Peace Stick is set in East Germany during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. It's a story about hope and innocence during a nuclear showdown between the superpowers. It was inspired by an Erfurt schoolgirl who wanted to survive the confrontation to finish her studies, start a career, raise a family and enjoy a life that was being threatened by angry old men. She created a peace stick as a lucky charm. It was hidden in a school wall to be a symbol of hope during a traumatic week. Peace Stick is a snapshot of life behind the Iron Curtain as the world teetered on the edge of a nuclear abyss. It is representative of many kinder throughout the world who were endangered by political folly. It's a story that resonates to the present day.

Stephen Johnson is a journalist and television producer who writes crime and historical fiction in Auckland. His debut novel, Tuggas Mob, was inspired by three seasons as a tour guide in Europe during the 1980s. It was a finalist in the 2020 Ngaio Marsh Awards for Best First Novel. His second thriller, Boxed, is set in the world of animal rights activism and the media. Peace Stick goes behind the Iron Curtain during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.