Auckland · John & Melissa King

John and Melissa King, a selfie on a green hillside in the rain

“I’m a writer. My wife a painter.”

John and Melissa on Finally Friday, 18 Sep 2026

John writes

Every train that crashes was once on the right track. But cracks form, alignment shifts, speed increases, and before long, a small compromise turns into a full-blown wreck.
Dr. John A. King

Read John’s stories →

Melissa paints

Folk art. Place. Story. Bright work. Wonder. Joy.

See her paintings ↓

His words. Her paintings.

Swipe sideways.

Mayapple: a girl in a blue dress beneath giant green leaves. Painting by Melissa King. — **Mayapple**Acrylic on board · 24 × 24 inHow do we engage with the wisdom of the ancestors? A Cherokee girl considers this beneath a giant canopy of mayapple leaves.See it on Melissa’s site ↗

If you need an analogy, think of this book as duct tape for the soul.
From #dealwithitGet #dealwithit ↗

Be Where You Are: a girl on a city street under a blue sky. Painting by Melissa King. — **Be Where You Are**Acrylic on board · 24 × 24 inWhen you can’t be on country, be fully present where you are—the crows came with you and are watching over you.See it on Melissa’s site ↗

We don’t derail because we’re dumb. We derail because we ignore the signs.
From DerailedJohn’s books on his site ↗

Sochan: a girl among big white flowers on orange. Painting by Melissa King. — **Sochan**Acrylic on board · 48 × 48 inWisdom of the ancients can be found in a field of flower medicine, if we slow down long enough to listen.See it on Melissa’s site ↗

If my writing or my story sounds like I am running downhill as fast as I can, it’s because I am. This is my round; it could be my last round, and I don’t want to leave anything in the ring.
From #dealwithitGet #dealwithit ↗

Disdainful Crow: a dark crow on a branch among green leaves. Painting by Melissa King. — **Disdainful Crow**Acrylic on canvas · 18 × 14 inWhat does he see? Did he come with a message, or just a watchful eye?See it on Melissa’s site ↗

Every train that crashes was once on the right track. But cracks form, alignment shifts, speed increases, and before long, a small compromise turns into a full-blown wreck.
From DerailedJohn’s books on his site ↗