John Findley

Growing up in Melbourne Australia, John Findley led an unusually hard life. As a result of his mother’s death, he lived with his grandparents during his school years. Later, struggling to make ends meet, he worked two jobs. His writing journey — which started with his memoir, Recollections of My Life — reflects the harsh circumstances he encountered, circumstances that called for his resourcefulness and resilience. His stories, inspired by the adventures he experienced, show his persistent memory of the past and his enthusiastic commitment to the art of writing. His body of work includes The Maintenance Man, Is It Over, Tomorrow is Another Day, Our Trip Around Australia, The Politician, and Winning the Lottery. Taken together, these books illustrate the joy he finds in using his imagination.

When John was nine years old, his father remarried. John and his sister lost touch with him — until she wished to get his permission to marry. She tracked him down, and they met his new family and regained more brothers and sisters.

Upon leaving school, John started his career at a government bank. Over the course of more than thirty years, he progressed from clerk to manager — but realized that a single paycheck would not suffice to support himself. So, he undertook part-time work as a Milkman, a Cleaner, and a Taxi Driver over different years, in the after hours.

John’s first wife — with whom he enjoyed caravan holidays and travelled around Australia — abandoned him and left their three children behind. Even in her absence, he continued the tradition of caravan holidays with his children. He learned to iron shirts, prepare meals, and take care of the family. Then, a new love came into his life, bringing three children of her own. They married and set about combining two households.

At this point, John started sharing his short stories with a group of like-minded writers. Reliving anecdotes from the past and recording them on paper became an irresistible creative drive.

When the bank announced layoffs, John relied on his second job — running his taxis and managing other people's taxis — to survive. This job gave the family a good living for a few more years, until his eventual retirement. Now, John finds that his journey is only beginning. He will continue writing, as he has stories to tell and work to do.