Jim Munroe and The Sneezing Toucan

Happy almost July everyone. To start the summer off, I’m pleased to introduce you to a friend and fellow author, Jim Munroe. We’ve known each other for a couple of years, through a writing group and church. 

Welcome, Jim. Tell us a little about yourself. 

I live in Angier, NC with my wife, Cathy. I have two daughters, Bailee and Kiylee and one nine-year-old granddaughter, Harper. I work in Raleigh as an energy trader for ACES power. 

Jim Munroe

Talk to me about your writing. 

My writing is probably different than most. I have been writing in rhyme for over 25 years. I really can't explain how it happens, it just does. It started off with writing what I call personalized poetry and then a few years later, the stories started coming along. 

Yes, and you’ve just published your first children’s book, The Sneezing Toucan. What was that like? 

I wrote The Sneezing Toucan about 20 years ago and it has been rewritten a number of times, including just last year. The Sneezing Toucan is a story about a young boy struggling to find a pet that Mom will approve of. What he finds is a most unusual bird but he must find a way to get Mom's approval despite the bird's condition. He solves the problem in a unique way that will keep you sneezing until the end! I wrote the book one Saturday morning after watching some cartoons and then two commercials back to back. One was for Fruit Loops with Toucan Sam and the next was an allergy commercial. I laughed so hard when I thought about a sneezing toucan and I went to the computer and started typing.

Do you have a favorite line from the book? 

I do, but I am afraid that it might tip your followers off, so I will just let them find out on their own! 

If I may, let me share just a small sample of the book. His neck a bright yellow, his feet a pale blue/His nose painted orange, and red and green, too/ “What a beautiful bird!” I said to myself/”I wonder why he’s back here on the shelf.” 

Did you do the beautiful vivid illustrations? 

No, I can barely draw two sticks together, so I hired an illustrator here in North Carolina, Samantha Bell. That is very non-traditional because most large publishing houses have their own stable of illustrators. 

Is it published and, if so, when and by whom? 

It was published this year by Parson's Porch which is a small publisher based in Cleveland, Tenn. Their company's byline is "Turning books into bread and milk." David Tullock, a retired pastor, is the face and voice of Parson's Porch. 

How can my readers get a copy? 

They can get a copy from Amazon and Barnes and Noble as well as other online stores. They can also order directly from Parson's Porch at www.parsonsporch.com, or contact me directly at rhymes4life@gmail.com. They can also see more of my writing on my website at www.rhymes4life.com. 

What is your advice to would-be writers? 

Just keep at it and put in the work and the time it takes to be successful. Then at some point in time, you will have to take a leap of faith and put yourself out there. Join a writers group or a critique group and be open to suggestions. You can learn so much from others who are willing to share their stories, counsel and advice. I never set out to be a writer, but here I am, with over 500 poems and now a children's book. There is a lot of information out there to absorb, some good and some bad. But ultimately, you have to forge your own path. It may not be the traditional way, but I believe you can still be successful. Success might not be defined in monetary measures. It just might come from the satisfaction of setting a goal, chasing a dream and then watching it unfold in front of you. 

What’s next for you? 

I have four or five more stories to share and I am currently writing a brand new book. I have also written a few songs and a friend of mine in Alabama has put one to music. I hope to share that one day soon. 

Well I’m looking forward to hearing more from you. Thank you, Jim, for stopping by. 

Thanks, Linda for allowing me to share today! 

Folks, if you have kids, grandkids, nieces or nephews, I urge you to get a copy of The Sneezing Toucan. They’ll absolutely love it!

9/11 That Beautiful Broken Day

This is a Press Release of a book our writing group has put together and published. I have a poem and an essay included in it alongside the memories and reflections of the others in our group. Get your copy through Amazon and let your future generations know what happened that day and how it affected all of us. And if you would, please leave a review on Amazon; it would be most appreciated.

Seventeen American authors share their memories of that “Beautiful, Broken Day,” September 11, 2001.

Where were you when you heard? or were you even born yet? This collection of stories, poetry and essays make clear the deep impact this day had, not only on New York City, Washington, D.C. and a field in Pennsylvania, but in hearts and minds all over the United States. We were all eyewitnesses to history, no matter where we were and when we heard.

Many of us in our writers’ group in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina are of retirement age, so the Kennedy assassination is the one we remember most. For our parents, it was Pearl Harbor. But 9/11 trumps them all for shock, anger, tragedy, and fear.

We want the younger Americans to know that the day after the attacks, American flags were flying from every house and business across the country. The nation was united in shock, grief, and a profound sense of patriotism. We stood shoulder to shoulder against an unseen enemy and we had faith that the country could come together in solidarity.

The authors in our group have written works that reflect a wide variety of emotions, insights, and perspectives to commemorate the 20th anniversary of a brutal terrorist attack. It is our hope that this book will inform subsequent generations of the impact that 9/11 had on everyday Americans.

9/11 That Beautiful, Broken Day can be purchased from amazon.com, https://amzn.to/3i7WO58. All proceeds from online sales will be donated to Military Missions In Action (MMIA) a local non-profit organization dedicated to assisting disabled veterans and active-duty military and their families. https://www.militarymissionsinaction.org

For more information or questions, contact Nancy Panko at gnnpanko@yahoo.com.