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John T. Cullen
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Writer
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Work: 20+ Years Technical Writer/ Editor/ Trainer 1981-2001 (General Dynamics-Convair-Western Data Systems; AMEX Chula Vista; Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC); AUDRE Inc., and other San Diego area companies—some programming and other technical exposure, especially in areas like raster/vector conversion and recognition, healthcare systems, and more). Author of nearly 20 books. Fiction includes mainstream, historical fiction, suspense, science fiction, horror. Nonfiction includes the acclaimed A Walk in Ancient Rome (iBooks/Simon & Schuster, 2005), the first ever virtual tour for the lay reader, exploring every corner of the imperial capital in 150 A.D. during the age of the Antonines. Acclaimed by academics and bestselling history writer Anthony Everitt, due out in a second edition May 2008. My suspense novel The Generals of October (iBooks/Simon & Schuster, 2005) tackled the timely topic “What if we had a Second Constitutional Convention?” Copies have been accepted for several major law school libraries. Specialties: Aside from my passion for writing fiction, nonfiction, and screenplays, I have become well versed in all areas of print and e-book publishing. Besides being a published author, I have published the work of others in book and short story (magazine) venues. I self-publish some of my own titles. I do my layout primarily in Word (though I have also worked in PageMaker, Ventura, etc.). I pay for outside editing, cartography, and interior art. I do my own cover art and layout, then publish through LightningSource, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ingram, which then distributes to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and most e-tailers and retailers online and in your neighborhood bookstore. I have also started gaining proficiency in the most challenging area of all, marketing. Topics of special interest:
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Education:
Internet: I have worked online since 1996. I am listed by Web publishing historian Karen Wiesner as the sixth online publisher in the world (Clocktower Books, www.clocktowerbooks.com). Made history in other ways, becoming only the second author in history to release weekly serials of his books (Neon Blue, Heartbreaker) in 1996 through my early websites Neon Blue Fiction (right) and The Haunted Village (right). For ten years I published the well-known magazine of speculative fiction, Deep Outside SFFH, later Far Sector SFFH. My SFFH magazine was at one time so revolutionary that it was featured in the online Encyclopedia Britannica. My writer’s resource website (Sharpwriter.com) was lauded by Writer’s Market in 1999 as ‘one of the top 101 websites for writers.’ I have published over 100 other authors (books, shorts). Website Developer: Work with HTML regularly—CSS, DHTML, etc; have worked with XML and familiar with the general principles of databases. I hand-craft my own HTML code using HomeSite (now a WYSIWYG part of DreamWeaver). Graphics: I make my own web graphics and print book covers using PhotoShop and PaintShop Pro, plus Bryce and Poser. I have reasonably sound strategies for making my webplex indexed and well-rated by Google and other search engines. I spend up to 100 hours a week on the computer, either developing my websites, researching for my books, or writing/publishing. Main Website: My main website is http://www.johntcullen.com/. I have about 20 other websites up and running for various purposes, mainly in support of my writing and publishing activities. Some are billboards for specific books (deadmove.com, doomspore.com, robinsoncrusoe.org, nebulaexpress.com, etc.). Others are geared to help sales of my books—e.g., christmasbookshop.com, stockingstufferbooks.com. Languages and Travel: I have lived in Connecticut and Southern California, and in several European countries. Speak German, Luxemburgish, smattering of various other languages, studied Classics. Extensive travel in Europe, Canada, and the U.S. U.S. Army Clerk/Office Mgr E-5 1975-1980, Honorable Discharge, ARCOM, GCM |
Sample My Webplex:
There have been others, like Sharpwriter.com, acclaimed by Writer's Digest in 1999, now a subfolder on my main page. |
