John Brown (American author)
Encyclopedia
John David Brown is an American author primarily known for his fantasy.
. He spent many years working in the family floral and nursery business. He served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Netherlands
and Belgium
and graduated from Brigham Young University
with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Masters degree in Accountancy. After college Brown worked as a business consultant and instructor in Livermore, California
and Westerville, Ohio
. He current lives in Laketown, Utah
, a ranching environment that inspired one of the core ideas in his debut novel.
, studying with Darrell Spencer
, Leslie Norris
, Bruce Jorgensen, and Peter Macuck. After attending a transformational writing workshop offered by Dave Wolverton
, he began to submit his stories for publication. In 1996 he won a quarterly first prize in the annual Writers of the Future
contest and published his first piece of fiction. His short story "The Scent of Desire" appeared in the contest's 1997 anthology of winners under the pseudonym Bo Griffin.
Brown focused much of his time from 1997 - 2002 establishing his career as a business consultant and instructor. In 2002 he attended his second pivotal workshop: Orson Scott Card
's Literary Boot Camp. After that workshop, Brown began to turn again to writing for publication, this time focusing on novels.
In 2007 he signed with his agent Caitlin Blasdell and in 2008 he signed a three-book contract with Tor Books
for an epic fantasy series which begins with Servant of a Dark God.
While building his writing career Brown continues to work as a senior instructor with a large ERP software company.
Early years
Brown was born in Cottonwood, Utah and raised primarily in Bountiful, UtahBountiful, Utah
Bountiful is a city in Davis County, Utah, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 42,552, a three percent increase over the 2000 figure of 41,301...
. He spent many years working in the family floral and nursery business. He served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and graduated from Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Masters degree in Accountancy. After college Brown worked as a business consultant and instructor in Livermore, California
Livermore, California
Livermore is a city in Alameda County. The population as of 2010 was 80,968. Livermore is located on the eastern edge of California's San Francisco Bay Area....
and Westerville, Ohio
Westerville, Ohio
Westerville, once known as "The Dry Capital of the World", is a city in Franklin and Delaware counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 35,318 at the 2000 census.-Early history:...
. He current lives in Laketown, Utah
Laketown, Utah
Laketown is a town in Rich County, Utah, United States. The population was 248 at the 2010 census. The town is named for nearby Bear Lake.-Geography:Laketown is located at ....
, a ranching environment that inspired one of the core ideas in his debut novel.
Career
Brown explored writing as a student at BYUBYU
-Education:* Brigham Young University, a university located in Provo, Utah, USA administered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.**BYU Salt Lake Center, a satellite center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA...
, studying with Darrell Spencer
Darrell Spencer
Darrell Spencer is an American novelist and short story writer. He is best known for his short stories, which are widely published in literary journals and have been the recipients of several awards.-Life:...
, Leslie Norris
Leslie Norris
George Leslie Norris FRSL , was a prize-winning Welsh poet and short story writer. Up to 1974 he earned his living as a college lecturer, teacher and headmaster...
, Bruce Jorgensen, and Peter Macuck. After attending a transformational writing workshop offered by Dave Wolverton
Dave Wolverton
Dave Wolverton is a science fiction author who also goes under the pseudonym David Farland for his fantasy works. He currently lives in St. George, Utah with his wife and five children.-Career:...
, he began to submit his stories for publication. In 1996 he won a quarterly first prize in the annual Writers of the Future
Writers of the Future
Writers of the Future is a science fiction and fantasy story contest that was originated by L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1980s. Hubbard...
contest and published his first piece of fiction. His short story "The Scent of Desire" appeared in the contest's 1997 anthology of winners under the pseudonym Bo Griffin.
Brown focused much of his time from 1997 - 2002 establishing his career as a business consultant and instructor. In 2002 he attended his second pivotal workshop: Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card is an American author, critic, public speaker, essayist, columnist, and political activist. He writes in several genres, but is primarily known for his science fiction. His novel Ender's Game and its sequel Speaker for the Dead both won Hugo and Nebula Awards, making Card the...
's Literary Boot Camp. After that workshop, Brown began to turn again to writing for publication, this time focusing on novels.
In 2007 he signed with his agent Caitlin Blasdell and in 2008 he signed a three-book contract with Tor Books
Tor Books
Tor Books is one of two imprints of Tom Doherty Associates LLC, based in New York City. It is noted for its science fiction and fantasy titles. Tom Doherty Associates also publishes mainstream fiction, mystery, and occasional military history titles under its Forge imprint. The company was founded...
for an epic fantasy series which begins with Servant of a Dark God.
While building his writing career Brown continues to work as a senior instructor with a large ERP software company.
Short stories
- "The Scent of Desire" (published under pen name Bo Griffin in )
- "Loose in the Wires" (published in )
- "Bright Waters" (published in )
- "From the Clay of His Heart" (published in )
Awards
- 1997 "The Scent of Desire": Writers of the FutureWriters of the FutureWriters of the Future is a science fiction and fantasy story contest that was originated by L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1980s. Hubbard...
, First Prize, 1997 (as Bo Griffin)
- 2010 Servant of a Dark God: Whitney AwardsWhitney AwardsThe Whitney Awards are awards given annually for novels by LDS authors. The Whitney Awards are a semi-independent non-profit organization affiliated with the LDStorymakers, a guild for LDS authors.-Categories:There are currently seven genre categories:...
, Best Speculative Fiction Novel 2009