Randolph author has a real knack for bringing children’s stories to life

RANDOLPH — When Herbert Sack’s children were young, he found reading to them to be quite dull.

In an attempt to solve that problem, he was inspired to write “Raccoon Stories,” a children’s book. Sack, of Randolph, published the book this fall.

“I wrote some books that would be interesting for both the young child being read to and the reader reading to them,” he said.

The five tales in “Raccoon Stories,” each teach a moral lesson and feature raccoon - and other woodland - characters.

The book is available at the Lied Randolph Public Library to borrow or on Amazon for purchase.

“Raccoon Stories” is Sack’s second self-published work. His first book, “Greener Pastures, the Gerald Pierce Story: Farming with Horses and Early Tractors,” is a tribute to his uncle who loved to tell stories about his early farming years. The book contains much farming history from the eras between World War I and World War II as farming began to adapt mechanically, Sack said.

“I published it first as an experiment to see how it would go,” Sack said, who was aided by his sister who also is a selfpublished author. Sack first took up creative writing while in college at the University of Nebraska.

“That’s where I got the bug for it but that got put on the shelf for a good many years, 30 some years,” Sack said.

About three years ago, he started writing again.

Sack currently works as a construction safety manager but retirement is looming. He plans to go into full-author mode once he hangs up his hard hat.

“That’s my aspiration is to move into the writing career,” he said.

Projects in the works include a collection of short stories and an adventure novelette called “The Return of the Iguana.” Another “very complicated” work in progress is a mystery novel called, “The Passport Murders,” Sack said.

“I have a lot of plans and I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me,” he said.

He is always looking for beta readers to provide feedback on works in progress. Those interested can contact him at herbertsack56@gmail.com.