Joseph Monninger is without question, Plymouth State University’s pride and joy. A family man first, Monninger is the author of twenty books as well as countless articles published in mass media including, but not limited to, The Boston Globe, Sports Illustrated, and Glamour Magazine. Not to mention his profession as a full time faculty member here at Plymouth State, where he teaches in the English Department.
As a New Jersey native, Professor Monninger, grew up embracing an active lifestyle, subsequently landing him a full ride to Temple University with a football scholarship. At the end of his collegiate career, Monninger joined the Peace Corps, spending three years of his life promoting peace amongst a West African tribe.
While both his credentials along with his work schedule would give any man a run for his money, Monninger is nonetheless a welcoming, humble man who was equally as eager to answer a few questions from The Clock as well as discuss his most recently published novel, Margaret from Maine.
How would you describe your latest novel, Margaret from Maine, to someone who has not yet read it?
“The novel entails a woman who lives on a dairy farm with her family that has been passed from generation to generation. To make ends meet, her husband joins the Main Guard and eventually goes off to Afghanistan, where he is shot and as a result, left in a vegetative state. Left alone with her son and grandfather, the wife takes a trip to Washington D.C. to attend a bill signing with President Barack Obama, where she meets a cute guy. The feelings are mutual and the question then becomes, what is the wife to do? Does she go forward with the newfound relationship or remain loyal to her injured husband?”
When did you decide to become an author and what sparked your interest?
“I never made a conscious decision to write, I went to Temple University as football player and at the time, athletics were my main focus. It was not until my experience with the Peace Corps, where we were given books upon books to read to pass time that I began to write stories. In 1978, I submitted my work into the Red Book Short Stories writing contest, finished third place, and got an agent.”
How would you describe your type of writing?
“Though my most recent works have a romantic tinge, I have written other genres such as mystery and drama as well. An audience that I have most recently enjoyed writing for is young adults. I am currently writing a series for Scholastic, which is all plot and very fun.”
Is the entire process enjoyable?
“You almost always want to abandon what you are writing as it is a process. However the result is where the enjoyment lies.”
How do you decide on which title to choose or image to portray on the novel’s cover?
“The entire process is collaborative, though publishers take covers and titles very seriously.”
What brought you to Plymouth State University?
“I was living in Concord and visiting a Professor at UNH when I heard about an opening here at Plymouth. At around the Thanksgiving of my first year here, I went to the Dean and said I like this place and expressed that I wanted to stay. The University worked with me and it has been nearly 22 years. It’s a beautiful place.”
Has Plymouth influenced your writing style?
“Yes. I am married with my 22-year-old son here. He and I managed a dog sled team, and also enjoy hiking and fishing, so the scenery set for most of my stories is in New England.”
What do you perceive to be the most considerable change here at the university in your double decade experience?
“My students have greatly improved. The basic grammar is much better than it was twenty years ago.”
Somehow, through his transcontinental journey, Professor Joseph Monninger ended up here, at Plymouth State University. Whether he chooses to retire as either a professor, a writer, or both, I know one thing for sure, we are very lucky to have him.