Biography of jon hassler

Jon Hassler / Biographical Information

Born in Minnesota on March 30, 1933.

Lived in Staples and Plainview -- both small towns.

Raised strictly in the Catholic Church, but is less devout now.

Received a B.A. degree from St. John’s University in 1955 (22 years old).

Taught for 10 years as a high school English teacher in Melrose, Fosston, and Park Rapids.

Accepted a college teaching position at Bemidji State University in 1965 (32 years old).

Moved to Brainerd Community College in 1968 (35 years old) because writing novels was more important to him than obtaining a Ph.D.

Began to write seriously at age 37.

Biography of jon hassler and hard

Began with the short story genre. Published 6 stories in his first 3 years and got 85 rejection slips. During this time he was teaching himself to write. He later switched to the novel because he liked the “larger canvas” -- relying on character to drive and develop plot.

Received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1980 (47 years old) and spent the year at St.

John’s University