West Central teacher publishes his first book, “What If…”
Marylou Nagel | Writer
Mention the name John Flint to past and present West Central Humboldt Elementary students and the automatic response is, “Mr. Flint is my favorite teacher!”
Flint, who has been teaching fifth grade in Humboldt for nearly seven years, had an eventful spring and summer 2020. After the schools shut down due to COVID-19, he switched his teaching to online for his classes of fifth graders—all while helping his wife, Merisa, with the finishing touches to their May 30 wedding. Just the week before, John Flint acquired yet another new title, one of author.
Flint’s “What If…” tells the story of four kids who play a game to rescue a princess from mischievous garden gnomes. With some help from a brave knight and a powerful wizard, the group works through obstacles together to rescue the princess.
Flint has always had an appreciation for creativity. Growing up in Brandon, he tried to take as many art classes as possible. He was fortunate to have good role models in his life who influenced him to make a difference. “I had a high school teacher that helped me discover the power learning can have,” he explained. “That led me to pursue a career in education.”
“What If…” has been in the works for about seven years. “I worked three jobs and struggled to get by, so I decided to sit down and start working on stories that I thought would be fun to illustrate,” said Flint. “Then life slowed me down. I began my career at West Central and bought a house shortly after. So I put my project on the back burner but kept it on my mind. I decided that it was time to buckle down and try to make this dream become a reality.”
The process of finalizing his first book was done in several steps. First, Flint focused on creating an enjoyable story for his future readers. Next, he researched features that made books successful in publication such as word count, number of pages, and reading levels, all which helped him in the revision process. “Then came the very time-consuming part of completing the illustrations,” Flint explained. “I decided to devote the entire summer, working day and night to make sure the illustrations bring the story to life.” Finally, it was time to search for a publisher. He sent out copies, cover letters, and emails all across the country. “This was a massive learning experience,” he added.
Flint left open an option to a sequel to “What If…” when the inspiration strikes. As of now, he has three other stories all in various stages of creation. “I will randomly come up with ideas based on different experiences,” he explained. “I make sure to write them down or simply send myself a text with as much information as possible. I then sit down the next time I can and start writing.”
As for future plans, Flint is hoping to make some appearances and do book signings for “What If….” “I want to become a successful author because of the impact that it can have,” he added. “If you can write a story or do something that reaches another person and makes the slightest difference, it’s pretty incredible. It’s a way to have a positive impact, which is why I wanted to become a teacher.”
“What If…” will no doubt find a place in many homes and classrooms in the future.
To order a copy of “What If…” by John Flint, check the Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Author House websites.