Wayne G Havins Interview Published on: 27, Mar 2025
What inspired you to write “JESTIFIED: WORDS JEST FOR FUN”?
I was filling in for an old friend of mine as a janitor at the Department of human services here in town. Now this gentleman was well loved and respected in town and somewhat crippled. Even though his hands were crippled up, he still worked very hard helping people. He was well into his 80s and a retired postal worker. One day as he was picking me up I saw a U-Haul truck driving by. So I asked him, "Larry, how do cows get from one town to another?" He said "I don’t know Wayne how do cows get from one town to another?" So I said "they rent a Moohaul." He laughed so hard that it pleased me to no end. So he asked me if I had any more jokes. So I started thinking about it, and I started playing around with words and eventually came up with a lot of jokes. Everyone I shared them with said I should write a book, so I did.
How did you decide which stories and anecdotes to include in the book?There was no order, i just wrote the quips down as they came and submitted the batch to the Publishers. They did the artwork..
Humor can be tricky—how do you balance wit and storytelling to keep readers engaged?If the quip at least brought a smile from others i left it in...
Did you face any challenges while writing this book, or was it as fun to write as it is to read?It was fun to come up with witty ways to express the thought or word and there were no challenges.
If readers take away one thing from your book, what do you hope it will be?That it is ok to step out of the "Box" have fun with the imagination we were all gifted with.
Your background is incredibly diverse—from the Marine Band to circus performances. Which of your many "hats" was the most fun to wear?That is easy, "Teacher" for having taught i found that i learned as much or even more than the students or those who i instructed at what they were learning did...
Is there a particular experience from your past that shaped your sense of humor the most?My life was very difficult as a child. I was witness to things no child should ever see. I had to develop a sense of humor or I would’ve become very bitter and resentful. I found it better to make people laugh and smile than it was to frown and be resentful. I became the class clown. I learned early that if I put my mind to something I could do it, so if I couldn’t afford it or I couldn’t have it, I would make it. The skills I developed came in handy through my life, and I found it very pleasing to help others in their endeavors as we all should.
Do you have a favorite funny moment that didn’t make it into the book?Too many to mention..
How has your perspective on life and humor evolved over the years?Quite well thank you.
Were there any unexpected lessons from your time in the Marine Band or circus that influenced your writing?Most of the unexpected lessons were the best ones to learn from as we learn to deal with them as they happen.
Who are some of your biggest influences when it comes to humor and storytelling?Louis L'Amour stories were the best for learning what morals are really about. Foster Brooks was one of my favorite comedians and the list would be very long.
How do you come up with your witty observations and playful wordplay?An open mind has no locks on it to hinder the what if's...
Do you think humor has changed over the years, and if so, how?Today humor has too much dirt on it...
Any plans for a follow-up book or other creative projects in the future?i am thinking about a tell all book that may cause quite a stir to many of my friends and Family.
How did you first come across the AllAuthor website?Saw it on Face Book...
