John Dougherty has been writing children’s books for over twenty years. His work ranges from the sublime to the ridiculous, including the surreal Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face series, and the hilariously zany There’s a Pig Up My Nose. His beautiful, poignant picture book The Hare-Shaped Hole has won multiple awards.
John was born in Larne, Northern Ireland. He studied psychology at university and then tried his hand at a number of jobs including YMCA hostel worker, factory machine operator, and unsuccessful singer-songwriter, before becoming a primary school teacher. John is a passionate advocate for both public libraries and the importance of reading for pleasure. He was one of the first Patrons of Reading in the UK.