ABOUT JEFF HESS…
Name me seeker and spiritual warrior. I am a wayfarer on a path to find shalom, completeness. Truth. The Writer’s Way guides me. Five principles developed on my walkabout define the Way for me. In brief they are: write; suck marrow, trample barley, practice courageous impatience and publish. This journey started in my early teens when I first wrestled with an emptiness of spirit; and continues today after nearly thirty-five years. All along the Way I have written to form my thoughts and understand my experience.
My public writing was sporadic through my teens and twenties. My private writing, however was rich with journal entries, short stories and adventure tales I told myself while falling asleep at night. As a senior in high school I turned away from my Christian roots and began to explore Eastern Philosophies. I also began meditating regularly, beginning with the very simple practice of twice-a-day sitting using Transcendental Meditation. My meditation practices have shifted over the years, but it’s the one spiritual practice that I’ve maintained.
After high school I briefly attended Colorado State University as a Forestry Major – riding the crest of the First Earth Day wave. I quickly went broke after two quarters and enlisted in the Navy for the adventure. I saw and did things in Asia, the Middle East and Africa that I could never have dreamed of growing up along the river in rural Southeastern Ohio. While in the Navy I took the standard Writer’s Digest School correspondence course in short story writing thinking I would break into the Science Fiction and Fantasy pulps. That hasn’t happened yet but I learned the basics in that course from among others, Barry N. Malzberg, who went on to become editor of “Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine.”
Out of the Navy in December 1979 – after playing a minor role in Gulf War, Part I – I planned a return to college but was unsure of what path to take. I was torn between History and Journalism. Creative Writing wasn’t even a consideration. While staying with a Navy buddy in Syracuse, New York, I paid a friend of his mother-in-law to do an I Ching reading. The toss of the coins said Journalism was the way to go and I enrolled in the Fall of 1980 in the Magazine Journalism program at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. While I was focused on magazine writing, I did squeeze in one fiction course where I spent a wonderful Spring quarter with a group of writers under the guidance of Daniel Keyes, author of Flowers For Algernon. In my Junior year I sold my first piece to a computer magazine for $250 and was on my way.
Spiritually, I settled down in 1984 and formally converted to Judaism. It was Judaism’s clear sense of purpose of why we exist – to help God in the healing of the Universe – that attracted me the most. As I’ve studied since I’ve come to think of myself as a post-denominational Jew. When asked about what kind of Jew I am I reply that “I’m simply Jewish.” In the mid-’90s Jewish mysticism and the Kabala first called to me. The majority of my seeking is now along this path and I’ve integrated Jewish meditation practices older than Asian traditions into my life.
Professionally, a dozen years of writing and editing magazines followed my graduation from college. I worked as an editor for Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, executive editor for GIE Publishing and as a senior editor for Crain Communications. I also wrote as a freelancer for a wide range of publications. But in the spring of 1996, I had had enough, shifted gears again and returned to fiction.
By the end of 1996 I finished Cold Silence, a psychological thriller, and began a second thriller with the working title of Zechariah. That book and two others that followed it were stillborn after a hundred pages or so and Cold Silence remains unsold but is presently under consideration at Penguin Putnam. In 2000 my wife of thirteen years and I parted ways and I began my present project: The Amalek Code. A mystical thriller, Amalek deals with God’s most horrible commandment – the commandment to commit genocide. I expect to finish this book before the summer of 2003.
In the mean time, I’m exercising the fifth principle of the Way by creating HaveCoffeeWillWrite.com to publish my own work. I also intend to extend the use of this website to select others who want to walk the Way. Yes, this is vanity press, but so were Henry David Thoreau’s Walden and Susan M. Brackney’s The Lost Soul Companion, two works I recommend for any writer. Feel free to roam, read, comment and submit. But most important of all. Write.
Photo Credit Joey Polluck, 2002
I noticed that you have a section on geneaology, but when I clicked it went to MGM Walt Disney or something. However, I have a geneaological question for you. Are you a descendent of Julian E. Hess? The reason I am asking is that I am the grandson of Marion Julian Hess, who left Ohio in the early 1900s. Marion Julian was the son of Andrew Hess of Wapokaneta, and when he left Ohio he left behind a wife named Helen and a son named Julian. He ended up in California, and started another family there, which produced my father and his four brothers. Until about 2 weeks ago I was unaware that my grandfather might have had another family — I don’t think his sons even knew about it.
So I’m curious if you might be descended from my grandfather’s first family and marriage, especially if you are descended from his first son, Julian.
Thanks.
Michael,
I am one of three sons of Julien E. Hess, His mother Helen, His father Marion, who worked for the railroad in Ohio, then disappeared. Marion’s father Andy remained in Ohio until his death.
Please contact Me at the provided e-mail address: MJHESS.USNR@GMAIL.COM
Shalom Michael,
First, thank you for stopping in, for reading and most importantly, for entering the discussion. We build our community through our conversations.
I’ve forwarded you comment to the first Michael Hess with your published email address. I hope that you both benefit from the contact.
B’shalom,
Jeff
It seems like your search for some ultimate truth has lead you to a few pitstops, from meditation to religious conversions, but I believe what you’ve been through has only been scratching at the surface (as seen by the various events happening in your life). You may want to read up on teachings of Dalai Lama, and contemplate some of the more basic questions in your life again, starting from ‘to be or not to be’. Starting from there, mediation, reflection, Dalai Lama’s sayings, you can gain some deeper insight to yourself, and where you fit into the grand scheme of things. Wish you find your path. I’ll be signing off and will probably not visit this site anymore seeing that the thinkings and writings are not very coherent where they add a significant value. Hopefully you will grow, and I may visit this site then.
Shalom Edumacated,
It’s all a journey of moments. Enjoy.
B’shalom,
Jeff
Shalom Michael,
First, thank you for stopping in, for reading and, most importantly, for taking the time to leave a comment. It’s all about the conversation.
All of the information that I have is on the website. I looked through the listing and didn’t find a Marion Julian Hess.
Having said that, I would say that it is unlikely that our lines cross since my Grandfather Carroll Dean Hess didn’t leave Fairmont, West Virginia, until World War II.
B’shalom,
Jeff
Upon doing a web search for the Intelligence Support Systems World 2007 conference, I found that you mentioned Intelligence Support Systems World in your blog. Any idea how I can find out details on the 2007 event?
Thanks!
Shalom Holly,
Thank you for stopping in, for reading and, most importantly, for taking the time to write a comment. It’s all about the conversation.
I really don’t know anything about the conference. Sorry.
B’shalom,
Jeff
Hi- I’m researching the Hess family for a DAR project and backtracked from the genealogy site to you home page. Very refreshing. I particularly like the gas pump sign!
Anyway. Am looking for source data that will link Peter Hess (1810 – 1891) with his son Richard Marion Hess. I’ve got everybody else in the line covered, but need something tangible – court records, family bible data, etc. Anything you can help with appreciated! I’m doing this (free) for a descendant of the Hess family.
Thanks!
Marti
Sidesadl@aol.com
Shalom Marti,
First, thank you for stopping in, for reading and, most importantly, for taking the time to write a comment. It’s all about the conversation.
I was fortunate to find that part of my genealogy in another family member’s wedsite. I’ll look up the contactd information for you and post it here so you can see about getting copies of the original documentation.
B’shalom,
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
Great to meet you at Marika’s the other night for a casual Meet The Blogger’s event.
“So I have added you as a link on my blog,
The Franchise King.”
{Joel says in a high Yiddish type voice, posed as a question, as opposed to a statement]
Shalom Joel,
First, thank you for stopping in, for reading and, most importantly, for taking the time to leave a comment. It’s all about the conversation.
I’m glad you were able to make it to the MeetUp. Will we see you next weekend at Bloggapoloosa?
B’shalom,
Jeff