Now teaching English at Battle High School in Columbia, Mo., James F. Muench is also an author, long-time free-lance journalist and instructor of English, journalism and strategic communication.
His career as an educator includes teaching assignments at Columbia College, the University of Missouri, Lincoln University, Stephens College and Westminster College. In addition, he substituted for years in Columbia, Mo., public schools and taught English and Speech/Debate for a year at North Callaway High School in Kingdom City, Mo.
His third book, The Historic 1830s German Immigration to Missouri, co-authored with three historians from the St. Louis area, was published in January 2016. His first nonfiction book, Five Stars: Missouri’s Most Famous Generals, was published by the University of Missouri Press in 2006. His first novel, The Teutonic Cross, was published in 2013.
The historic mystery adventure novel follows the story of Heinrich Kueter, a young history professor who solves the murder of a Chinese exchange student, finds love and fights racism in a small Missouri college town on the eve of World War I.
Muench offers an extensive background of experience writing in many genres, from newspaper and magazine journalism to playwrighting. Five Stars was recognized by the Missouri Writers Guild, and his award-winning play, "The Eye of the Sun," received three staged readings at Rockhurst College, the Missouri Playwrights Workshop and William Woods University.