Driver-turned-writer inspired by lake
PORT CLINTON - Tom Engler says his story ideas come to him in visions or dreams.
The Port Clinton native's visions have led him to publish two books - flexing his creative muscles with a new children's book inspired by clouds over the Lake Erie waters and another about a Komodo dragon who saves the world.
Engler, 67, grew up on East Sand Road and played football and baseball before graduating from Port Clinton High School. He attended and graduated from Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa, and then Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri.
For the last 30 years, Engler's work as a truck driver has taken him from the east coast to California and all over in between, seeing the sights of the nation many only see in books.
Now working for Findlay-based LTH and doing local and regional routes that keep him close to his home in Perrysburg, Engler said he's getting into the stride of writing and has no plans on slowing down.
"I've always wanted to create things," he said. "I've got so many ideas I'm working on."
His latest work "Broccoli vs. Cauliflower: A Modern Ancient Day Fable" is a children's story and was inspired by looking at the puffy, vegetable-shaped clouds above Lake Erie in the spring and summer.
The story's main character, an angel-in-training named Ernie, is struggling to design clouds for planet earth as part of a class to become a full-fledged angel. While visiting Earth, Ernie finds Suzie, a creative lady who helps inspire Ernie with a tour of her fruit and vegetable garden.
Engler, who spends his summers swimming every chance he can get, said it's not hard to be inspired and feel positive about life while living on Lake Erie.
"We live in such a beautiful area, with the islands and the lake, it's inspiring," Engler said.
His first novel, the science fiction action story "Dragonboy," came about after thinking of King Kong - a large, intelligent animal who could make a difference.
"I wanted to create a superhero animal character," Engler said. "He was just a lowly Komodo dragon and he becomes a hero."
His works, which he calls "fictional reality," are often rooted in reality and Engler believes any of them could happen.
Dragonboy is a piece Engler pictured as a movie, which he hopes could happen one day.
"I always think big," Engler said. "Anything is possible."
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Tom Engler's website
To learn more about Tom or to purchase his books "Broccoli vs. Cauliflower" and "Dragonboy," visit www.tomengler.net.