John G. Fleming

John Fleming is a retired real estate broker. He has worked in construction, sales, marketing, printing, computer technology, and teaching. He lives in Tucson, Arizona, with his wife Margaret and is currently devoting most of his time to writing, writing workshops, and growing chilis and tomatoes in his hydroponic greenhouse. John Fleming grew up in a New York City slum called Hell’s Kitchen, hence the name of his first book. It details, in a series of vignettes, his experiences with family, neighborhood, education, religion, death, and work. The stories cover his life from early childhood to maturity. John tells it the way it really was. Against a background of poverty and violence, there was still room for humor, enjoyment, and creativity.

John left New York City in 1960 and moved to Minnesota, where he joined the Merchant Marine and sailed on the Great Lakes for several years. When the cold and humidity got to be too much for him, he relocated to Arizona. There he was able to get into a government vocational rehab program, where he hoped to train to be a plumber or an electrician, something that would provide him with a good income. But when they tested him, they told him he was college material. So he said, “Well, if you’re paying for it, I’ll go.”

After receiving his B.A. in Writing and Literature from the University of Arizona, John went on for an M. Ed. in Instructional Media. Not finding any jobs in that field, he decided to go into real estate and over the next three decades became a broker, a real estate instructor, and owner of a real estate school.

Simultaneously he operated two printing and marketing businesses, one in Tucson and one in Puerto Peņasco, Sonora, Mexico, as well as publishing a monthly tabloid newspaper in Mexico to promote the city and generate customers. With his brother, he started several small businesses in Tucson, welding, roof repair, and computer services. With his wife, he wrote and distributed a monthly newspaper to promote the real estate business, taught real estate classes in both Arizona and Sonora, designed flyers and brochures, wrote newsletters for real estate agents, and facilitated writing workshops. With another agent he started the Puerto Peņasco Association of Real Estate Agents. He set up a Multiple Listing Service for it, and functioned as its administrator for the first four years.

Along the way John indulged in several hobbies/businesses: photography, raising tropical fish, and hydroponic gardening. He lives in Tucson with his wife Margaret. They have three daughters, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. John divides his time between his current hobby/business of growing exotic chili peppers, and collaborating with Margaret on several books that continue the story of The Boy from Hell’s Kitchen