Who am I

My name is John Halvorsen, a Scottish author/illustrator based in Perth, Scotland. I grew up in the city of Dundee, North east Scotland, I married my lovely wife Mags in 1983. Glad to report that we're still best friends. We have one son Roden who is married. 

I have loved art since I was a young child and if not drawing, I could be found pouring over books that displayed wonderful works of art, usually by wildlife artists. Art, it could be said has been the silent companion throughout my life.

It was 1991, that things changed. I became very ill through an illness which we now know was Lyme Disease. It all started with a tick bite and the classic bulls eye bruise on my side. Eventually this led to a career change and art college where in 1998 I completed an honours degree as an illustrator at the prestigious Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee.

After graduation in 1998 I began running art classes, some lecturing and pursuing a career as a freelance illustrator. Something I was blissfully happy with and something I assumed I'd be doing for the rest of my adult working life.

However, God took me in another completely different direction and in 1999  I began working for the local authority with broken people for the next 15 years. This was also the year we began fostering babies and young children for the same local authority for the next 20 years. 9 of those years working with the homeless, drug addicts and alcoholics. Then for six years with older adults. I took early retirement from my role with the local authority in 2014, continuing as foster carers until 2019 All of my adult working life has in some way or other involved working with people.

In 2014 after taking early retirement I decided to write and illustrate my first two books, "The Big Brown Lazy Dog" and "Run Dog Run," and for two years I had great success being warmly received locally and throughout this part of Scotland. My books went off to different countries and I had 14 book signings, plus a number of local newspaper and radio interviews. However I decided to step away from illustration and book promotion due to family and fostering needs. As a husband and father I was needed elsewhere.

It was 2019 that after 20 years, we retired from fostering, a lifestyle rather than a career, that has seen us care for and love 90 children.

26th of March 2020, I became ill with covid 19. This unfortunately activated the Lyme Disease virus which had lain Dormant in my system for 30 years. It was over five years before I even picked up a pencil to draw with. I did however begin drawing "The Secret Life of Bears" Springtime 2025.

Are things the same as before. No! My health isn't good. I take much longer to finish artwork and both physical and mental fatigue as well as nerve pain often force me to stop and rest. I have good days and not so good days. I can't walk far and I take my stick with me if I'm out. There's so much that has been life altering. But! If there's one thing I have learned it's resilience. Don't give up, no matter what, keep going, follow your dream. Trust in God, He is faithful and true. He never promised us an easy life, but He did promise to never leave or forsake us.

*At this time, I have retired from all paid work. I am no longer self-employed and I have no plans to go down that road again. However given that I can earn a certain amount each tax year with what is now a hobby. I intend to do that. Aside from recouping my printing costs from the Secret Life of BEARS, all amount of income from this book is donated to the local church we have attended for the last three years.