JEFF VANOUDENHOVE works as a Project Engineer for a protective packaging company. He is a 5th-degree black belt in Chung Do Kwan-Tae Kwon Do, which he has been training in since 1983.In 1987, as a brown belt in Chung Do Kwan-Tae Kwon Do, he competed in the Grand National Championships at Madison Square Garden where he placed 3rd and 4th in two different divisions. In 1989, he achieved the rank of 1st-degree black belt and began competing more frequently in tournaments in New York and New Jersey where he would often take 1st place in empty-hand and weapons divisions.In 1991, after being promoted to 2nd Degree black belt, and only a few months after graduating high school, Jeff decided to try his hand at entrepreneurship. When he was younger, he dreamed of being a comic book writer, but with no idea how to fulfill that dream, he did the next best thing. He and two friends opened and operated a comic book and sports card store in Easthampton, Massachusetts. While managing The Comic Spot, he also worked at two other part-time jobs while continuing to teach martial arts seven days a week. Although The Comic Spot only remained open for a year and a half, it became a local, friendly establishment where many children and young adults spent time perusing comic books or trading sports cards with their friends, a memory he will always cherish.Jeff was promoted to 3rd-degree black belt in 1994 and then 4th-degree in 1998. That same year, he competed in his last tournament.In 2001, Jeff was invited to the U.S. Olympic Tae Kwon Do tryouts for a chance to compete in the 2004 Summer Olympics, but he felt his competing days were behind him, so he never made the trip.In 2023, 25 years after his last belt test, Jeff was promoted to 5th-degree black belt - a rank of Master in Chung Do Kwan.Today, Jeff still teaches martial arts to local community members in Easthampton, Massachusetts, and teaches an afterschool program for elementary school children. He does manage to set aside free time for some creative writing.Though he never became a comic book writer, Jeff has written nine books in the genre of dark fiction, including the Dark Series and the psychological suspense thrillers, The Alphabet Killer, Just Listen, and The Letter Man. His talent for storytelling combines unforgettable characters and dire situations, mixed with astonishing plot twists. He is currently working on his tenth book, Emma.He resides in Western Massachusetts with his wife, Elena.Read more about this authorRead less about this author