About the Author

Now retired, Jim Laster spent 36-years as a firefighter with the Nashville, Tennessee fire department and has extensive experience in fire safety and in promoting fire education for children.

Jim Laster began his new career as a rookie firefighter on November 1,1974 with the Nashville Fire Department. As a firefighter, he personally saw the dangers of fire and the importance of smoke alarms in the home. Developing a love for working with and teaching kids the importance of fire safety, it became a life long passion. Working 24 hours on duty and 48 hours off duty gave Jim the opportunity to work with schools through out Tennessee and surrounding states. In 1983 he published his first book, The Birthday Gift that Beeped, a children’s book that teaches the importance of being fire safe.

Jim’s second book, The Magic Click, was co-written with another Nashville author, Phyllis Gobbell, and tells the story of a little girl named Abigail and how she learned the importance of wearing seat belts.

The Happy Heart was Jim’s third book, and stresses to children the importance of eating healthy foods and the value of exercising regularly.

Some people have a job, but Jim feels fortunate to have found an exciting career with the Nashville Fire Department for 36+ years. “I hope this book will provide each parent, fire educator, firefighter, teacher and especially the children a fun and exciting way to learn about an important issue as fire safety.” (Jim Laster)

Jim has been married to his childhood sweetheart for almost 49 years. They have 3 children and 8 adorable grandchildren and live just outside Nashville.

Jim Laster: How an Idea Became a Book

“I have been teaching fire safety to kids for almost 45 years. When our kids were in pre-school, teachers would ask me to bring the fire truck to school, show the fire clothes and talk about fire safety.

I continued teaching fire safety in the Nashville schools for the next several years. As I got ready to leave many of the schools, I noticed that much of the fire safety literature was already in the trash can. My thought at that time was to develop a permanent book idea.The book could remain in the school for the teacher as a teaching aid and the students could check the book out year round.

Not long after that I read an article (true story) in the newspaper regarding a family that bought a smoke alarm for a Christmas gift. This family went shopping, bought the smoke alarm, wrapped it in some Christmas wrapping paper and placed it under the Christmas tree. That night while the family slept, they had a house fire. The smoke alarm was wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper but the alarm started making a loud BEEPING NOISE and all the family members got out safely. This story had a happy ending because of a smoke alarm but I changed the story from a Christmas story to a birthday story.The children’s book I wrote is entitled, The Birthday Gift that Beeped since somebody has a birthday every day of the year.”