Most people at 78 are content with retirement hobbies. Jean Hoover is publishing her eleventh book while simultaneously building a business to help other writers navigate the industry that once frustrated her.
Hoover Ferranno Publishing started as a solution to a problem. After working until age 70, Hoover retired to focus on writing, but quickly grew tired of the traditional submission process. She enrolled in a publishing course and launched her own imprint. Now, with six romance novels under her pen name Jennifer Ferranno and four non-fiction titles under her legal name, she’s preparing to open the doors to emerging authors looking for guidance.
Two Names, Two Genres, One Prolific Writer
Hoover’s dual identity as an author reflects her range. Her romance novels feature what she calls “strong characters without the usual drama” — no jumping to conclusions, no manufactured chaos. Just love stories built on mutual respect. Her most recent fiction release, “Harlow’s Castle,” follows a musician and a legal researcher navigating romance.
On the non-fiction side, her work dives deep into subjects that matter to her community. “Jacksonville Unplugged,” a comprehensive travel guide to Jacksonville, Florida, breaks down the city into practical chapters covering neighborhoods, churches, hospitals, shopping, and even scenic drives for residents who just want to explore. The book serves visitors, newcomers, and longtime residents alike.
She’s already working on two more books simultaneously — her seventh novel, “Teddy,” and a recipe book, presently titled “Cooking Guide for Normal People”, a no-nonsense book for busy people who don’t shop at high-end specialty shops for weird-sounding spices.
Breaking the Rules, Building a Business
Hoover doesn’t follow genre conventions or standard formats. “I write because I cannot ‘not’ write,” she explains. That independent streak extends to her business model. Her catalog includes a book on Emotional Intelligence, one about cats, and a collection of her father’s poetry — subjects chosen by passion rather than market trends.
Her work has earned local recognition, including a feature in Jacksonville’s “Folio Weekly” magazine. Now she’s looking ahead to expansion: more visibility as an author, possibly adding public speaking to her repertoire, and offering affordable consulting services to writers just starting out.
The publishing industry has never been easy to break into, especially for authors who don’t fit neatly into established categories. Hoover’s approach — taking control of the publishing process while maintaining creative freedom — offers a blueprint for writers who find themselves in a similar situation. Her plan to mentor new authors at affordable rates suggests she remembers what it was like to navigate those obstacles alone.
For readers seeking well-researched non-fiction books or romances that skip the melodrama, Hoover’s growing catalog offers both. For writers looking to learn from someone who figured it out the hard way, her future consulting services might provide the shortcut she never had.
