MUSCATINE, Iowa–As the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 and its financial repercussions began, many started paying closer attention to their finances, the stock market, and economic outlooks. Local writer and now retired independent wrestler Juan Fourneau found himself doing just that, spending more time reading articles on the website the HumbleDollar. As he grew familiar with their content, he shared, “I thought maybe I’d write for HumbleDollar.”
A reader all his life, Fourneau credits his delight in reading and words to his father. “My father loved to read and always had a book in his hand,” he recalls. Over time, Fourneau’s reading inspired him to start writing, and he developed a talent for it.
Fourneau contacted the HumbleDollar’s editor, Jonathan Clements, a writer who previously contributed to the Wallstreet Journal. Clements expressed interest in Fourneau’s work, and after reading several samples, he allowed him to start writing for the blog.
When Clements began planning an anthology of essays collecting financial insights from writers of varying experiences, he reached out to Fourneau. He accepted the challenge, vowing to write something unlike the other entries in the book. “I wanted it to be something a little unique,” he said. “I think when it comes to personal finance, it can be a bit dry” adding, “I tried not to be boring.” The project grew into the book, “My Money Journey,” published by Harriman House.
Juan Fourneau with a copy of “My Money Journey,” which includes an essay he wrote. Photo courtesy Juan Fourneau.
Fourneau anticipated most writers in the anthology would focus on their economic successes: when their savings paid off, when an investment prospered, or when a business venture succeeded. He decided to take a different tack, focusing on his biggest financial misstep. In his piece, Fourneau details purchasing a coffee shop business and how the difficulties he and his wife experienced while owning it taught him lessons that continue to guide his financial decisions years later. He sees showing the perspective of someone who lost in a business venture rather than someone who succeeded as a cautionary tale for young entrepreneurs.
Fourneau has enjoyed becoming a published author and feels grateful for his first chance to contribute to an anthology. “A lot of times, people from the Midwest don’t always get opportunities like that,” he observed. In the future, he hopes to continue writing articles for several publications. “I enjoy writing for Discover Muscatine and HumbleDollar, and some other sites,” he said. One day, he hopes to publish a complete book of his own too.
“My Money Journey” recently went into print, and interested readers may purchase it from Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.
