Books and banter by W.H.Manke

If one had to describe Werner Manke in five words the most appropriate words might be being passionate about many things.

Manke’s family, faith and health rank at the top of his list.  He enjoyed and retired after thirty years in education as teacher, principal and Director of Instruction.  These years taught him much about how humans learn.  Day-to-day observations and a good deal of research gave him a deep understanding about what makes people successful.  He holds a degree in English and Education and a Master’s degree in Educational Administration and Strategic Planning.  Ask him what he enjoys doing since retirement he says, “I love to watch my grandchildren play, to read and to write.  In the last few years I completed four other full length novels, published two, and I’ve recently completed writing Storms Over Hawking Manor, a sequel to the first novel I published, Secrets of Hawking Manor.” The later book he edited and formatted at the end of 2014 for Smashwords’ distribution to many publishers and retailers that sell E-Books.  He had also written a number of articles, short stories and many poems during those years.

When he is not near his grandchildren he might be found writing, researching or reading.  He loves to play, coach and watch a number of sports that include soccer, hockey, skiing, fishing as well as collecting.  He delights in the  beauty of nature and the arts.  Certain paintings and poems and the lyrics and melodies of some songs and hymns cause him to marvel at people’s talents. He continues to study history.  Ask him he why he does, he will say, “We can make this a better world, if we consider the actions of individuals and countries of the past, good and bad, that history shows us.”

He believes humans are the crowning work of creation, sees each person as unique, one of a kind, priceless and able to achieve the greatest deeds as well as sink to the most hideous crimes .  He believes our most urgent task is to guide all children to become compassionate, confident and informed citizen willing to take on the challenge to create a peaceful world where no child goes hungry.

Who he is?  He will tell you, who he is he mainly owes to God, his mother, his wife and the teachers who expected the best from him.