The Senior Editor of BookIdeas is John L. Hoh, Jr. John is a technical writer who in 2008 left the lucrative field of medical devices (where he wrote manuals and training materials on MRIs, x-rays, interventional cardiology (stents and grafts and angioplasty), patient monitors, and HIS/RIS systems) and entered the field of avionics with Astronautics Corporation of America in Milwaukee, WI. John has gone from “brain surgery” to “rocket science.”

Born on 27 January 1963 in Appleton, WI, John attended grammar school and church at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church & School (WELS) and high school at Fox Valley Lutheran High School in Appleton. (Two years—Kindergarten and first grade—were spent in the Daniel Huntley Public School in Appleton.) John matriculated at Northwestern College, Watertown, WI (now part of Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota) in 1981 and graduated in 1986. The following fall he matriculated at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, WI, (of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) and in 1992 at Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Seminary, Mankato, MN, (of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod). While John didn't graduate or receive his Masters' (M. Div.), he is only three credits and a paper shy of that accomplishment. (One would think if the schools won't grant a degree they'd have the decency to refund the tuition, no?)

John attends worship at Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church (WELS) on Milwaukee's eastside. John worked as a Technical Writer at Marquette Medical Systems in Milwaukee. Marquette was bought by GE Medical Systems (GEMS). After a layoff at GEMS John wrote operator manuals, service manuals, sell sheets, and instructions for use (IFUs) at Criticare Systems, Inc., which made patient monitors, anesthesia equipment, and MRI monitors. John also managed the translation efforts for operator manuals, IFUs, software, and product labels. He was labeled “Manager of Customer Documentation.” The title was loftier than the pay. After a layoff from Criticare John found himself back at GE Healthcare in a series of contract writing positions where he assisted in the creation of the Interventional Cardiology Virtual Academy for training new sales people, writing work instructions for the IT department, and service manuals for x-ray and MRI machines.

Before that John worked as a Technical Writer at Best Power in Necedah, WI and lived in Mauston, WI, and attended St. Paul's Lutheran Church (WELS), was involved with the Mighty Carlson Art Players (M.C.A.P.), the local community theater group, and wrote a weekly column in The Wisconsin Reminder entitled "Wisdom." John also wrote technical manuals for C. G. Bretting in Ashland, WI, a maker of napkin folders.

John has written numerous articles for newspapers and magazines, including a number of on-line magazines such as HOWS Magazine, ArenaFan, and Suite 101.com, in addition to his long-time duties with BookIdeas.com.

John also has written over a dozen books. Some have been graciously reviewed by BookIdeas staff. See John's website for more about his books under his CheddarBrau and HoneyMilk imprints. These books include John's love for his faith, his interest in aviation history and the Underground Railroad, and select theological topics.