Dad's 100 Poems, Songs, and Riddles Within

Jeffrey Krueger embarked on his writing journey in 2004. The journey has been a source of both joy and fulfillment, and one that challenged his dyslexic learning disorder. His first creation, a screenplay titled The Maestro, was completed in 2009. Since then, he has penned and published five books of poems, each a testament to his resilience and growth: Dad's 100 Poems, Riddles, and Songs in 100 Days, Dad's 100 Poems, Songs, and Riddles Within Series 2, 3, and 4, as well as Dad's Poems and Riddles Revealed, a delightful fusion of poetry and illustrations.

His writing reflects his personal encounters and challenges, starting with his transformation from addiction and depression to redemption, healing, and a revitalized spirit. These encounters and challenges have not been obstacles, but stepping stones, leading him to a place of resilience and growth, a journey that is sure to inspire others.

In his recent trio of books, he has shared the exhilaration of dancing in the rain, the liberation of participating in a parade, the excitement of casting a fishing line, the tranquility of driving at a steady fifty mph in a fifty zone while receiving cheers from onlookers, the warmth of embracing his wife, the fulfillment derived from showing kindness to others, and the comfort found in earnest prayers to dispel discord. He has cherished times spent playing ninjas with his grandchildren, nurturing flowers in the garden, hunting for geese or deer, riding bareback on a horse, and expressing himself through paint on a canvas, reliving them all from the comfort of his writing chair.

These poems are a jubilant celebration of life's myriad experiences, a rich tapestry of joy, love, and fulfillment. As Jeffrey himself states, "I never would have imagined that I could have written over four hundred poems and a book of accompanying illustrations. It wouldn't have been possible without the guidance and blessings of my heavenly Father." He hopes you find enjoyment in this fourth series, a collection that celebrates the full spectrum of some of life's experiences.

Jeffrey Krueger was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1952. He grew up on the northside of Milwaukee in the housing project known as Westlawn. He has been involved in the entertainment business for over fifty years. After arriving back from the Woodstock Festival in 1969, he produced his first outdoor concert in 1970. In the late '70s and early '80s he was lead singer of the American Pilots. He wrote and produced the music group's demo LP, Heart Notes. For a short time, he became an entertainment consultant in the Twin Cities area, producing performances of Chuck Berry, Eddie Money, Savoy Brown, Traffic, Todd Rundgren, The Babys, Ricky Nelson, Tommy James & the Shondells, Kiki Dee, Hall & Oates, Peter Tosh, Herman's Hermits, and Poco.In 1983, he founded the country music festival WE Fest in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, one of the largest festivals in the nation. For twenty-eight years, he was at the helm as president of WE Fest, until his semi-retirement in 2010. He produced shows featuring the who's who of country music; to mention just a few: Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Kid Rock, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, George Strait, Little Big Town, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Eric Church, Rascal Flatts, and Taylor Swift. After rededicating his life to his Christian faith at a Promise Keepers event in Minneapolis in August 1997, he launched a Christian music festival called Spirit Fest. It included six stages and over thirty musical acts and speakers per day, including artists Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, Third Day, Newsboys, Point of Grace, Skillet, Big Daddy Weave, Delirious, Phil Driscoll, A Ragamuffin Band, 4Him, and a host of others.He created a fundraiser called the Family Needs Fund, which developed into a nonprofit organization. It was designed and dedicated to assist the crises and circumstantial needs of families in his community. For the last eighteen years, the charity has been active in helping families with their basic needs and continues today.For the last thirty-seven years, he has been a devoted husband, father, and grandfather to four children and ten grandchildren. He defeated cancer with God's healing power and became a reclaimed wood-furniture maker, the inventor of E-Z Stack (e-zstack.com), and a full-time farmer at his ranch, Hardwood Hills Vineyard. Jeffrey began writing as an exploration and a challenge for himself in 2004. He finished his first writing, a screenplay called The Maestro, in 2009. He continues to write his autobiography. He finished his first published book of poems on December 29, 2021, Dad's 100 Poems, Riddles, and Songs in 100 Days.He started his second book, Dad's 100 Poems, Songs, and Riddles Within, on March 20, 2022, and finished on December 3, 2022. He completed his third book in the series on June 27, 2023. Similar to his first two books, they range in subject matter from the sometimes silly, like underwear, a trombone, a fire call, Santa Claus, and a toothbrush, to more serious reflections on life- aging, preserving the land, addiction, a Savior, senseless violence, and the human condition-as well as simply keeping a record of daily moments featuring his local surroundings and the habitat, including certain animals and insects.Proceeds from the sales of Dad's 100 Poems, Songs, and Riddles Within are donated to the Family Needs Fund, a charity to help families in need.