Although born in NZ, just five months after Hitler liberated Luxembourg in May 1940, John Irvine lived in Australia for 28 years, three months, fourteen days and approximately fifty-seven minutes, drifting about like a hungry Cryptococcus spore on an unreliable breeze. He is now Poet Laureate for Life in the tiny village of Colville, on the northern Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand. There, on each waning moon, he lets his dark side out to play with the sheep. He has had several collections of poetry published by non-discerning editors, including himself, and in spite of past financial losses, and against all sensible advice, he did it again in 2011 with a collection of dubious stuff euphemistically called 'speculative.' What might save the thing are the utterly splendid illustrations supplied at no cost by empathic and desperate, internationally acclaimed artists suffering similar ongoing delusions... **Books published:Personal collections:Man of Stone (poetry 2005) Illustrated.Rat atouille for the rindless (poetry 2007) Illustrated.Dare to Fly (joint collection of poetry with American Lori-Anne Grim 2008)Dandelions to Razorblades (joint poetry collection with American teenager Emily Cooper)Blood Curry (speculative/horror fiction and poetry, illustrated. Launched in April 2011 at WHC)Collected haibun from John and Maureen Irvine, out in May in 2012. Illustrated.Anthologies:Anomalous Appetites (speculative poetry, illustrated)Dragon Writers anthologies 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011Razar (horror fiction 2006) 15 stories.NZ Poetry Society anthologies 2006, 2007, 2010Illuminations (2006)Spectrum Collection December 2010In Darkness we Play Triskaideka Books December 2010I Believe in Werewolves July 2011Bleed and they will come 2011Blood Curry 2011Travel:Survival Books guide to NZ (2008)Spiritual:Illuminations (along with Desmond Tutu and other notables)www.cooldragon.co.nz