Click here for John's new ebook novelette (13,000-word story) The Oldest Male Kindergarten Teacher in America.


Guy Mann spends his last day as a kindergarten teacher dealing with a child's tantrum while reflecting on 50+ years of teaching.


"A wonderful story by this beloved professor at Asnuntuck Community College. This story touched on a number of life's continuing twists and turns, some brutally painful, others touching and beautiful. It makes you aware of the complexities of your own personal journey. I was amazed at the skill of the author in sharing so much in this short story." -Amazon Review

John Sheirer (pronounced “shy-er”) lives in Northampton, Massachusetts, with his wonderful wife, Betsy, and happy dog, Libby. He has taught writing and communications for 30 years at Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield, Connecticut, where he also serves as editor and faculty advisor for Freshwater Literary Journal  (submissions welcome). He writes a monthly column on current events for his hometown newspaper, the Daily Hampshire Gazette, and his books include memoir, fiction, poetry, educational materials, essays, political satire, and photography.

Recent events:

Straw Dog Writers Guild Author Showcase, January 19, 2022 (33-minute mark)

The Writer's Tribe Talk Show, February 17, 2022, Interview with host Elsa Kurt

The Meat for Teacast, March 20, 2022, Interview with host Elizabeth MacDuffie

Chat and Spin Radio, April 26, 2022, Interview with host Ron Clark

Speak Up Talk Radio Interview, May 17, 2022, Interview with Pat Rullo

Soft Serve Podcast, November 29, 2022, Interview with Brad and Jen

Community Voices for Change, September 26, 2023, Interview with Richard Rudolph


New Book!

For Now: One Hundred 100-Word Stories (click here to buy from Meat For Tea Press or, if you must, click here to buy from the corporate overlords. And you can get the audiobook from Libro, the fantastic audiobook store here!)


"John Sheirer shows us how permeable and expansive the borders of this very short form can be in the hands of a great talent." – Robert Scotellaro, author of Ways to Read the World


"Each individual story will make you catch your breath, pause, and look around you." – Gina Barreca, author of They Used to Call Me Snow White, but I Drifted

"With so many big stories in such compact spaces, John Sheirer will titillate and delight you in the time it takes to make a cup of coffee … 100 cups of coffee, to be exact." – Joshua Michael Stewart, author of Love Something


Click here to watch John read his 100-word story "Years," one of the 100 stories in For Now, at the Salem, Massachusetts, Literary Festival on September 9, 2023.

John's 100-word story, “The Last Conversation,” was selected as an honorable mention for the Scribes Prize and was published in the literary journal Scribes *MICRO* Fiction. Read John's story and all the fantastic prize-winning stories here. Also read an interview here with John about "The Last Conversation" and a second story, "Normal," which was a Scribes Prize semi-finalist and will be published in November.

Previous Book!

Stumbling Through Adulthood: Linked Stories

*** 2021 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award ***

*** 2021 New England Book Festival Award ***

*** 2021 Hawk Mountain Award Semi-Finalist ***

*** 2022 National Indie Excellence Award Finalist ***

*** 2022 New York Book Festival Award Runner-Up ***

*** 2022 American Fiction Awards Finalist ***

*** 2022 Royal Dragonfly Book Award Winner ***

*** 2022 Firebird Book Award *** 

*** 2022 Literary Titan Book Award ***

*** 2022 Outstanding Creator Award ***

*** 2022 Global Ebook Award ***

*** 2022 PenCraft Book Award ***

*** 2022 IAN Book of the Year Finalist ***

*** 2022 Eyelands Book Award Finalist ***

*** 2022 American Writing Award ***

*** 2022 Best Book Award ***

*** 2022 Shelf Unbound Notable Indie ***

*** 2023 Independent Press Award ***

*** 2023 Book Excellence Award Finalist ***


- Order Stumbling Through Adulthood through Independent bookstores here or here or, if you must, through the corporate overlord space travelers here.


- Watch the book launch event at Forbes Library in Northampton, Massachusetts here.


“A clever, witty, and intoxicating collection that will leave readers staggering with delight.” –Jacob M. Appel, author of Einstein’s Beach House


“John Sheirer is a master storyteller.” –Susanne Davis, author of The Appointed Hour


“John Sheirer creates intense and masterful portraits of his widely varied characters’ deeply personal worlds.” –Sherri VandenAkker, writer/director/producer of My Name Was Bette: The Life and Death of an Alcoholic

Buy John‘s other books through IndieBound, Bookshop, or Amazon.


Fiction: “Wonderfully crafted and deeply satisfying.” –Robin Stratton. “Evocative, illuminating, consummately entertaining, and fully realized.” –Michael Keith. “Amazing work!” –Cavin Bryce Gonzales


Children's Books: “The perfect gift for just about everyone I know.” –Firoozeh Dumas


Memoirs: “This memoir sings with honesty, humor, and grace.” –Kevin O'Hara


Current Events: “Rock-ribbed without being strident.” –Susan Campbell. “Common sense wisdom and a neighborly style.” –Bill Scher. “Entertaining and incisive.” –David Packman


Writing Idea Book: “Indispensable guide to creativity.” –Jay Atkinson. “A terrific source for inspiration.” –Dori Ostermiller. “Fires up the imagination to a heat that destroys writer‘s block.” –Laura Hayden

John Sheirer

Click here to listen to John's story, "Mass," from Stumbling Through Adulthood, read wonderful  voice artist Amanda Elgie.