John Austin

John Austin

About

I was born in Key West, Florida. A rather famous hangout for some past famous writers: Hemingway and Tennessee Williams to name two. I just hope that I possess a glimmer of their talent.

 

Attended Saint Joseph’s elementary/middle School and Mary Immaculate High School in Key West and  graduated with honors.

 

Graduated from the University of Florida in 1965 with an Architectural Degree in Building Construction and later, while on active duty with the U.S. Air Force Engineers, received a Master of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering.

 

Wrote my master’s thesis titled: “A Methods Analysis of the Air Force Engineering Management System of Total Programming” and achieved limited publication within the Air Force engineering community for instructional purposes. 

 

Have lived in the countries of China (Taiwan), Germany, Portugal and South Korea; and in the United States in Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Texas and Wisconsin.  

 

Living and interacting with individuals in various foreign countries, with diverse cultures and customs, and ten different states, with different attitudes and outlooks, has equipped me with a uniquely incisive and worldly understanding of human nature. 

 

I have been writing for fifty plus years. Most of my writing has been in the technical, instructional and business areas.
 

I am working on my first book: "Havana Harvest---When Cuba Was Naughty!" which details my coming of age experiences in 1958 Havana, Cuba, at the age of 16.

 

Besides Havana Harvest…When Cuba Was Naughty! I am also structuring two other stories based on my life adventures and travels: Alaskan Cherokee and Taiwan Tango.

 

Murdo

Murdo

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Description

<p>When Jessica Bryant pesters her wealthy parents to allow her to have a dog as a pet, the answer is a resounding &quot;No&quot;; but they soon come to regret their decision when thier home is broken into one evening whilst they are out and their daughter kidnapped and held for ransom. The kidnappers, in the form of four seedy and incompetent characters wearing Disneyland-type masks, take her hostage and keep her incarcerated in a place from which there appears to be no escape. However, they reckon without the resourcefulness of our heroine, and the courage of a wonderful stray dog who comes to her aid and whom she names 'Murdo'. And so begins an exciting and humurous accounting of the couples' adventures together as they consistently foil and outwit the abductors whilst on the run together.<br /> This is a lovely story of the friendship between a girl and a dog, bringing out themes of responsibility, camaraderie, redemption, salvation and self-sacrifice. It includes some wonderful dialogue sequences as Jessica teaches her new four-legged friend how to communicate with her, with additional delightful conversations between the animals when a rabbit and a sparrow join forces with them in an effort to outwit the kidnappers and restore Jessica safely back to her parents' home. </p>

Story Behind The Book

Reviews

Marlene Sanchez said: <div><br />&quot;Yes, I was able to download your story. I read it last night and really enjoyed it. I am very familiar with Key West because I married a Conch. His father was Dr. Jose T. Sanchez, Jr. an ob/gyn that delivered babies in KW from the 1960s through the early 1990s. My husband (Jose III) and his sisters all went to MIHS. Their grandparents used to own the Star Coffee Mill over next to the Old City Hall. Anyway, I really enjoyed your story and I'm just wondering what happened next in your life. You left this reader hanging!&quot;</div>