Jonathan Maberry

Jonathan Maberry is a professional writer and writing teacher; since 1979 he’s sold more than 900 articles, sixteen nonfiction books, three novels, as well as numerous short stories, poetry, song lyrics, video scripts, and two plays.

 

After nearly thirty years as a nonfiction writer, Jonathan’s first novel, Ghost Road Blues (Pinnacle Books, $6.99) was release in June 2006.  This bestselling thriller kicks off a trilogy of supernatural suspense stories set in rural Pennsylvania.  Publishers Weekly said: “This is horror on a grand scale...reminiscent of Stephen King’s heftier works.”  And the book has been praised by the top mystery, thriller, and horror writers in the business, including Tess Gerritsen, John Lutz, Stuart Kaminsky, Jeremiah Healy, Steve Hamilton, Ken Bruen, J. A. Konrath, Jack Fisher, Michael Laimo, Simon Clark, Tim Waggoner, Gary A. Braunbeck, Kealan Patrick Burke, Nate Kenyon, David Wellington, Katherine Ramsland, Scott Nicholson and dozens of others.  The second book in the series, Dead Man’s Song, is set for release at the end of June 2006; and the series will conclude with Bad Moon Rising (2008). 


Jonathan’s writing career has always been diverse, and he has published articles on martial arts, safety awareness, parenting, cooking, bartending, relationships, crafts, business, humor, film, entertainment, pets, and more. Early in his career his books dealt primarily with martial arts, but in 2003 he took a left turn and began writing about supernatural folklore. His highly successful Vampire Slayers Field Guide to the Undead (written under his former pen name of Shane MacDougall) became a breakout hit and since then Jonathan has been a guest lecturer at colleges, museums, conventions and elsewhere, discussing the things that go bump in the night, a subject he is exploring now in much greater depth with his 4-volume series for Citadel Books that kicks off with Vampire Universe: Creatures of Darkness that Hunt Us, Haunt Us and Hunger For Us (due September 2006).

Jonathan is the Executive Director of The Career Doctor for Writers, which provides workshops, classes and editorial services for writers of all genres. Jonathan is also a Board Member of the Philadelphia Writers Conference, a writing mentor for the HWA (Horror Writers Association), and a member of the National Writers Union. He is a writing teacher and conducts writing workshops for both fiction and nonfiction.

Jonathan is a frequent speaker at writers’ conferences, where his most common lecture topic is on how to break into the writing business.

Jonathan is also the founder and co-Executive Editor of The Wild River Review, an online literary magazine.

MARTIAL ARTS AND SELF-DEFENSE

Apart from his writing career, Jonathan is also a martial arts master and holds an 8th degree black belt in Jujutsu, and 5th degree black belts in Kenjutsu (Japanese swordsmanship) and Hapkido. He has been active in martial arts since 1968, and taught Martial Arts History and related classes at Temple University for 14 years.

At Temple, and throughout the region, Jonathan taught award-winning programs in Women’s Self Defense, and is the author of several books and workshop packets on the subject.

 

In 1993 Jonathan and his students were featured in the documentary Fighting Jujutsu, which later became the basis for his book, Ultimate Jujutsu Principles and Practices. Jonathan also worked for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office as an Expert Witness for murder cases involving martial arts. He’s also a former bodyguard and worked in that capacity in the entertainment industry for four years in the early 1980s.

More recently Jonathan taught classes and workshops in traditional Japanese swordplay (Kenjutsu).

 

In the middle-to late 1970s Jonathan twice took the Heavyweight Title for full-contact kickboxing, earning a record of 102 wins, 2 losses and 2 ties; with 68 knockouts.

 

Also in the ‘80s he developed two award-winning self-defense programs for the physically challenged: At Close Range (for the visually impaired) and Steel Wheels (for the “wheelchair warrior”).

 

He is President and Chief Instructor of COP-Safe (www.copsafe.com), a company that conducts safety, defense, and risk management workshops for law enforcement officers.

Jonathan and his wife, Sara, at his induction to the Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

In 2003 Jonathan was inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame for his years of service to the martial arts and his many publications on martial arts related subjects, including Ultimate Jujutsu Principles and Practices and Ultimate Sparring Principles and Practices.