About the Book

In Around the Water Tank, author Jim Haigler molds his words to create visual images of various aspects of life in the nineteen forties and fifties. He paints these pictures in the context of twenty-four humorous and touching stories of a young boy growing up in a mill village at a time when the country was adjusting to post war prosperity and the emerging threat of the cold war. This quaint semi-autobiographical collection will stir the memories of the writer's generation and is certain to charm and entertain while capturing the imagination of all ages.

"One main purpose in writing this book was to try and capture the essence of an era that is rapidly vanishing from our collective memory. My intent was to document and pass on the spirit of the times through a series of stories. Each is based on actual events and is as accurate as memory allows. A few have been enhanced to include some things that almost happened, and other things that we talked about doing but were chicken."

The obvious target audience is comprised of those who remember the times and will have their memory nudged toward pleasant recollections of their own. It can also encourage a younger market, particularly pre-teen boys, to read more by presenting adventures on the playground, bikes, skates, fishing and snake hunting in humorous short reads that will capture their imagination and hold their attention.

About the Author

Jim Haigler spent his early years in the Goodyear Mill Village called Atco, in the Northwest Georgia foothills, the venue for most of the stories in this collection. He graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Georgia Tech in 1967 before serving a two-year tour of duty with the Army stationed in Korea. He has practiced architecture for thirty-five years in Cartersville, the small town that annexed the village where he was raised.

Always active in the visual and performing arts, his interests include photography, silkscreen printing and painting. Jim is a long time church choir member and has sung with several community choral presentations. He has played guitar and banjo in several folk and bluegrass groups and has performed in local drama productions.

Around the Water Tank is Jim's first serious literary undertaking. His artistic training and experience have enhanced his ability to visualize a story's backdrop and to communicate that image effectively through the written word.

Excerpts