John Newton wrote his two novels whilst living in Spain between 1989 and 1991. He had worked in advertising and published short stories in Australian Short Stories, Northern Perspective, POL and Billy Blue Magazine. Returning to Sydney, he became a food journalist, writing for the 'Good Living" section of Sydney Morning Herald, the 'Epicure' section of The Age, and Australian Gourmet Traveller, he won Best Food Journalist Golden Ladle at the 2005 World Food Media Awards, and many awards at the 2003, 2004 and 2006 Vittoria Australia Food Media Awards. He has also written books on food such as Cooking Spanish (2005), co-authored with chef Stefano Manfredi Fresh From Italy (1993), Bel Mondo (2000), and with Helen Greenwood the various food guides to Sydney since 1999. An activist for food education at all levels, and a speaker at food and writers festivals and on radio, he has taught food writing at the University of Technology Sydney, and contributed to web sites devoted to food.
