He grew up in the Waikato , New Zealand . He received a BA Honours in Politics and Sociology from Victoria University of Wellington , then moved to the UK where he lived in Kings Cross , London during the 1980s . Kings Cross was a renowned red light and crime district at the time , and he worked in urban development and renewal for nine years in this impoverished inner city area while completing his first book of short stories . He returned to New Zealand in 1987 . His works of fiction are published in Australia by Heinemann Reed , in the UK by Minerva Books , and in France by Éditions Phébus . He was editor of '' AA Directions '' , from 2000 to 2005 , which at the time , was New Zealand 's largest circulation magazine . He was also Chair of the Auckland Society of Authors for four years . He established and previously taught at the Auckland University of Technology , Centre for Modern Writing where he established the Masters of Creative Writing degree . He was voted Best Post Graduate Supervisor by students at the University in 2008 . He is now Director of John Cranna Communications , a communications consultancy , and The Creative Hub , a creative writing centre in the Auckland CBD , which he founded in 2010 . The Creative Hub now has over 800 graduates , and employs a number of leading New Zealand writers to tutor and mentor students . These teachers have included four winners of the Prime Minister 's Award for Literary Achievement : Roger Hall , Fiona Kidman , Owen Marshall and Elizabeth Smither John Cranna also provides international online creative writing coaching via www.creativewriting.coach He was screenwriter for the short '' Accidents '' ( 2000 ) , directed by Paul Swadel , which was shown at the 56th Venice International Film Festival
56th Venice International Film Festival
56th Venice International Film Festival
John Cranna