John’s writing includes children’s fiction for many different publishers and over 40 radio plays for the BBC. His fiction ranges from picturebooks, to fast-moving narratives for 7-10 year olds, to educational books for struggling readers.

John went out to work at 16 selling fruit and vegetables in a market and emptying pennies out of ladies’ loos. After teaching drama in a mining community he became a lecturer at the University of Portsmouth. There he created degree pathways for adult learners before becoming a fulltime writer in 2000. When he’s not writing, John loves to walk and cycle on the Isle of Wight with his wife Linda.

WHAT THE CRITICS SAY

‘This is an absolutely gripping story.’

‘It could serve as an excellent model for student’s own writing.’

‘The highest recommendation.’

SELECTED TITLES OF PUBLISHED BOOKS

Novels for Children

• Nice One Sam - OUP (2002)
• Full Throttle - Coach House (2001)

Adaptation

• Peter Pan
  Hodder Children’s Books/WH Smith (2001)

Picture Book

• An Arkful of Animal Stories
  Lion Hudson (2006)

Educational Books for Struggling Readers

• Water Eyes - Hodder Livewire (2006)
• Rock Stars - Hodder Livewire (2006)
• Lost - Hodder Livewire (2005)
• On The Rock Face - Hodder Livewire (2005)
• Midnight - Hodder Livewire (2005)
• White Water Rafting - Hodder Livewire (2005)
• Tariq’s Challenge - Hodder Livewire (2005)
• Shop Til You Drop - Hodder Livewire (2003)
• SK8 - Hodder Livewire (2003)
• Place Your Bets - Hodder Livewire (2001)
• Selling Out - Hodder Livewire (2001)

Books for Teachers

• Using Drama to Support Literacy
  Sage (2006)
  
  
• 1OO Ideas for Drama
  Collins (2000 )- Co writer
  
  
• Solo 1 ,2 and 3 , Monologues for Drama Hodder (1985- 2003) Co writer

Short Stories

• Charlotte’s Wanderers – in Seize The Fire- Longman (2000)
  
  
• Gary Lineker’s Favourite Football Stories Macmillan (1997)

TO BE PUBLISHED

• Five Minute Christmas Stories
  Lion Hudson (2007)
  
• Nicholas Nickleby (Adaptation) – (2007)

SELECTED RECENT BBC RADIO PLAYS

• Snooge's Christmas Presents
  Adaptation
  BBC Education (2002)
  
  
• The Fairy Flag
  Repeats of Adaptations
  BBC Education (2002)
  
  
• Green Children
  
  
• Musicians Of Bremen
  
  
• Ad For A Dad
  Original Drama
  BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play (1998)
  
  
• Have Your Say
  10 x 10 minute Original Dramas (2000)

REVIEWS

An Arkful of Animal Stories

“John Goodwin has a clever knack of injecting both humour and pathos into his work.

The best line appears in the rattlesnake’s story when the reptile finds himself ‘squashed between the bison’s bottom and an ape’s armpit’ – a mental image brought to lie by Tina Macnaughton’s truly magical and colourful illustrations.

The book will appeal to children aged three to six. My four-year-old was keen to hear what role each animal had on board the ark and turned this into a guessing game at the beginning of each chapter.

…This book deserves to be on every child’s bookshelf”

Review by Julie Bayley
Taken From http://www.adoption-net.co.uk/

‘The book asks to be opened and read, whether by children on their own or by an adult reading to a group of interested listeners. Put this book on your shopping list; you will not be disappointed’
Rudolf Loewenstein OP, School Librarian