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Posted on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 3:16 PM
March 25, 2019 AUTHORS – WHAT DO THEY DO ALL DAY? By Linda M. Penn
“So, you are retired and write books? It must be nice to relax at home and just write.”
“Tell me, does an author just sit around all day and write?”
“Wow, that’s great! You write for kids and adults? Are you laughing all the way to the bank?”
These are comments I have heard from well-meaning people since I retired and began writing children’s books and now a book for Baby Boomers. Any of you out there who are authors? I would guess you don’t spend your time writing all day and unless you are in the realm of authors such as J. K. Rowling, John Grisham, or Stephen King, you are not laughing your way to the bank.
Let’s recall – after about a year of researching on line, checking out and reading library books, personal interviews, and weekly planning meetings with co-writer, Frank J. Feger,we actually began writing the new book . I think back to one day at our favorite Panera Bread when we had books, maps, and brochures about Mobile and other places along the Intracoastal Waterway to Destin. Another customer asked if we were planning a trip? We jokingly replied we were going to write a book! After the revising of the writing, we had numerous communications with our illustrator, Melissa Quinio, and our editor and layout designer, Misty Baker. Guess what just arrived in a UPS shipment about a week ago! Our latest children’s chapter book and fifth in the Clayton River Adventure series, entitled: “Clayton’s River Adventure Mobile to Destin.”
So, now we can relax and the books just start selling themselves? NO! It doesn’t work that way. For Frank and I, the real work now begins and we try to recover some of our monetary investment in the book. Marketing now begins. Frank and I really enjoy meeting potential customers at Book Signings and we have gotten great ideas for future books. We spend lots of time emailing and calling potential customers also. We order promotional materials like posters and book marks too in order to gain sales.
It may sound like I am griping. Not really, I enjoy this hobby of being an author. However, the next time someone says, “ Must be nice to just sit around writing all day!” I might be tempted to go into a rant. Can’t do that, though, they might buy a book!
COPYRIGHT 2019 LINDA M. PENN ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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Linda M. Penn: Posted on Friday, December 21, 2018 12:07 AM
December 20, 2018
WHAT ARE YOU GIVING THIS CHRISTMAS? By Linda M. Penn
Are you giving your kids new tablets, computers, or phones? Lucky them! Well…maybe, maybe not.
Questions:
Is the device something the child needs or something wanted because it is the latest version?
Will the device enable the child to have access to accurate research for school projects?
Will the device be a means to communicate with you in case of an
emergency or maybe a friendly hello call to Grandma or Grandpa?
Will the device be used to talk by text with friends or use on social
outlets? Will the comments be positive or a form of bullying?
I will stop the list of questions – I am sure you get the point. Will the device be used positively or negatively?
I recently read an article about the number of kids who turn to their
devices as their preferred social outlet versus actual person-to-person
contact. The article also gave statistics about rising rates of
depression in youth. I am not trying to make the argument that
technology is the underlying reason for youth depression, but it
probably shows it is time to seriously consider the value of more
personal contact and less screen time.
Let’s all
question ourselves: When was the last time we used the phone to
actually make a real phone call to Mom, Grandma, Grandpa, or a friend
instead of an impersonal comment on a social outlet?
Come on, let’s all give a special present this Christmas! OURSELVES –
in the form of real conversation with family and friends!
COPYRIGHT 2018 LINDA M. PENN ALL RIGHTS RESERVED www.
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Posted on Saturday, September 22, 2018 4:27 PM
September 22, 2018
RESPECT, COURTESY - ARE THOSE BAD WORDS NOW? by Linda M. Penn
I heard recently about a young man, a 5
grader, who was punished at school for saying “yes, Ma’am,” to his
teacher. This incident has been turning over and over in my mind for
several weeks now and I
just had to voice my ideas. I decided to research about the history of
the words, “Ma’am” and “Sir.” “Ma’am” goes back to the 1300’s when it
was the word, “Madame,” meaning a respectful way to address a woman.
“Sir” dates from the 1200’s when the word,”Sire”
was used, meaning a respectful way of addressing a man, especially one
in authority.
So…if the words began as forms of
courtesy to others, how did we get to the point of having a student
punished for using the word, “Ma’am?”
Not knowing the reasoning or history
of the teacher involved, it is difficult for me to speculate on how this
incident should affect teachers and students going forward. Do
teachers, parents, and any authority figures expect
to be treated with respect or is it old-school to expect courtesy from
our young people? Do students have a conflicting view of how to treat
adults, not knowing if they will respond positively or negatively to the
youngsters’ eagerness to say kind things?
Do others have differing views of “Ma’am?”
Yes, I know you might be thinking,
“the lady writing this Blog must be a narrow-minded, old lady.” Go
ahead, think that if you want, but I really appreciated it when a
student said to me, “yes, Ma’am,” during my 25+ years
of public school teaching.
The above incident is to me, just
another example, of how common courtesy is slipping away from our
society as a whole. Have we not figured out that kids need respectful
adults after which to model behaviors? I cannot help
but wonder what the young man thinks about trying to use common
courtesy as he grows up. Will he keep following his parents leading and
try to use respectful words to authority figures or will he be hardened
to never use them again?
As adults, it seems obvious to me
that we need to do a better job modeling courtesy to our young people if
we want a society that holds each other up, rather than tears each
other down.
Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” ( goodreads.com) The Bible says in Luke 6:31, “Treat others the same way you want them to treat
you.”
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Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2018 8:53 PM
May 3, 2018
KIOSKS AND LONELY PEOPLE
By
Linda M. Penn
Raise your hand if you use the self-checkout kiosks at the grocery store and avoid the person-to-person contact when checking out?
So…
how much more quickly did the kiosk person finish shopping before me
since I chose a real live person to scan the purchases and bag them?
Three to four minutes time saved – WOW, THAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT, RIGHT?
Yes, she gets to sit in the car rider pickup line at school and she is five cars in front of me! Oh, no!
On
the other hand, I was able to talk to one of my favorite checkers,
Catherine, and found out she sold a painting – “Congratulations!” I told
her. I could tell she was really excited over the prospect of selling
another piece of art.
What
about that ATM machine located just outside the front door to my bank?
Oh, that ATM transaction will take a lot less time than if you go
inside, you say? Well, I waited in the car while my husband chose
person-to-person contact and went inside. At the same time, I saw
another gentleman walk up to
the ATM machine. He left to go to his car about three or four minutes
before my husband returned. WOW, THAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT, RIGHT? Yes,
he gets in the local restaurant and is waiting to be seated when my
husband and I walk in. Oh, no! He’ll get his table and food before us!
On the other hand, when my husband got in the car at the bank, he shared the news that one of our favorite bank tellers,
Carol, has her house up for sale and intends to move in a condo down
our street. He shared what he told her, “That’s cool, you’ll love the
neighborhood.”
Ok,
just one more kiosk story! Have you tried the kiosk where you can
place your food order instead of ordering using that perceived
old-fashioned person-to-person contact at the counter? My local
favorite fast food restaurant recently closed for several months for
renovation. Upon my first visit back, I saw the newly installed
ordering kiosks, but instead of choosing that perceived time-saving
kiosk, I chose person-to-person contact with my favorite clerk,
George. “Hi, glad to see you are back at work now,” I told him and he
grinned ear to ear. “Oh, yes!” he enthusiastically answered. Well,
what do you think happened? The kiosk user and I received our orders at
the SAME TIME!
Contrast
these experiences with a news report I saw recently about the high
percentage of adults, particularly young adults, who admitted to feeling
lonely more than 50% of the time. Just wondering, are those kiosk
users complaining of being lonely? WOW! Not me! I love that person-to-person contact! TRY IT! YOU’LL LOVE IT!
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Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 7:15 PM
February 20, 2018
ARE INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORES DYING?
By
Linda M. Penn
SAD NEWS - Our local bookstore in Lagrange, KAREN’S BOOK BARN, has
closed. So sorry to hear about another bookstore closing its doors.
These stores are so important to communities and leave a lot of people
searching for a place to connect with local authors.
If
you visit an independent bookstore that is still operating, please try
to support it and give the owners some words of encouragement. Want to
thank all those customers who supported Frank and me and Karen’s Book
Barn over the last several years. Our books are still available at
CARMICHAEL'S, Frankfort Avenue and Bardstown Road, in LOUISVILLE, as
well as online at Amazon.
Check out the latest Clayton
River Adventure chapter book for ages 7-11, Clayton’s River Adventure
Louisville to Paducah, at the website: www.lindampenn.com.
COPYRIGHT 2018 LINDA M. PENN ALL RIGHTS RESERVED www.lindampenn.com lindampenn@gmail.com
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Posted on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 4:36 PM
November 15, 2017
A NEW BABY ARRIVES!
BY
Linda M. Penn
Nothing quite like a new baby – for my co-writer, Frank, and I, there’s nothing quite like a new BOOK!
The shipment of our fourth Clayton River Adventure series book, “Clayton’sRiver Adventure Louisville to Paducah,”
just got delivered! Now, all those tedious writing sessions while
“camping out” one morning a week at Panera Bread Louisville Oxmoor seem
well worth it! Hard to explain just how exciting it is to see our ideas
actually out there in print. This book was prompted by the requests of
teachers that Frank and I met from the western KY area at the KY
Teachers of English and Language Arts Conference two years ago.
Special thanks to the other team
members – Melissa Quinio, illustrator, and Marie Billings, editor and
layout designer, and the other people who helped us along the way. Be
sure and see the Acknowledgements page in the front matter when you read
the book. As usual, the back matter of the book contains references,
nautical language, and ideas for teachers and parents to use with the
book.
So…just be prepared! Frank or I will be out there on the Book Signing trail soon. The book cover and summary are also on the website. Book is available on Amazon and through IngramSpark.
Many thanks to family, friends, and
supporters, particularly, the independent book stores, libraries, and
schools that we have made connections with in the last several years.
God Bless and Happy Reading,
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LINDA M. PENN: Posted on Wednesday, August 30, 2017 11:58 AM
September 1, 2016
MOVING ON!
By
Linda M. Penn
All good things come to an end…at least
an end to things as we know them now! I hope reading my Blogs has been
a good thing for you, however, I am suspending writing my monthly Blog
as of this date.
I began a Blog in June, 2012 to give a
helping hand to teachers and parents, providing reading and writing
ideas to use with their kids. Here we are 60+ Blogs later and just not
sure what else I can suggest to you! Thanks
for your comments along the way. Please continue to email me with any
questions or concerns.
The other writing projects will
continue. I am currently involved in two projects – another Clayton’s
River Adventure children’s chapter book with my cousin, Frank J. Feger,
and my first attempt at writing a book targeted to
adults with my friend, Sara. Also, other projects are rumbling around
in my head, including a “BOMB,” a
Book of My Blogs.
Signing off for now with the Blogs but
will continue to email a monthly Newsletter, my attempt to keep
followers advised of what is happening in my life as an author! If you
are not on my monthly email Newsletter list and would
like to be, please let me know at:
lindampenn@gmail.com
God Bless and Happy Reading,
Linda
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LINDA M . PENN: Posted on Monday, July 31, 2017 11:01 AM
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL – SPARKING SUCCESS By Linda M. Penn
Weren’t we just talking about what to do on summer break? How did the summer go by so quickly? Yes, time flies!
Sparking success for a school year
actually depends on everyone in our communities. Give that encouraging
word to kids when they come through your checkout line with all those
new school supplies, when they come to your library,
when they try on clothes at the dressing room of your store, and of
course, when they try on those new shoes in your shoe department. And
don’t forget smiles and kind words for the parents, teachers,
administrators, bus drivers, kitchen staffs, office staffs,
custodial workers, and anyone else involved in the start of school.
I don’t normally repeat a Blog but I
received several positive comments about my August 1, 2016 Blog about
courage and fear in the new school year. So, here goes:
Provide your kiddos with courage and confidence to take away the anxiety and fear of a new school year.
1)
Arm them with the appropriate tools – supplies, clothes, shoes.
2)
Tour the school.
3)
Meet teachers, principals, counselors, office staff.
4)
If possible, purchase a T-shirt with the school logo.
5)
Discuss morning, after-school, and nighttime expectations with them.
6)
Begin the bedtime routine at least a week ahead of time.
7)
Discuss lunchtime options – buy or bring? If bring, compromise on nutritional food choices.
8)
Address any concern of your children in a POSITIVE manner.
9)
Model a GOOD ATTITUDE. Show your excitement but calmness about the upcoming year.
10)
Reinforce to them how proud you are of them.
11)
PRAY WITH THEM, PRAY FOR THEIR TEACHERS, BUS DRIVERS, AND ALL SCHOOL STAFF AND THEN TRUST IN THE LORD.
Please see
Bible verse Phillipians 4:6. “Don’t be anxious about anything, but in all your prayers, ask God for what you need, always with a thankful heart.”
See you back here the first week of September. New Blog: “MOVING ON!”
Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved Linda M. Penn
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Linda M. Penn: Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2017 7:55 PM
July 1, 2017
IMAGINATION – BUBBLES AND TENTS! By Linda M. Penn
Has your child ‘hit the wall’ this summer? “Mommy, what can I do?” “Daddy, I’m bored!”
How about some imagination
activities? Imagination opens doors for kids – new ways for them to see
and think about things. Our kiddos have an abundance of imagination
just waiting to be opened. How else do we get mature adults who come up
with innovative ideas?
I searched “imagination in children”
and found an interesting article titled “10 Easy Ways to Fire Your
Child’s Imagination” by Jeremy Schlosberg. If you look up the article,
it is well worth it.
Here are some ideas from the article and I added a couple of my own tried and tested suggestions:
1) Tell stories – no video or book needed.
2) Make art – draw, paint, etc.
3) Use natural or generic materials – blocks, sand, etc.
4) Let them create their own visions - don’t overload them with images from TV, movies, computers.
5) Make puppets – old socks are perfect.
6) Take a nature walk – grab that paper bag and go.
7) Fold blank sheets of paper.
8) Play with big boxes – is it a house, cave, spaceship?
9) Blow bubbles.
10) Make tents in a large indoor space – quilts, blankets, sheets, etc.
HAVE A FUN SUMMER! SHARE YOUR IMAGINATIVE IDEAS WITH US!
Come back at the beginning of August – Blog Title:
“FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL – SPARKING SUCCESS”
COPYRIGHT 2017 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED LINDA M. PENN
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Linda M. Penn: Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 12:39 PM
June 1, 2017
VOLUNTEER – SOMEONE NEEDS YOU! By Linda M. Penn
As you and/or your kids get out of school for the summer, what are you going to do?
Relax? Yes! Read?
Yes! Sleep more? Yes! Volunteer?
What? YES - SOMEONE NEEDS YOU! Volunteering by you, your
kids, or as a family brings enjoyment in working on something worthwhile
together, increases self-esteem, and makes us aware of our importance
to the world.
Okay, so what are we going to do?
Search about the places to volunteer
that sound interesting to you. A search for me was: “volunteer
opportunities Louisville, KY” and this produced numerous websites.
I found there are areas of
volunteerism in: Children and Youth, Community, Education and
Literacy, Health and Medicine, Seniors, Sports and Recreation plus
more. Specifically, volunteers could work at the Louisville
Zoo, Kentucky Science Center, Louisville Metro Parks, or Louisville
Metro Animal Services just to name a few.
For those of you who live in other towns and cities, just search for volunteer opportunities in your area.
Still not sure what to
do? Try talking to someone at your school, library, church, government
center or just talk to a neighbor or friend.
REMEMBER: SOMEONE NEEDS YOU!
COME BACK THE FIRST WEEK OF JULY – “IMAGINATION – BUBBLES AND TENTS!”
COPYRIGHT 2017 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED LINDA M. PENN
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