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In Father's Violin, after 13-year-old Hertz endures World War II, he must now survive
Berlin’s devastation. With only Father’s violin as comfort, Hertz scrounges for food with his
older sister Elsa, best friend Jakub from Poland, and fellow Berliners. Meanwhile, Soviet
soldiers police the streets and blockade people from traveling to the American-controlled
areas of Berlin. To cope, Hertz plays Father’s violin at night. The music spurs an unexpected
hope among some of the German people, Soviets, and Americans alike, while others who wish to
maintain order are infuriated. Is this hope enough to save Hertz and his desolated home?
It's available in
Paperback,
Kindle, and
Audiobook now.
Five-Star Reviews:
"This ranks up there as one of the best stories ever told... I cried for Hertz, prayed
for him at the edge of my seat, and rejoiced for him. He seems so real, so many emotions...
An epic story that is movie material. I can’t wait to see it on the big screen."
- Fern Goodman
"‘Father's Violin’ is an awe-inspiring book. John Hope Has written a masterpiece about the
pursuit of beauty among the horrors of war."
- Dean Vargo
"Is it still possible to come up with new tales from World War 2 without repeating?
My Fathers Violin, shows that it is still possible to cover a time in history that must
never be forgotten from a new angle."
- A. Christensen
"This was a very moving story about survival and love set in a historical setting...
It is well written and love the character development. Great story recommend to everyone."
- Michael L.F. Slavin
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In Soul for a Soul, before St. Augustine earns his position as bishop, he and his
teenage son must save the good name of the early Christian Church and rescue an altar boy
from the clutches of a soul-capturing daemon. To do so, one of the two must travel to an
unknown spiritual realm called the Neither, which lies between Purgatory and Hell, risking
their eternal soul in the process.
It's available in
Paperback,
Kindle, and
Audiobook now.
Five-Star Reviews:
"...superb blend of realism and fantasy...allows readers to feel grounded, yet fully lend themselves to the supernatural creatures and happenings."
- Oliver
"This book is definitely full of surprising twists and turns that pull at the reader's heart."
- NubianGOD
" I believe there is something so poetically justified when you collide biblical teachings of moral values and the act sin
while creating a fantasy world of monsters and demons."
- MagicMary
" This is creative and timely and doesn't shy away from working into the story some sensitive issues."
- Ardel Emery
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John's Secret Adventures of Foxfire is a
Readers' Favorite 5-Star Award Winner and winner of the 2019
Royal Palm Literary Award for Middle Grade Novels.
In this book, Sebastian needs a superhero in his life, so he draws one.
Deep within Sebastian’s vivid imagination, international spy Foxfire is tasked with her most difficult mission
yet: to find and capture the Devil himself. Outside Sebastian’s solitary comic book–drawing bouts, the mystery-loving
12-year-old helps his friends construct a secret tree fort using building supplies from an abandoned neighborhood shed,
while at home he struggles to find common ground with his stepdad after his mom has left them following a car accident.
Distant as Sebastian’s reality is from his creative musings, Foxfire’s secret adventures eventually converge with
Sebastian’s personal struggles. It's available in
Paperback,
Kindle, and
Audiobook now.
Five-Star Reviews:
"This is by far the best children’s book I have ever read... The vivid descriptions courtesy of Hope are beautiful and will dazzle and
captivate young minds...and will have young readers thinking vividly, and this is a hard talent to accomplish with a children’s book...
Moving and exciting novel that is guaranteed to entertain and thrill children for many hours and so I have no choice but to award this
exceptional tale five stars."
- Aimee Ann
"...filled with action, heartwarming moments, and a bonus adventure...Busting Walls is sharp and witty...
John Hope, has created a bunch of characters that readers will enjoy for a long time."
- Kris Moger
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John's Silencing Sharks is a winner of the
Moonbeam Children's Book Award, Florida Authors & Publishers Association Award,
Royal Palm Literary Award for Young Adult Novels, and Readers' Favorite Five-Star Award.
In this book, deaf and bullied, thirteen-year-old Peter discovers he can talk to sharks. And he must put this unique
skill to use to rescue them from extinction while saving his blackmailed dad.
This book been praised by schools and librarians nationwide for its modern day relevance to preteen and early teen life
in addressing bulling, unique family structures, handicapped children, and animal preservation. The book intrigues young
readers with a spirit of adventure and heroism, and of course, sharks. It's available in
Paperback,
Kindle, and
Audiobook now.
Five-Star Reviews:
"John Hope crafted a brilliant story in Silencing Sharks....This story is a fresh, clever take on feeling like an outsider and learning to accept oneself.
Silencing Sharks is an easy paced read that would make it an excellent choice for younger readers."
- Michelle Mollohan
"What a GREAT book! I absolutely loved it! The story was unique...writing is so descriptive I could see the scenes, feel the emotions of the characters."
- Bonnie P.
"Peter is an incredibly curious thirteen year old who is very passionate about swimming... He faces an abundance of limitations due to his disability,
and as a reader who is hearing, I was given a new perspective in how someone who was born deaf assimilates to various everyday situations and encounters."
- Jill Baker
"I can't praise this book enough. Not only does this feature a young deaf protagonist - which is so unbelievably rare and beautiful to read - but it
promotes wildlife conservation and teaches children and teens that they can be advocates for themselves and for their beliefs, no matter the obstacles
in their way."
- Talia Wong
"The whole story was fascinating for me and I admit, I teared up a few times...Be prepared to smile, laugh, get angry, tear up and find some peace.
For me, this book brought all of the emotions out."
- Shani K.
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John's No Good is the recipient of the 2013 Royal Palm Literary Award for middle grade fiction novels,
Readers' Favorite Five-Star Award for young adult historical fiction, and the 2015 Eric Hoffer Category Finalist.
In this historical-based novel, twelve-year-old Johnny "No Good"
gains a new brother, formal orphan Josh, and is tested how to be a true friend when he learns a hidden
truth of Josh's past. This book is available from Amazon in
Paperback,
Kindle, and
Audiobook.
Five-Star Reviews:
"I was captivated by this book. It's beautifully written, powerful and intense..."
- Jack Magnus
"...excellently written with emotion and empathy and it is a story that will stay with this reviewer for some time."
- Jane Finch
"...a story every young person should read. No Good will... leave you feeling like you've gained a new perspective on your own life."
- Marta Tandori
"...thrilling, amusing, and heartbreaking, often on the same page or even within the same paragraph."
- Rich Follett
"...masterfully written, engaging, and fun from beginning to end."
- Lorena Sanqui
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John's Colby in the Crosshairs is the recipient of the Readers' Favorite Five-Star Award for young adult and social issues novels,
and is a 2017 FWA Royal Palm Literary Award First Place Winner.
After Colby's estranged father returns to his white trash home, the nine-year-old struggles to survive a promiscuous neighborhood mother,
money sharks, and an uncontrollable autistic older brother while discovering the true cost of living and brotherhood.
Recommended for Young Adults, 9th grade and older, based on the sensitive subject matter. Excellent book for high school students to
discuss social taboos and difficult family issues, including child abuse, gun control, and gender identity.
This book is available from Amazon in
Paperback,
Kindle, and
Audiobook.
Five-Star Reviews:
"Starkly beautiful... an awesome job of getting you inside Colby's head. The little boy is charming and we can easily empathize with him."
- Danielle DeVor
"One of the best books I have read in a while. I was very intrigued and experienced a multitude of emotions throughout the entire book."
- Desiree Edwards
See the Royal Palm Literary Award 1st Place Showcase
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John's Pankyland 2: The Movie is the recipient of the 2017 Florida Authors & Publishers Association Award for Juvenile Age 7-12 novels
and a 2017 Royal Palm Literary Award winner.
Eleven-year-old Panky and his nine-year-old brother Craig are picked to star in Pankyland the Movie. Amongst some sibling rivalry, Panky and Craig
get kidnapped by a jealous parent whose kid didn't win the starring role in the movie. The two go on an adventure fleeing their captors while
struggling to return to the movie set before the wacky movie director decides to move forward filming without them.
This book is available from Amazon in
Paperback and
Kindle.
Reader Reviews:
"I thoroughly enjoyed this story...endearing scenes between Panky and his brother that make you smile and say "Aw..." I was transported back to my childhood...
definitely recommend this sequel."
- Aubrey Wynne
"This is a great book and is a must read. It is easy to catch onto what's happening to the point where you don't have to read the 1st book, though Pankyland
is also a good book and you should read it anyway."
- Nathaniel (12 years old)
"It was great book to read for all ages."
- Debbie
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John's Pankyland is the recipient of the Readers' Favorite Five-Star Award for young adult action novels
and a 2016 Royal Palm Literary Award winner.
When a pair of neighboring, rival families visit a Florida theme park on Panky's eleventh birthday, he is forced
to team up with his nemesis Benji to find younger brother Craig before their parents find out they lost him.
This book is available from Amazon in
Paperback,
Kindle, and
Audiobook.
Five-Star Readers' Favorite book review:
"...surprisingly good adventure story, ideal for children and young adults alike... plenty of twists and turns that will hold the reader to the story and plenty of action, right from the first page."
- Anne-Marie Reynolds
Reader Reviews:
"Great fun for a middle school book. My nephew will love it. Cute and fast-paced, it will hold their attention right to the end."
- Aubrey Wynne
"I really liked Pankyland, especially how you never know when the suspense, action, and suprises will stop."
- Nathaniel (11 years old)
"[My son] used to hate reading until the Pankyland books...it was all he could talk about..."
- Cynthia O'Neill
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John's Floppyopolis is the recipient of the 2018 Royal Palm Literary Award for children's picture books.
In this book, Freddy Floppy travels to Floppyopolis only to discover the ick and the grime. But when he sees how
Floppies take pride in their home, he brings his lesson home.
This book, illustrated by the award-winning Illustrator
Mark Wayne Adams, will be available in early 2019.
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John's The Frozen Floppies is the recipient of the 2013 Royal Palm Literary Award for children's picture books,
the 2015 Indie Exellence Award for children picture books cover design,
and the 2015 Readers' Favorite Award Finalist for children's picture books.
In this fantastic tale, a freezing storm turns some of the Floppyland residents into flopcicles. The Floppies must
work together to overcome the impregnable floppy lines to save their fellow Floppies.
This book, illustrated by the award-winning Illustrator
Mark Wayne Adams, is available
here.
Reader reviews:
"There are so many floppy things in this adorable book: floppy, heart-shaped flip-flops with an F on the sole,
flop-winged birds, floppy Popsicles, even mailboxes that flop about for Floppy Joe and Floppy Sue. The message
of the story is that everyone may be different, but when we embrace those differences together."
- Shannon Capone Kirk
"I really enjoyed the uniqueness of this children's story. Other's may have a different way about them, but that doesn't
make them 'right', 'wrong', 'better', or 'worse'."
- B Brown
"...the three floppy groups to work together to help the third group which has become frozen floppysicles. Learning to work together
is a lesson we can all use, and the illustrations that come along with that lesson, make it even more enjoyable."
- Aileen Stewart
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FWA Royal Palm Literary Award Semifinalist
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John's story Recalculating is a semifinalist of the 2021 Royal Palm Literary Award for short stories.
In this story, prepared to end it all, Alister receives hopeful encouragement from an unexpected technological ally—his GPS.
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FWA Royal Palm Literary Award Finalist
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John's story Jaxpiration is a finalist of the 2018 Royal Palm Literary Award for short, short fiction.
In this story, a writer finds his muse in the most unlikely places – in the life of a wild, maturing little boy
from his wife's school.
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FWA Royal Palm Literary Award Winner
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John's story The Leg is a winner of the 2017 Royal Palm Literary Award for flash fiction.
In this story, after returning home from an Afghanistan deployment, a newly crippled father fears his
prosthetic leg will frighten his six-year-old boy. But when they meet at the airport, his son has a surprise.
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FWA Royal Palm Literary Award Winner
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John's story Free the Elephant is a winner of the 2017 Royal Palm Literary Award for short stories.
In this story, seven-year-old Abby pines for Daddy to tell her stories, which he keeps bottled while working a job he hates.
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DreadFest Nanofiction 1st Place Winner
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John's story Snakes is a winner of the 2017 DreadFest Nanofiction Award.
In this 100-word story, the fear of snakes is taken to the next level when a camping mishap takes
an unexpected turn.
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FWA Royal Palm Literary Award Winner
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John's story Words is a winner of the 2016 Royal Palm Literary Award for creative nonfiction.
In this story, John shares an intimate moment of his life when he witnessed a peer 8-year-old boy
die in a car accident.
This story has been published in a collection of other true stories of people grappling with personal loss,
entitled
Lost Dreams.
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FWA Royal Palm Literary Award Winner
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John's short story Daddy Was Santa is a winner of the 2016 Royal Palm Literary Award for short stories.
In this story, Christopher discovers a secret: Daddy's Santa. But reality stops Christopher from having what he desires most.
This story is available in
Kindle format, as well as in paperback and Kindle as part of
John's Shorts Volume 2.
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FWA Royal Palm Literary Award Winner
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John's short story Two Milers is a winner of the 2016 Royal Palm Literary Award for short stories.
In this story, underdog distance runner, nicknamed Turtle, fights for his last chance to not disappoint his hero and mentor, older brother Devon,
in his final two mile track meet.
This story is available in
Kindle format, as well as in paperback and Kindle as part of
John's Shorts Volume 2.
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FWA Royal Palm Literary Award Winner
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John's short story The Madison Project is a winner of the 2015 Royal Palm Literary Award for short stories.
In this story, when Carter travels to a deceased scientist's isolated laboratory, he uncovers a secret experimental
project that goes deeper than he ever imagined. Story is available in
Kindle format, as well as in paperback and Kindle as part of
John's Shorts Volume 1.
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FWA Royal Palm Literary Award Semi-Finalist
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John's short story Dylan is a semi-finalist of the 2015 Royal Palm Literary Award for short stories.
In this story, tragedy leads eight-year-old Dylan into foster care of a turbulent family until he
decides to do something about it. Story is available in
Kindle format, as well as in paperback and Kindle as part of
John's Shorts Volume 2.
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FWA Royal Palm Literary Award Finalist
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John's short story Scaling is a finalist of the 2015 Royal Palm Literary Award for short stories.
In this story, faced with scaling a fish his older brother caught, 11-year-old Patrick grapples with
manning up after no longer having a father in his life. Story is available in
Kindle format, as well as in paperback and Kindle as part of
John's Shorts Volume 2.
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FWA Royal Palm Literary Award Finalist
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John's short story The Drive is a finalist of the 2015 Royal Palm Literary Award for short stories.
In this story, a middle-aged man attempts to drive to his grandfather's funeral but takes an
unbelievable journey instead. Story is available as part of the
Florida Writers Association's Collection, Volume 7,
as well as in paperback and Kindle as part of
John's Shorts Volume 2.
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FWA Royal Palm Literary Award Finalist
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John's short story Autumn is a finalist of the 2015 Royal Palm Literary Award for short stories.
In this story, teenager Marshall overcomes his fears and befriends a head-strong girl at the airport
who's in need of a friend herself. Story is available in
Kindle format, as well as in paperback and Kindle as part of
John's Shorts Volume 2.
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FWA Royal Palm Literary Award Finalist
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John's short story The Divide is a finalist of the 2015 Royal Palm Literary Award for short stories.
In this story, a hidden gate leads twelve-year-old Conner down a domino path of worsening circumstances
and places him at the center of a possible war. Story is available in
Kindle format, as well as in paperback and Kindle as part of
John's Shorts Volume 1.
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FWA Royal Palm Literary Award Finalist
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John's 104-word flash fiction Thunder Crashes is a finalist of the 2015 Royal Palm Literary Award for flash fiction.
In this story, a boy's encounter with a stranger under the shelter of a tree changes his life forever.
Story is available in paperback and Kindle as part of
John's Shorts Volume 2.
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Royal Palm Literary Award Winner
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John's short story Beating Cats is a winner of the 2014 Royal Palm Literary Award for short stories.
In this story, a teenage crush for a boy sends Kat on a downward spiral as she wrestles with the loss of her baby
brother. Story is available in
Kindle format.
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Royal Palm Literary Award Winner
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John's short story The Dance is a winner of the 2014 Royal Palm Literary Award for short stories.
In this story, five-year-old David yearns to be at a high school dance like his hero, his older brother,
but eventually finds something better. Story is available in
Kindle format, as well as in paperback and Kindle as part of
John's Shorts Volume 1.
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Royal Palm Literary Award Finalist
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John's short story Echo is a finalist of the 2014 Royal Palm Literary Award for short stories.
In this story, a dad and his search-and-rescue dog Echo look for traces of his lost teenage daughter,
with whom he's emotionally lost contact. Story is available in
Kindle format, as well as in paperback and Kindle as part of
John's Shorts Volume 1.
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Royal Palm Literary Award Finalist
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John's short story Teenagehood is a finalist of the 2013 Royal Palm Literary Award for short stories.
In this story, a disenchanted father rediscovers the joys of parenthood by helping his teenage son overcome
his fears of meeting a girl he likes. Story is available in
Kindle format, as well as in paperback and Kindle as part of
John's Shorts Volume 1.
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L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future
Honorable Mention
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John's short story Absolute Power is the Honorable Mention recipient of the 2013 L. Ron Hubbard
Writers of the Future writing contest. In this story, twelve searching souls seek to learn from a mysterous witch,
the source of absolute power, but can they survive to discover the truth? Story is available in
Kindle format, as well as in paperback and Kindle as part of
John's Shorts Volume 1.
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CrossTIME Science Fiction
Honorable Mention
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John's short story White Walls is the Honorable Mention recipient of the 2005 CrossTIME Science Fiction
writing contest. In this story, a man slaved to a machine that forces him to compose stories in order to reach
the creative object, struggles to break free. Story is available in
Kindle format, as well as in paperback and Kindle as part of
John's Shorts Volume 1.
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CrossTIME Science Fiction
Honorable Mention
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John's short story Living in Illusions is the Honorable Mention recipient of the 2004 CrossTIME Science Fiction
writing contest. In this story, a man realizes the pleasant memories of his deceased father far out way
the truth of how he was in life. Story is available in
Kindle format, as well as in paperback and Kindle as part of
John's Shorts Volume 1.
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CrossTIME Science Fiction
Honorable Mention
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John's short story Young at Heart is the Honorable Mention recipient of the 2003 CrossTIME Science Fiction
writing contest. In this story, Thomas Smith finds his hard life has yet to stifle the child still alive in his heart.
This story is available from the
CrossTIME Science Fiction Anthology, Vol. II.
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