John's brilliant book, The Art of the Idea (and how it can change your life), published by powerHouse Books, is now available.

And can be sampled at www.theartoftheidea.com

We're very honoured that John will be in NZ in March to help judge the 30th Axis award show.

Here's me some time in the early 1980's. Reagan was President and I
apparently had new binoculars.  Looking at how perfectly straight I framed
up the logo on the basketball for this picture, it¹s strange that I became a
writer and not an art director. Also strange that I wore a patch of my own
name on the leg of my jeans‹probably the least creative choice one could
make when shopping for a patch. Surely there must be a reason. I¹ll ask my
mom if I ever forgot who I was.

“Standing by the Music Center ® that my mum bought after my parents split up and my dad had left with his blue vinyl ELO album and his proper Hi-Fi separates. I’m gently flipping the switch from cassette to phono, getting ready to listen to Iron Maiden’s latest scorcher; “Run to the Hills”. Around this time my mum changed our house into a B&B. This was the best part. The bar. Port, Midori, Teachers Whiskey, Curacao, Grandma’s slightly cloudy parsnip wine, a never ending supply. Each one tastier than the next and all of them washed down with the Nectar of the Gods: Harvey’s Bristol Cream. That’s a medium sweet sherry, if you’ve never had it. I’m brown. This must have been the summer holidays. Probably the Summer before Quaker boarding school."

video to follow

In Justin's words: "In 1980 typewriters were an indispensable tool for communication and a sweet idea for novelty birthday cakes. They’ve since been superseded by computers and email, but novelty birthday cakes are irreplaceable."