I am certain there is too much certainty in the world.
– Michael Crichton
My name is John Hopkins. I am a husband, father, and dog lover, living the good life in the great state of Texas, where I run a small graphic design business. It is a lucrative and fulfilling career providing a commercial outlet for my creative juices through the years, no complaints.
I also write and paint, as I have done throughout my life. A few years ago, I focused my lifelong affinity for the comic strip art form on creating Lost Cactus, a 3-panel strip set in the wild southwestern hinterlands on a top-secret base. (Lost Cactus is transitioning to graphic novels, so stay tuned.) What I didn’t realize while embarking down the road to unrequited syndicated comic strip glory—spanning two anthologies over 3+ years—was that my comic strip creation laid the foundation for an epic narrative rattling inside my head. I began writing a shared universe of short stories that I included in the aforementioned anthologies.
This is where I discovered my inner muse, inspired by the works of Crichton, Rollins, Preston, and King et al. (personal favorites), and began writing my first full-length science fiction novel. Based on the short story The Stowaway, the book transmogrified into a series featuring a diverse cast of memorable characters and a clandestine organization called The Powers That Be. I am working on the sequels, and an excerpt from Book Two, The Lost Ship, is included at the end of The Golden Ellipse.
I am a member of various artist and writer organizations, and my Lost Cactus anthologies have won accolades. However, none of that is what I would deem impressive or newsworthy. I have not traveled the world, wrestled alligators, or been chased through the jungle by a tribe of cannibals. On the other hand, my curious mind seeks to unlock life’s mysteries and explore humankind’s place in the universe. The Powers That Be trilogy delves into historical events in tandem with a vision of our shared future that I hope resonates with those who dare to ask, what if…
I graced this page with a quote from Michael Crichton because it summarizes my personal worldview in a concise sentence. Brilliantly, I might add. Further, I have read and reread every one of his novels, with his masterpiece, Jurassic Park, occupying a special place on my bookshelf. While he was a prolific novelist whose life was cut way too short, he was a true renaissance man who excelled in various fields and disciplines. I feel a certain kinship, given that my interests and endeavors span beyond writing to include design, illustration, and of course, cartooning. Whether I ever reach the pinnacles of success occupied by greats such as Crichton, only time will tell. In the meantime, I plan to continue writing, drawing, and enjoying the ride. Of that, I am quite certain.
Cheers,