Meet Author James Allen
James Allen writes from a life shaped by equal parts sawdust and stories. Known as The Sawdust Sage™, he blends humor, reflection, and everyday Midwestern moments into work that feels both familiar and quietly insightful.
He also writes as Seamus Ailin for younger readers and the young at heart.
A Quick Note on Names
I’ve recently received a number of emails and messages asking about As a Man Thinketh, the short philosophical book written by James Allen (1864–1912) and first published in 1903. Despite the gray hair, I should clarify that I am neither English nor was I around at the time of its publication. While I agree with many of the book’s core principles and respect its enduring influence, I can’t take credit for my namesake’s work. That James Allen lived, wrote, and thought in a very different time and context.
James Allen writes from a life shaped by equal parts sawdust and stories. Known as The Sawdust Sage™, he blends humor, reflection, and everyday Midwestern moments into work that feels both familiar and quietly insightful.
A retired IT project manager and craftsman by choice, James finds poetry in workshop mishaps, market days, and the steady rhythms of ordinary life. His writing spans memoir, humor, and poetry that gently reminds readers the extraordinary often hides in plain sight.
He also writes as Seamus Ailin, creating whimsical, thoughtful pieces for younger readers and the young at heart.
James lives in Iowa with his wife Lexie and their supervisory cats, Midnight and Sunshine.
James’s work is available through major retailers including Amazon and Goodreads.