He teaches a course in politics and literature at the University of New Hampshire, and American Literature at Southern New Hampshire University. A published essayist and poet, his work has appeared in The Christian Science Monitor, Commonweal, Poet Lore, Key West Review, Accent, and numerous other publications. John has also recorded six albums of original and traditional music, accompanying himself on guitar. He is the current poet laureate of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. This is his first book. The Ballad of Louis Wagner and Other New England Stories in Verse.