Q: Please tell us a little about your family:
My father immigrated from Budapest, Hungary and my mother from Montreal, Canada. She is also Hungarian. I was raised eating amazingly authentic Hungarian food made with love, like paprikash chicken with dumplings and Hungarian goulash. My father became a very accomplished patent attorney. He is also an amazing athlete who is an accomplished runner and still an amazing swimmer.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I graduated from UC Irvine and UHS in Irvine. I earned my MFA in Journalism from Indiana University and took Creative Writing courses at UC Irvine and UC Berkeley but am mostly importantly a self-taught writer of short fiction, inspired by other writers and my own life experiences.
Degrees in fiction writing are far less important than a life richly lived. As a writer of short fiction, at the core of my stories, are things I experienced. Charles Dickens created some decent classics without an advanced degree in writing.
I have been published widely in The Los Angeles Times and The San Francisco Chronicle and my short fiction has appeared in various fiction journals.
My most recent book of short fiction, “This Thing We Call Love,” centers around characters searching for love, redemption, and purpose, and our universal need to find meaning and structure in a world often filled with chaos. Characters reveal that those experiences and emotions we often feel are most isolating, are in reality universal, if only we take the risk of sharing our vulnerability.
Most of the stories take place in California, including Newport Beach. My website works on mobile devices and for a limited time if you visit my website, you will receive a free e-book version of my book. storiesbyjohn.com
I’ve been a writer my whole life.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Bamboo Bistro, Panini Kabob Grill, and Five Crowns.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I’ve lived in Big Canyon for 14 years. From 1968 to 1980 our family lived in Turtle Rock in Irvine and we visited CdM State Main Beach every single weekend which gave me my love for the ocean.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
10 years ago, I became friends with a homeless man named Devon who was living near Newport Beach City Hall. He had multiple severe illnesses and was a decorated Vietnam veteran and had designated disability status from the VA. He was an accomplished writer and I reviewed with him in the library many of the things he had published in newspapers throughout the world. The life lesson he taught me is not to judge others so quickly as many homeless are veterans and people who suffer from severe illnesses and cannot work through no fault of their own. I volunteer extensively to help those less fortunate.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Casablanca, Sideways, Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Anytime you commit yourself to any volunteer work that helps others, you will grow spiritually and be a happier person.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
I lived in San Francisco from 1988 to 2006 and still just love visiting the city. It’s still the greatest city in the world.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
I would take Charles Dickens out to Five Crowns.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
The ocean feeds my soul on so many different levels; especially for swimming, walking and meditation.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
All that really matters in life is to be healthy, both mentally and physically, surrounded by a core group of people you love and who love you; true friends. I know a lot of people who lease Ferraris and other expensive toys, but are not happy.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
The biggest thrill for me is seeing wildlife in its natural habitat- bobcats, deer, bears, rattlesnakes and dinosaurs. We must continue to protect the environment.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Living near the ocean and taking advantage of that by swimming in the ocean daily.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
I have incredible respect for Barack Obama and everything he overcame to be president and also Jimmy Carter who spent his post presidency constructing homes for those less fortunate.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Friends, family and the ocean.
