John Becker grew up surrounded by the natural and gastronomic splendor of the Pacific Northwest. Spending his childhood between Portland, Oregon and Cincinnati, John learned to appreciate a range of approaches to cooking. His father taught him the art of improvisation in the kitchen, and his mother instilled in him open-mindedness and a love of bold flavors and spice. After earning a degree obsessing over the writings of Irish Modernist James Joyce, John helped publish seventeen collections of literary essays. John has now turned exclusively to matters culinary, ensuring that Joy will continue to meet the high standards expected by its readership. John currently lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife, Megan, and their two cats, Loki and Kishu.