John G. MacKenzie

I've had a pencil in my hand for as long as I can remember. My mother told me that when I was little, there was a commercial artist living in the downstairs apartment who would sit me on his knee and teach me how to draw stick people.

In High School I was shy and introverted but I was lucky enough to cross paths with a young English Teacher named Brian Van Norman who asked me if I would be interested in joining the Drama Club. This was the best thing that ever could have happened to me.

I went to the University of Waterloo for one year and studied acting. I then decided that I was more interested in writing and directing and I went to Humber College for Film and Television Production. I graduated with honors.

It was at this point in my life that I decided to return to my first love. I became a portrait artist, but the story ideas kept on coming and eventually it occurred to me that I should combine both of my talents and write a children’s book.

I'm very pleased to announce that the November 2023 issue of the online book review magazine "Wisconsin Bookwatch" is featuring a review of "Nikkolas: The Story of Santa Claus".

Here is the review:

Wisconsin Bookwatch: November 2023

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief

Midwest Book Review

The Christmas Shelf

Synopsis: "Nikkolas: The Story of Santa Claus" is illustrated with 33 pieces of original art by author John G. MacKenzie and is a fictional biography about the life of Santa Claus from birth until death. Given up by his father because his mother died in childbirth, Nikkolas grew up with a different family every year until he was fifteen years old and lived with a carpenter and his wife. There Nikkolas learned the carpentry trade.

Nikkolas and his wife could not have children, so he made wooden toys for everyone else's children and delivered them on Christmas Eve.

Critique: A beautifully presented, impressively original, fully engaging, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' fictional biography, "Nikkolas: The Story of Santa Claus" by author/illustrator John G. MacKenzie is an ideal and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, family, and community library Christmas Book collections for readers of all ages.

Editorial Note: As a child, John G. MacKenzie learned how to draw from a commercial artist who lived in the downstairs apartment from his who would sit John on his knee and teach him how to draw stick people. John went to the University of Waterloo for one year and studied acting, then decided that ge was more interested in writing and directing and I went to Humber College for Film and Television Production where he graduated with honors. He became a portrait artist. "Nikkolas: The Story of Santa Claus" combines Johns talents as a storyteller and an artist to in writing an original Christmas book for children.