Who the heck is John Boston?
John Boston lives in Santa Clarita, California with his 86-year-old father, Walt, and 6-year-old daughter, Indiana, on Scared O' Bears Ranch. In June, 2009, he was named Best Humor Columnist in North America by The National Society of Newspaper Columnists. It's the second time he's received the award. The 59-year-old satirist was recently presented with the Will Rogers Humanitarian Achievement Award in Oklahoma City. He has earned 118 major national, regional and state awards for journalism excellence from a variety of organizations, from Scripps Howard to Associated Press. In the same year, the National Newspaper Association gave him top awards -- separately -- as Best Humor Columnist and Best Serious Columnist. He has won both awards several times before. Will Fleet, past president of the California Newspaper Association, said of Boston: “Of all the writers I have known in my 30 years in the newspaper business, John Boston is the best. By far.” Kyra Phillips, news anchor for CNN, said of his work: “All pigs can finally land, the truth will now be everywhere. John Boston is finally going to educate America. His wit, insight and philosophy on life will undoubtedly make you think, laugh, and at times, encourage you to slash his tires. He's simply wonderful.” Chuck Shepherd of “News of the Weird” once wrote: “I only know one thing, which I pass on to anyone interested: Boston is funnier than David Letterman and twice as funny as Dave Barry.” From San Francisco's Scott Ostler to George Will, writers and editors have praised Boston's work. “John Boston skewers pomposity and tells it true. He's a relief from the overly developed id abroad today that is causing us so many troubles. Funny, yet moving, humane, but sassy, Boston turns you toward a path of seeing what's truly important in life. He is a talented voice of sanity,” wrote Anna Karavangelos, Associate Editor for The Washington Post Writers Group. Boston enjoys horseback riding, fencing (the sword kind, not so much the repair in the cold yucky mud kind), weight lifting, travel, having his paper work all in order, carpentry and, mostly, playing with his daughter. They are currently perfecting a living room impromptu theatre version of “7 Brides for 7 Brothers,” but with dwarfs and pirates. Sometimes, he leads out the Santa Enchirito 4th of July parade. Sometimes, he doesn't. In 2008, he was the Grand Marshal. He is one of America's most prolific writers. In 2009, Arcadia Publishing came out with his "Images of America, the Santa Clarita Valley." Since starting as a professional stringer at the age of 14, The California writer has penned more than 5,000 columns and many more stories. After publishing seven columns averaging 1,000 words per, a week for his hometown newspaper, a small daily, The Signal, in Santa Clarita, California, he was forced to resign when new management took over the paper. He is author of the novel, “Naked Came the Sasquatch” which currently has a 5-star rating on Amazon.com. He is currently finishing the last edit of “The Halcyon Times & Rural Avenger,” a four-generational epic about serial killers, practical joking journalists, eco-terrorists, developers and the construction of the world's largest planned community from a national park. Boston is a former NBC news director, movie star manager, ranch hand, house painter and is the valley historian. He has taught a local history column at the local college for the past 14 years. On April Fool's Day 2007, he launched his web site, The Boston Report, which will offer three fresh and free essays. The site will also offer eventually more than 100 BWB's -- Boston Web Books -- plus additional novels and other writing projects. He is 6-2, 235 pounds, has two stalkers on an irregular schedule. .
