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SJRCC Press Release
February 2010
SJRCC professor publishes book
St. Johns River Community College professor John Howard, Ph.D., says his latest book demonstrates his love for writing and the often ignored action verb. Unlike his two previous books, the fantasy fiction “The Mysterious Gems – The Beginning” is the English professor’s first novel.
The development of the story’s main characters was influenced by the mannerisms of two former students who often engaged in intellectual polemics during class, with Howard observing one as a princess and the other as a dragon; however, the story’s classroom ties do not end there.
Howard said the idea for a book written solely in the active voice came from students requesting examples of prose without the use of “to be” verbs (am, be, is, are, was, etc.). Howard said he plans to use excerpts from the story in his class to help demonstrate how to write in the active voice.
With literary influences such as Joseph Campbell, Lewis Carroll and L. Frank Baum, Howard’s story of Princess Rachel, Mascara the witch and Meinheart the dragon is modeled after European storytelling and the popular 1950s cliffhangers. Howard said he selected a medieval setting for the princess to uncover the legendary Mysterious Gems and save her kingdom, despite a cast of rebellious and revengeful characters.
The book is intended as the first in a series of six and is dedicated to Howard’s students and U.S. veterans. “I dedicated the book to all American soldiers and their allies who risk their lives to keep democracy alive,” Howard said.
The book is available through Howard’s publishing company, RW&D Publishing.
Howard earned his doctorate degree from Ohio State University and is a former Harlem Globetrotter. He teaches English, writing and literature at SJRCC and lives in Fleming Island.
Return to SJRCC home page.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Susan Kessler
SJRCC Director of Public Relations and Publications
5001 St. Johns Avenue
Palatka, FL 32177
(386) 312-4020
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