The Magical Appearance of Earthworms
by N.A. Moncrief
Nigel moncrief is my pen name…
One of the things that I encourage people to think about when I'm doing work to help them get connected to themselves is to look back on their childhood. Lots happened back there that frames very strongly who we are today yet few people make the effort to look back on those stories. If they do, they tend to do so with judgement; they go beyond a description of events to pass judgement on who was kind and who did bad things.
They sometimes look back and remember only the challenging times, ignoring the magical times, or more commonly, the opposite, where the challenging times are totally blocked from memory. My own personal experience is that looking back, with compassion and without judgement on my childhood has been hugely helpful for me. I've gained a better understanding of how it was that I could sit between the leaders of some of the world's largest companies and NGOs and find a common path forward. It's helped in myriad other ways too.
At the end of 2015 when I stepped aside as TFT CEO, two colleagues urged me to write a book about the work I'd done. I thought that was a good idea. That Christmas break, I sat down at my computer and thought, "Right, where to start?"
I pondered that for a while but just kept coming back to the fact that I'd been able to sit, just me, in dark rooms with Chairs and CEOs and their teams - both company and NGO - getting yelled at, mistrusted and abused, that I was able to go out into the deep, darkest bush, and keep going with cuts, discomfort and a body full of disease and fatigue, meeting Pygmies, folk from so many cultures, even timber mafia, while dodging insurgents and other strange things essentially because of who I was as a person. I believe that part of that is genetic, but part is also created by the experiences I've had throughout my life, and especially my childhood.
So I quietly set about the task of writing the first part of the TFT story by writing the stories of my childhood. It took me a couple of years. I wrote from my earliest memories up to the point where, three days after my 15th birthday, I listened to an ancient man on the radio talking about trees and his life's work to protect them, that I decided to dedicate my life to forest conservation. Writing was hard, remembering many happy but also challenging moments.
That book was finally published in January, 2020. I had to publish it under a pen name and change all the people, place and animal names because of the risk of legal action. I'm pleased to say that it's been reviewed by the three best, credible, professional review houses in the publishing industry and two have given it their "Star Review", thus rating it as "exceptional." The other gave it 4 stars out of 5 which is fine enough. You can read the reviews over there —>
I believe that looking back on our childhood stories can help us be better people and be better at what we do. Everyone I know who has read "Earthworms" has found it to be a helpful experience...which is why I wrote it, to help folk.
About the Book
Mickey, the narrator of this book, looks back at his life growing up in Tilburn, thirty miles out of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. In reflecting on his life, Mickey explores how children let the world in rather than judging it at a safe distance. We inevitably get hurt in the process, and we carry wounds – until we have the courage to revisit them. A theme of the book is that if we revisit our stories with fierce compassion, they can work to free us rather than enslave us. They can become our most trusted companions as we realise we have all we need. In sharing stories from his life from a very early age, Mickey explores wonders and horrors, inviting the mysterious alchemy of wounds becoming gifts. Join Mickey on a journey that seeks to get everyone to a place where they lay down their masks, shed their armor, and put down their swords to let the distant voice of truth speak as they find their true selves.
About the Author
N. A. Moncrief began writing this book intending to highlight the fascinating work he’s done to help companies and conservationists protect forests and safeguard people’s livelihoods and cultures. That led him to look back on his earliest memories to find a deeper connection with himself and those around him.
Editorial Reviews:
BlueInk Reviews, KIRKUS Reviews and Clarion Foreword Reviews are professional, highly credible review houses for the publishing industry. They review books with no guarantee of a positive outcome! Both BlueInk and KIRKUS Reviews have given The Magical Appearance of Earthworms a “Starred Review,” which means they consider the book to be exceptional. Clarion Foreword Review gave 4 stars out of 5; still not bad. Click on the links below to see the reviews.
BlueInk Review
KIRKUS REVIEWS
Clarion Foreword Reviews
Reviews for “The Magical Appearance of Earthworms”
FIVE STARS
“Amazing book, I read it once, will read it again. There are so many "best moments" in this book, so many learnings, so much as that we, as adults, must be aware of when taking care of children, but also creating awareness to take care of that child inside us. What did I learn as a child, while observing the world around me? What do I carry with me and how does it shape me today? How can I harvest the best of my childhood to prosper as a human being? A must read!” Claudia Palm
“A book for anyone looking to lead. A beautiful and wise read for anyone looking to take control of their life, to get a grip on the world around them and to appreciate everything you have. The book is a retrospective tale told through the eyes of a child. At first, you wonder just how much this little boy can teach you about coping with the deeply difficult misadventures of adulthood; loss, change, loneliness, responsibility. But by the final chapter, you are left with your eyes swollen with tears and amazement. The stories are just as funny and light as they are emotional. This book was a first big step in regaining the confidence I had lost the previous year.” Melissa Sharpe
“Gripping, authentic, unique and engaging! This was a wonderful read that takes the reader into a unique and special world that is full of surprises and heart-wrenching emotions. The style of writing is convincing and one hears such authenticity in the author's whimsical narrative with the rawness of the accent being all part of the experience. A parochial Australian setting, which is far removed from the exotic landscapes and images one expects, makes the novel's many poignant messages far more convincing and universal. The book provides a fascinating mosaic of characters, many complex and behaviourally determined by circumstance. The story is compelling given it is so different but nevertheless relatable to our own experiences. The author's connection with nature and animals from a young age is touching and how this becomes the antidote to a complex and tragic life. The story is gripping and the vernacular language ensures it is credible. Ultimately this book is humbling in that it opens up our minds to the sensitivities and vulnerabilities of children and exposes how adults can be either indifferent to this or simply don't care and are more concerned about their own priorities. This novel is easy to read but has suspense but most importantly depth that invites the reader to reflect on its core messages on relationships. Enjoy!” Robyn Tyner
“This book allowed me to reflect on my own childhood and its relationship to my own work. It’s filled with lots of surprises and a few “OH NO” moments. Its ability to take me back to my childhood makes it worth the read and to share with your friends.” Peter Klein
“Wonderful insight to a young boy's perspective on both painful and beautiful experiences. What a lovely, heart-wrenching, inspiring, and surprisingly relatable story. I have a new appreciation for Australia’s nature, and learned many new words. The main character’s deep connection to animals struck a chord and I bawled my eyes out more than once. As well, the story innocently confronts the intricacies of social ills and complicated family dynamics; those which often remain taboo or go entirely unnoticed by the outside world. ” Andria Kenney
“Good read, really enjoyed it. Especially the writing style and remembrances of his Mum. Some pretty honest recounting of memories throughout.” Don Grant