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Age: 83
Family: Wife, Marilyn; adult sons, Mike, Larry, Dave and John Cain; daughter, Nancy Engdahl; 16 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren
Education: Bachelor's and master's degrees from Omaha University
Career: Retired teacher
Neighborhood: Northwest Omaha in Maple Village area
Cain's newly published book “Crumpets, Tea & Poetry,” a collection of Bible stories in verse, is now in stores.
His book signings include 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the Oak View Barnes & Noble; 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Hastings Books in Fremont, Neb.; and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 14 at Parables, 11212 Chicago Drive in Omaha.
A book of Bible stories set to verse seemed like the perfect project for a retired teacher of English who likes to write poetry.
“I love writing,” said Robert Cain. “And it occurred to me that it hadn't been done before.”
But his first effort, “The Debut of Luke's Gospel as Poetry,” was self-published and not a success.
His second book, “Crumpets, Tea & Poetry,” is a different story, he said. Cain searched for publishers that specialized in religious books and found Tate Publishing in Oklahoma.
Two weeks after he sent the publisher his manuscript, he heard from the company's president, Richard Tate, who told Cain: “I'm exceptionally impressed with your work.”
The book is a charming collection of 25 Bible stories covering everything from the creation to Noah, Moses, Joseph and Daniel to Jesus' birth and resurrection. Cain's verse simplifies the stories and makes them accessible to all readers but especially to children. The illustrations are plain, almost childlike sketches supplied by the publisher.
Some of the stanzas are clever wordplays; some are just playful.
“I always try to infuse (my writing) with humor,” he said. But he is quick to assure that the humor isn't blasphemous.
Cain, who says poetry is second nature to him, worked on the book for about a year and a half, followed by nine months of editing and rewriting.
He thinks this will be his last book. The process involves a lot of work, and right now he's putting his effort into publicizing “Crumpets.”
Cain spent many years educating Omaha youths. He taught high school English at Omaha Tech (he's a 1944 graduate), Central (where he was teacher of the year 1969-70) and Northwest (where he was teacher of the year 1971-72, the same year he was the Omaha Public Schools teacher of the year).
He then taught at the University of Nebraska at Omaha from 1977 to 1993. Cain also calls himself the unofficial historian for Jackson Elementary School, which he attended as a boy and where he gives occasional programs.
At his church, Maplewood Methodist, Cain has been a substitute teacher for adult Bible study and serves on a committee that makes hiring decisions.
Cain attributes his good health to going to the gym every other day and walking three miles a day. He also plays bridge and the piano.
“By ear,” he said, “and strictly for my entertainment and my wife's.”
Contact the writer:
444-1067, carol.bicak@owh.com
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