Niall Magill has written ten non-fiction books and more than 100 poems. He continues to write blogs and short articles about the issues of the day and reads mystery stories avidly. His travel and residence in several regions of the States and in a host of countries abroad provide the background for these exciting stories, honed by his journeys to more than 80 countries of the world. His mystery-relevant experience ranges from on-site evaluation of Peace Corps programs in Niger and Chad, to serving as the World Affairs expert in 7 Peace Corps Training programs, to training faculty in the International University of Kyrgyzstan, to teaching at the University of Istanbul, to serving in the Air Corps in China in World War II, to conducting educational tours, and to lecturing in the main countries of Western Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. These experiences serve to enliven his stories and lend a sense of reality and cultural insight.
He is a former college Professor of International Relations, Department Chair, Dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, and Deputy President. He also served as Vice-President of the local chapter of the American Federation of Teachers and the Vice President of the California Educational Computer Consortium. A member of Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Iowa chapter, he has experienced the unusual honor of being asked to give the Members In Course address three times at his university in the past twenty-five years.
His academic specialty is foreign policy analysis. This resulted in constructing and teaching the IR Department’s most popular and demanding course with a constant focus on all areas of the world. It remains the signature course in the International Relations Department at his university. This exceptional course which is student-centered has provided him with a grasp of the problems and prospects of a troubled world. He has been selected as an outstanding professor by the IR Student Association several times His most recent sabbatical led to the preparation of a strategic planning model, unique for its power and comprehensiveness. He has working familiarity with Spanish, French, and to a lesser extent with Chinese and Turkish.
An avid sports fan and former all-state player in football and basketball and a college varsity letter winner in basketball, he maintains a lively interest in most major sports which is often reflected in his stories. He has two children and three grandchildren. His son heads a theatre arts company in Shanghai and his daughter serves as a Pandemic Coordinator for the State of Wisconsin.
In addition to a life-long attraction to mysteries, his current interests include the legitimate stage, musical comedy, jazz, pop, and classical music, domestic and international politics and a continuing desire to explore the “highways and byways” of the world.
“Our times are so interesting and so challenging, I would not wish to live at any other time,” he contends.
<p>A psychic medium once said that if you find a random dime, it is a sign that someone that you have loved and lost is thinking of you.</p><p><strong>A Dime is a Sign Through Time</strong></p><p><em>If you find a dime, </em></p><p><em>You will know that I'm</em></p><p><em>Sending thoughts of love</em></p><p><em>Through the veil of time.</em></p><p> </p><p><em>Ten cents with a silver shine, </em></p><p><em>A sense sent you to help remind</em></p><p><em>That someone who left you behind</em></p><p><em>Is always living in your mind.</em></p><p> </p><p><em>Sending love and vibes, </em></p><p><em>Felt as psychic sighs ...</em></p><p><em>The ones that you miss, </em></p><p><em>Send you a kiss ...</em></p><p> </p><p>Sherrill S. Cannon's second book of poetry contains messages written through the years in poetic form that put feelings into words. As a teacher, many of her poems helped counsel troubled teens and friends.</p><p>There are three sections in the book: Heads, Spinning, and Tails ... (Love & Loss: Coin Toss?). The variety of lyrical poetry forms include free verse, blank verse, haiku, and sonnets, while some are just playing with words!</p><p>Hopefully, this is also a book of healing.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Sherrill S. Cannon, a former teacher and grandmother of ten, is the author of nine acclaimed rhymed children's books, plus a recent award-winning book of poetry <em>(A Penny for Your Thoughts), </em>which together have received 63 national and international book awards since 2011. She also wrote seven published plays for elementary school children that have been performed in over 25 countries. Most of her children's books emphasize consideration for others. Married for 58 years, she and her spouse are now retired, live in Pennsylvania, and travel in their RV from coast to coast, spending time with their children and grandchildren, and sharing her books along the way!</p><p> </p>