John was born in the dead of winter in Northeastern Wisconsin to parents of Appalachian stock. He lived in Tennessee until the age of 13, when the family once again migrated north. He has been a creator of tall tales since he could speak, and began writing poems, songs, and stories as a teen.

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While attending UW-Madison, he studied creative writing and gender studies. Blending saccharine Southern charm with hearty Midwestern cynicism, his work explores issues of place, heritage, and injustice. John draws much of his inspiration from his family's history as farmers and mountain folk in East Tennessee, and integrates his passion for music, culture, and family into his work. Find him at one of Madison's cozy bars with anything but an IPA, or snuggled under a warm laptop with his wife and cat.