Author Robert Forister has written five books about local county histories

Cutline-Body Copy:Robert Forister poses for a photo.

Cutline-File Credit:Photo by Dawn Bollinger

Sometimes shy, curious loners become writers. Local author-historian Robert H. Forister believes those characteristics apply to him.

Forister was a gifted child. With the help of his first teacher, his older sister, Forister was reading by age 5. As a child, he often preferred eating his lunch alone, and would become quite fascinated observing the bugs. The educational advantage of reading so early enabled him to graduate eighth grade at 12, and high school at 16 and begin college at 17. He attended Southeast Missouri State University and graduated with a degree in education. Later, he attended Missouri State University in Springfield to continue post-graduate work. Forister and his wife, Joan, were both educators. He taught at Blodgett and Commerce, Missouri.

Forister's interests growing up included hunting, a skill he learned from his father who was an avid hunter. No longer a hunter, Forister certainly does not lack for hobbies: traveling, carving wood sculptures, constructing huge tree houses and creating a flower garden, which also includes poetic verse.

He continues to add to his knowledge base as a researcher and writer. He most recently finished his fifth book, "Scott County Missouri -- It's Prominent Role in Southeast Missouri History." His first book was a collection of personal essays. He also wrote a book specifically about Bloomfield, Missouri, which has been his home since 1965.

Robert and Joan have traveled the United States quite extensively, having been to Alaska years ago when many of the roads were still graveled. Their traveling companions were their two grandsons. The family enjoyed trips to Rocky Mountain National Park and Disney World. Forister recalls those trips fondly, and like many seasoned travelers, he believes that traveling broadens our horizons.

Cutline-Body Copy:Several of Robert Forister's books are shown.

Cutline-File Credit:Photo by Dawn Bollinger

Most writers grow as readers, and Forister has been no exception. His favorite books were Edgar Rice Burrough's Tarzan series. He said he read those over and over as a child and still enjoys them. He related a humorous story, which shows his affinity to just allow nature to get along. Evidently, his family home was also the home of a mouse or two. He said he never had anything against mice, but he did have a bit of an issue with the mouse who had consumed a good portion of the novel he was wanting to enjoy.

He mentions his love of the language, saying he fell in love with adjectives. He also enjoyed reading Zane Grey books growing up.

Forister has his own unique writing habits. He always writes everything out by hand, and his niece, Alice Ireland, types everything. About once a month, Ireland visits and they discuss the production of the book, and the stories. She will be there most of the day. He believes technology is fine for other people, and does have some great uses, but not for him. If you write a book, that remains. So much technology is kind of transient. Meaning the emails and texts that we write no one keeps those, but people collect books, and people save love letters for years and years.

Forister has managed to push himself out of his normally shy nature. He enjoys being around people and writing histories, but he admits, that if he gets that chance, he still will follow a bug around, just to see what it will do next.

Forister's books can be purchased at the Stars and Stripes Museum in Bloomfield and online at countyhistoriesofmissourihypermart.net.

Photo by Dawn Bollinger

Several of Robert Forister's books are shown.