Scotch Literature Festival 2007 > John
John Larkin
Writer and comedian John Larkin is the much-loved author of many books for adults, young adults and children including Pizza Features, Spaghetti Legs, Lasagne Brain, Nostradamus and Instant Noodles, the Western Wildcats series, his hernia-inducing memoir of childhood The Pacifist's Guide to Self-Flagellation among others.
Aside from his writing, John is one of the most sought-after motivational speakers for children and young adults in the country with his stand-up comedy show about the creative process called "I've Been Eating Paste".
When he isn't touring, John lives in Sydney with his wife and three children, plus a dog, two rabbits, six fish, four tadpoles, a dead possum, and a stick-insect called Sally.
Why urinating on high voltage powerlines is a really, REALLY bad idea, and other reasons why I write
(Year 9 keynote)
Since being beaten up by a slightly deranged aunty as a child, John Larkin has retreated into a rich interior world populated by bungee jumping possums, kids who eat paste, cut-throat Easter hat parade competitions, mothers who hold smacking competitions, psychotic cane-wielding science teachers, students who are late for school because they've spent the morning hurling toilet rolls over high voltage powerlines, and cats that have taken religious orders.
Join us on a surreal journey through John's slightly offbeat mind which will culminate in a discussion on why it's imperative, in the event of your plane suddenly plummeting into Mouth Fuji, that you keep your plastic whistle and pillow handy, and why it's an outstandingly bad idea for your little brother to try and ride his tricycle down the Hill of Death with a friend, a packed lunch, and no brakes.
Unlocking the literary genius with
(Year 9 workshop)
Astound your friends, amaze your teachers, surprise your parents, impress the chicks by becoming a literary genius in only ten (yes ten!) sentences. Trust yourself, take risks, and come on a creative journey. You'll never know what's inside you until you put on a miner's helmet and go digging.