John McKenna

John moved to beautiful South Devon from his native Scotland over twenty years ago, to be near his family.

He spent many years in the Royal Navy as a Paramedic - followed by a career in Health and Social Care and the Voluntary Sector.

John has enjoyed writing short stories, plays and poetry since he was a child. He has had short stories and poems published in the South Hams Authors Network Anthologies 'Grasping the Nettle,' and 'Tales from Longtimber' and in 2024 he worked with another two Devon - based writers, Tony Rea and Anne Thomson, to publish an Anthology of short stories and flash fiction, set mainly in the West Country, entitled 'Eclipse.'

John published a collection of his poems and stories in March 2026 - entitled 'Thanks for the Dance: from Denny to Devon,' available now on Amazon and in the local bookshop in his home town of Ivybridge, Devon.

When he's not writing, John loves walking on nearby Dartmoor and the scenic Devon coastlne - and spending time with his family.

He set his novel Return to Xanthos on the fictional and idyllic Greek island of Xanthos. John has an enduring love for the Greek Islands and the sense of timelessness and spirit of place - and of course the people.

Return to Xanthos is his debut novel.