John Arthur Lee: Words and Snapshots: About John

John writes fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. His passion for writing and storytelling began at a young age. In addition to excellent teachers, he credits the following with enriching his creative mind: sci-fi movies, genre paperbacks, perpetual daydreaming, quiet bike rides, adventures in the woods, and his unhealthy fear of the dark (which he still hopes to outgrow someday).

After living in the metro areas of four major cities, John currently resides in a quiet town in the Midwest, where he enjoys the company of his endlessly supportive wife, countless songbirds, and the distant hum of farm machinery.

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So, what you see above is my official "Author Bio," as they say in publishing. A version of it appears on websites like Amazon.com, Goodreads.com, etc. There is a marketing component to my bio, of course, but there's also an underlying tension between revealing who I am to the public and not sharing too much for privacy reasons. However, if you are visiting this webpage, you are likely interested in my books or curious about me, and I'm incredibly grateful for either. Therefore, I will share a little more information below, including a list of my favorites.

Extended Bio

These days, when I’m not writing, I devote a lot of time to older things--books, movies, music, typewriters, vintage bikes, etc. I guess I'm nostalgic for the sparkle and shine of my youth. I was, after all, an impressionable kid when Star Wars, E.T., Back to the Future, War Games, and Indiana Jones came to theaters. In between going to the movies and renting VHS tapes, I got to play with the very first video games and home computers. On top of that, my neighbor had cable TV—cable!—back when that was a rarity.

Even with all those entertainment options, I often retreated to my room to study things under a microscope or to read fantasy novels like The Hobbit and The Sword of Shannara. Eventually, just reading about heroes and monsters wasn’t enough, so I spent countless hours imagining my own stories and drawing detailed maps to capture every setting. Each time I perfected a map, I would switch on my clunky electric typewriter (it idled like a diesel truck and banged out my hesitant keystrokes like a misfiring M16) and I would produce self-written Dungeons & Dragons adventures that, thankfully, my friends loved playing.

My writing showed promise in grade school, even more in high school and college. I dreamt of becoming a professional writer, but I lacked the confidence to pursue something so risky. Whenever I explored the idea with friends, family, or teachers, they all lovingly dissuaded me, afraid to send me down a financially difficult path that might end up with me sleeping on their couch (or living in a van in their driveway). So, instead, I spent decades focused on other pursuits (psychology, marketing, and industrial design) and I burned many years away, working long hours and denying what I was meant to do with my life.

It wasn't until I turned 40 that I realized I wanted to write more than I wanted a big house, fancy cars, designer logos, or the latest and greatest technology. But, even with this sudden clarity driving my decisions, changing careers wasn't easy; some people in my life didn't approve and were certain I was going through a midlife crisis. My bold proclamation—I’m a writer now—sparked conflicts and challenges in my closest relationships. But, through it all, my best friends (who now had empty guest rooms and street parking) and my extraordinary wife encouraged me to follow my dream.

So, you may never see a Tesla in my garage or the latest iPhone peeking out of my back pocket. Heck, you will probably never see me in name-brand jeans again. But I have a wife (a fellow dreamer) who believes in me, friends and readers cheering me forward, and a job I wake up eager to begin. Not a bad trade off, if you ask me.

These days, I work hard to write stories and poems, hoping to connect with readers and to provide them with a different perspective. I'm happiest when I craft something with the potential of enriching people's empathy. On occasion, I still take readers to alternate worlds, places where monsters and heroes are real and where a character’s belief in himself, his steadfast allies, and his hard-earned skills makes all the difference.