John Armistead is an award-winning artist, author and journalist. He began his first formal studio training at age eight in Mobile, Ala., with John Shaw, working in pastel and oil. Later, he studied under Homer Casteel at Meridian (Miss.) High School and Sam Gore at Mississippi College. Through the years, he has produced hundreds of paintings that are exhibited in libraries, museums and businesses.
 Armistead holds degrees from Mississippi College, the University of Mississippi, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He has pastored churches in Mississippi, California and Hawaii, and was formerly religion editor for the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal in Tupelo, Miss.
 He is the author of three mystery novels, A Legacy of Vengeance, A Homecoming for Murder and Cruel as the Grave. His novel for young people, The $66 Summer, was named by the New York Public Library as one of the best books for teenagers published in 2000. His most recent novel, The Return of Gabriel, is used in many schools throughout the nation in teaching about the civil rights era.
 He is a member of Mystery Writers of America, The Author’s Guild, the National Association of Independent Artists, Religion News writers Association and the Harley Owners Group (HOG).
 Armistead paints every day of the week. “Painting was my first love and passion,” he says. “I cannot imagine a day without making art.”