About the Author

Jon Hiroshi Shirota. Born and raised on Maui, Hawaii. After two years in the U.S. Army graduated from Brigham Young University, in Utah. Worked as an Internal Revenue Agent for seven years before joining the Handy Writers Colony in Southern Illinois where he finished his first novel, Lucky Come Hawaii. Jon Shirota was born on Maui, Hawaii. After serving two years in the U.S. Army, he graduated from Brigham Young University and became an Internal Revenue Agent. He quit his job when he was invited to the Handy Writers Colony in Marshall, Illinois (From Here To Eternity fame) where he finished his first novel Lucky Come Hawaii. Jon is the recipient of several awards: The John F. Kennedy Center Award; The Rockefeller Center Award; The American College Theater Festival for New Plays; The Best Stage Scenes of 1992 by Smith and Kraus Books; and a grant by the Japan/USA Friendship Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts to spend six months in Okinawa doing research of its immigrants to the United States.

Reviews

"Jon Shirota, a skilled and compassionate writer, has recreated the spirit of iconic journalist, Ernie Pyle, in Chronicles of Ojii-Chan. Shirota has recaptured Pyle's long career as an evocative writer and will engage new sets of readers." --George Henrick, writer, author, critique and professor of English literature, Emeritus, University of Illinois. "Jon Shirota's novels have always been compelling readings. This story of Ernie Pyle's death on Tiny Ie Jima island has more than a ring of truth to it." --Ray Elliott, is a marine veteran, and former president of James Jones Literary Society and author of Iwo Blasted Again and With The Silent Knowledge. "From my office window in Nago, I can see Tiny Ie Jima where most of Jon Shirota's story, Chronicles of Ojii-Chan about the death of Ernie Pyle takes place. It is an intriguing and suspenseful account of how America's leading WWII correspondent had died." --Katsunori Yamazato, writer, professor of American literature and president of Meio university. "Jon Shirota's Chronicles of Ojii-Chan is a skillfully plotted novel, his best to date, telling a compelling story that also pays tribute to Ernie Pyle." --Ed Sakamoto, journalist, playwright, recipient of three pookeia awards, Hawaii's most prestigious awards for excellence in writing. "It was a pleasure and an honor to translate portions of Jon Shirota's warm and suspenseful novel Chronicles of Ojii-Chan. --Marie Yamazato, adjunct professor of English, university of the Ryukyus, and a former aide of Masahide Ota, the venerable governor of Okinawa.