffert, Jr.
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| Reviews:
Here's What They're Saying...
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| THE ZERO FACTOR JOHN HOFFERT, Infinity Publishing.Com, Haverford, PA, $21.95, paperback, (368p) ISBN: 0-7414-1832-0 Though a debut novel, this is a thrilling read that promises a lot of action, suspense, and sleepless nights. The novel tells the story of John Stratton and Kimberly Francis. Stratton is the governor of Maryland and aspires to become the president of United States. Though he has great plans for reforming America, his own life is a mess. His family history haunts him and when he meets his childhood sweetheart Kimberly, emotional sparks fly. At the same time he realizes that strange and powerful forces are working against him. Can he manage to overpower these forces, regain his lost love, as well as come to terms with his inner demons? "The Zero Factor" leaves the reader gasping for more. Having the hero as a presidential candidate in a debut novel is undoubtedly ambitious and in the hands of a lesser writer might soon become a ludicrous proposition. However, John Hoffert manages not to lose the reader's attention or sympathy. The characters are created with a sense of detail that is charming, and the scenes are molded with an eye for realism. Fast paced and intensely gripping, the tale is not just a roller coaster ride of action and thrills, but also one of emotions and ideas. As this is the first novel of a four part series, the reader can happily wait for the next installment, assured in the knowledge that he will have a good read whenever the next book turns up. BookWire Review January 7, 2005
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 A Gripping, keep-you-up-all-night thriller.
Reviewed by: Beverly J. Rowe, reviewer for MyShelf.com (11/2/2004)
John Hoffert makes his writing debut with a very exciting first novel. Hoffert has certainly found his calling. The complicated plot and compelling characters keep you reading through the night.
John K. Stratton is ready to start his campaign for President of the United States only to have his personal life fall apart. John is already a troubled man, lonely and fighting the psychological baggage resulting from his father's unexplained disappearance years earlier and his mother's sudden death. Then there is the unrequited love of his high school sweetheart, Kimberly Francis. She, too, is still in love with the elusive John Stratton, and when they have a chance encounter, it sets their worlds spinning.
When John's estranged younger brother is shot, the Presidential campaign is put on hold. From there, the action really gets fast and furious. I predict that we will hear much more from this talented writer, and I am anxiously awaiting the next book.
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 A terrific read!
Reviewed by: K. Blair / Huntress Reviews (9/27/2004)
The young Governor John K. Stratton of Maryland starts his race for the White House only to have his personal life fall apart. Already troubled by his family's history, John has a chance encounter with his high school sweetheart, Kimberly, that ends up throwing his life even more off balance. As his campaign moves forward, strange and sinister things start happening. A young undercover cop suddenly turns up dead, his brother ends up shot, and Kimberly is becoming a more frequent guest in his dreams. But when things finally come to a head, an explosion of obstacles threaten John's campaign, as well as, the new love that had just begun to grow.
**** This one is definitely a good read! I simply had to know what was going to happen next and ended up losing a lot of sleep. This suspense filled book will grab hold of its readers and refuse to let go. Recommended! ****
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| Reviews for Aphrodite's Redemption |
 Psychological suspense of major proportions., September 25, 2005
Part two in the John Stratton series. Aphrodite's Redemption - The Lion Roars begins about two months after the assassination attempt on John and the abduction of Kim that climaxed The Zero Factor. This story leads us into John and Kim's collective past, as they come together again after a six year hiatus. Kim has a secret in her past that she is afraid will jeopardize John's presidential campaign, but John has secrets of his own.
The man responsible for the assassination attempt on John, and for Kim's abduction is still very much in the picture and now he wants Kim back for his very own. He has kidnapped eleven victims during the previous eleven years, and is planning to, once again, abduct Kim...number twelve will be the last one; she's where it all started. He's spent years waiting for Kim and can think of nothing else.
This is an exciting, fast paced thriller, with great characters and a plot that will keep you reading all night. If you let John Hoffert take you inside the mind of the frightening villain in this story, count on nightmares to keep you awake. A psychological thriller of evil and eroticism that is a thoroughly enjoyable story.
John is definitely a writer with a bright future; he has the touch.
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| Reviews for The Time Of Reckoning |
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(5 Stars) Political Mayhem...
Reviewed by: Beverly J. Rowe (12/23/2005)
In this third volume of The Lion series, John Stratton is campaigning for President of the United States, but his campaign is fraught with danger for both him and his beautiful wife, Kim. I loved his ideas for political reform...too bad he isn't really running for president at the next election. George and Hilary wouldn't have a chance!
John's platform of radical reform inflames his old enemies and makes new ones that are determined to thwart his ambitions. When a chair that John was supposed to sit in for an interview is rigged with explosives and detonated, then Kim is narrowly missed by a shot aimed at her kitchen window, John and Kim are put on notice that their enemies deadly threats need to be taken seriously. An anonymous phone call tells the whereabouts of skeletal remains of an unidentified man buried decades ago. New clues brighten the prospect of solving old mysteries, and bring John closer to settling some old scores. John and his brother, Tom, spare no effort to put the clues together and uncover the real enemies.
This series should be read in order, since the story is intertwined with the other volumes, but, Hoffert has outdone himself on this intricate, multi-layered plot. The characters are complex and compelling, the villains easy to hate with main characters that we would love to see in a new adventure. Sensuous scenes between John and Kim are well done and realistic. Just the thing for a long winter weekend of reading.
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