Jim Reed Books | About Jim Reed

Learn to become your own book!
Schedule Jim Reed
to speak at your
next function!

Jim Reed: Author, humorist, storyteller, instructor, rare book dealer

Read what others have to say about Jim's works.

THUMBNAIL SKETCH OF JIM REED:

Jim Reed is a native of Tuscaloosa and graduate of the University of Alabama. His early career in television broadcasting and public relations ended many years ago when he founded Reed Books and the Museum of Fond Memories in Downtown Birmingham. Jim's writing career has continued since the age of four. He has published a dozen books and hundreds of stories about his life in Alabama. His columns appear on the internet, as do his weekly podcasts.

Jim frequently speaks about the joy of writing, the joy of reading, and the joy of not having bosses.

Reed is married to editor/artist Liz Reed, with whom he has raised three offspring. Seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren call him "Poppy."

Reed is called upon frequently to share his inspirational view of the world. He speaks on "How To Become Your Own Book" at universities and schools, as well as civic and writing groups. "Small Town Red Clay Tales, Both Actual and True" and "Christmas Comes But Once A Day" are performed in Alabama by the Seasoned Readers, a non-profit troupe of senior actors.

THE LONG VERSION OF JIM REED'S LIFE:

Jim Reed was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in 1941, and has been writing since he was 12.

A graduate of the University of Alabama, Reed has worked in radio and television, higher education, and public relations. In 1985, Reed retired his three-piece suit, grew a beard, and recreated his life as author, storyteller, speaker, columnist, humorist, rare book dealer and museum curator.

Reed has written literally hundreds of true (and actual) stories about life in the Deep South. When not writing, teaching or speaking,Reed can be found in The Museum of Fond Memories at Reed Books, Birmingham, his shop full of old books, posters, toys and other things you wish your mother had not thrown away.

Reed is married, the father of three, and "Poppy" to seven grandchildren.

Education & Experience:

Bachelor of Science degree in education (speech major), University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, 1968
Supervisory Management Training Program certification, American Management Association, 1976
Frequent actor and occasional director, community theatres in Tuscaloosa, 1954-1960
Radio and television broadcaster, 1959-69:
Tuscaloosa area radio and TV stations (WJRD, WNPT, WABP, WUOA-FM, WCFT-TV Channel 33)
Public relations practitioner, 1969-85: Birmingham area medical centers
Creator (as adjunct instructor) of first curriculum in public relations, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1976-79
Lecturer, Management Training Program--Birmingham since 1972
Writer, inspirational speaker, teacher since 1953
Rare book dealer since 1980

Operation New Birmingham stage production, "Man Bran" skit, appared as actor (at Alabama Theatre)

FILMOGRAPHY:

Film, "The Museum of Fond Memories" written and produced by Memri Williams and Anna Carter in 2015. Appeared as subject of film and interviewee.

Film, "Mr. Todd's Fancy" written & directed by Bill Chitwood in 2013. Appeared as on-screen narrator.

Film, "Lipidleggin'" directed by John Marc Green in 2012. Appeared as narrator, actor

Subject of film documentary, "Reed Books" directed by Doug Anderson in 1999

Subject of film documentary, "Reed Books" directed by Erik Horne in 1995

Subject of film documentary, "Reed Books The Museum of Fond Memories" by Larry O. Gay in 2010.

Columns, stories, reviews, commentaries and poems have appeared in/on:

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Book Publications include:

Dad’s Tweed Coat: Small Wisdoms Hidden Comforts Unexpected Joys by Jim Reed

Christmas Comes But Once A Day by Jim Reed

An Alabama Christmas: 20 Heartwarming Tales by Truman Capote, Helen Keller, Sonny Brewer, and More including Jim Reed’s story Christmas Comes But Once A Day

I Wish I Was in Dixie by Marie Stokes Jemison and Jim Reed

Whatever Remembers Us: An Anthology of Alabama Poetry by Sue Brannan Walker and J. William Chambers including Jim Reed’s poem One of Those Days in Verbena, Alabama

Alabama Scrapbook by Ellen Sullivan and Marie Stokes Jemison including Jim Reed's story, Private Lessons

Inward Tales: Dancing Around Race, Racism and Racists by Jim Reed

Superrelations by Gina Boyd and Jim Reed

How to Become Your Own Book by Jim Reed

Not Another Poetry Book (Another Poetry Book) by Jim Reed

Beards Beards Beards by Helen Bunkin with foreword by Jim Reed

Small-Town Red Clay Tales, Both Actual and True by Jim Reed

Not Enough Sleep (Can’t Stop My Brain): Insomniac Tales by Jim Reed

The Alalitcom 2001 by Donna Jean Tennis and John Curbow including Jim Reed’s story Grove of the Dolls

Marilyn of the Uncreased Elbow by Jim Reed

Sticky Novels, Stickier Novels, Stickiest Novels: Three Books of Tales Jotted Down on Sticky Notes by Jim Reed

Glugged Not Stirred by Jim Reed

Horace the Horribly Hoarse Horse by Jim Reed and T.R. Reed

The McGees of North River by Bryant McGee including stories by Jim Reed

A Box of Trinkets by Allen Johnson Jr. including a Foreword by Jim Reed

Bumbling Towards Nirvanaby Allen Johnson Jr. including a back-cover blurb by Jim Reed

Unpublished manuscripts by Jim Reed:

MOM'S SUNSHINE SONG (a sequel to DAD'S TWEED COAT)
MIND YOUR P'S
TALES OF T TOWN
THE SAGA OF BUMBLY BEE
THE ROACH IN THE LOWERED CEILING WAS THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENED THAT DAY
DEAR MOMA, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH THAT IF YOU WHER A BOY I WHUD HAVE A CRUSH ON YOU

COURSES AND SEMINARS TAUGHT (partial list): Community outreach seminars:

Auburn University Special Studies
Comer Community School, Birmingham
Miles College (one-time guest lecturer in writing program)
Shelton State Community College, Tuscaloosa (taught two community courses)
University of Alabama at Birmingham Special Studies (taught several community courses)

SELECTED ADDITIONAL LECTURES AND CLASSES AND SIGNINGS AND PERFORMANCES (details by request):

A random sampling: Brown Bag Luncheon Lectures (Birmingham Public Library & Emmet O'Neal Library), New Horizons Group (University of Alabama at Birmingham), AARP, Alabama Rural Electric Association, American Business Women Assn, Armed Forces Officers Wives , Birmingham Genealogical Society, Birmingham Mothers' Center, Birmingham Breakfast Club, Business and Professional Women's clubs, Caxton Club, Various Chambers of Commerce, Civitan Clubs, Clay County Historical Society, Crestwood Garden Club, General Sumter Chapter, Eleanor Hord Literary Club, Exchange Clubs, Morgan County Historical Society, Hoover Historical Society , Institute of Management Accountants, Jerry Brown Arts Festival, Kiwanis clubs, Lions clubs, Little Rock Arkansas Book Club, National League of American Penwomen / Birmingham, New Horizons Club, Newcomers Club of Birmingham, Optimist Club, Public Relations Council of Birmingham, Rotary clubs, St Clair Historical Society Ragland, Sertoma clubs, Sons of the American Revolution Black Warrior River Chapters, Southern Magic/Romance Writers, Trussville Literary Club, Tuscaloosa Trailblazers, Twin Oaks Garden Club, Walker County Genealogical Society, Libraries in Homewood, Vestavia, Irondale, Gardendale, Talladega, Trussville, Blountsville, LAMP Program, Alabama Bound, Radio: WEZN, WAPI, Radio Reading Service, WSMQ, WTBC, WYDE, Churches: Cathedral of the Advent, Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian, Gardendale First Baptist, Independent Presbyterian, Northport Baptist, Southside Baptist, St. Luke's Episcopal, Valley Christian, Shades Valley Lutheran, Grace Presbyterian XYZ'ers, Southminster Presbyterian, Retirement facilities & Senior Groups: Fairhaven, First Presbyterian church of Bessemer, Mt Royal Towers, Galleria Oaks, Galleria Woods, Greenbriar at the Altamont, Joy Club (Jewish Community Center), Mountain Top Community Church, St Martin's, East Lake Methodist, Chateau Vestavia, Graysville, Pelham New Pioneers, Shepherd Center at Bluff Park Methodist Church, Shepherd Center Southside Baptist, The Park, Town Village Vestavia Hills Retirement Community. Schools: Briarwood Christian High School, John Carroll High, Madison Cross Roads, Vestavia Central, Pennington HS Blountsville, Susan Moore School Blount Cty, Southeastern Elementary Blount Cty, Southminster Presbyterian School, Seasoned Readers (19 public performances) Signings: Birmingham Art Association, Little Professor, Barnes & Nobel stores, Books A Million stores, Wildwood Writer's club, Bobby Frese BEARDS book store, Jonathan Benton, A Novel Approach, City Stages Spoken Word Festival, Crosshaven Books, Sisters in Crime Club, Southside Book Club, UAB Booktalk Others: Alabama Center for the Book, Drake Beam Morin, Economic Development Committee City of Bham, National League of Cities TV: WBRC Good Day Alabama, APTV For the Record, ABC/WBMA Good Morning Alabama, 44 PAX, Channel 13 Midday show Writing sessions: Trinity Schools in Montgomery, Alabama Holistic Health College, Alabama Media Professionals, Auburn Special Studies, Birmingham Art Association, Birmingham Arts Journal, Comer School, Management Training Program, Miles College, Quill Club, Shelton State Community College, Tarrant Middle School Poets Tea, UAB seminar, West Jefferson Historical Society, Operation New Birmingham annual meetings at Alabama Theatre, Tuscaloosa Little Theatre, and way more