"Who is John Truett?" "The World is Shallow" and Story-Round-Up

I don't generally endorse or not endorse the creative endeavors of anyone I profile for the newspaper, but I'm so enjoying the writings of Thomas Meisinger (including all four of his blogs), I'm making an exception.

This past spring, another writer shared Meisinger's contact information with me. He had asked her, a friend of his family's for a story about his first book, The World is Shallow; That's Why I Never Learned to Swim, but she passed on writing one since it didn't have a local spin for her publication.

Before I interviewed Meisinger, he sent me an e-copy of his semi-autobiographical novel. I read it over Memorial Day weekend. His fresh and audible writing style (The words literally disappear from the page, and you can "hear" him speaking) kept me huddled over the computer screen laughing, laughing and laughing some more. I recommended the book to quite a few people, and I'm recommending it again now.

Read a clip on Amazon.com and Meisinger's Herald News story on the link below it.

http://www.amazon.com/World-Shallow-Thats-Never-Learned/dp/1300039825/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1357908752&sr=1-1&keywords=Thomas+Meisinger#_

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/13030901-423/comedian-turns-to-writing-to-share-humor.html

Meisinger contacted me around Christmas with a project he had initiated with the goal of spreading a little holiday mystery for others and finding "true love" for himself. He felt stumped at the lack of attention his idea, a rather clever one, too, garnished. I saw the story's merit, and gave it some posthumous attention here.

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/16431919-423/not-such-a-mystery-after-all.html

I have Meisinger's permission to reprint some of his blogs on his page, which I'll be doing in future posts, guaranteed.


Here are my other Herald News stories for this week:


Lifelong hobby continues

When a man has both exceptional talent and steel ambition, age is no barrier to success.

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/17346665-423/lifelong-hobby-continues.html


More sunny days ahead

Joliet Township Animal Control plans to do what other shelters across the country are also doing: build a planned recreation area for its dogs. That takes money. Here's how, and why, to help.

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/17434971-423/more-sunny-days-ahead.html


Oncology nurse also head cheerleader

To Joanna Hume, oncology nursing is not a career. It's her life's calling, one she lives inside and outside of the hospital.

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/17383684-423/oncology-nurse-also-head-cheerleader.html


Bringing music to the masses

Phyllis Sterling recently retired as church organist after sixty-five years of consistent and dedicated service. She leaves behind a string of exquisite musical memories that touched multiple aspects of multiple lives.

http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/17348314-423/bringing-music-to-the-masses.html