A very personal thank you to all who attended my book signing at Waldenbooks in Northtown on Saturday, November 17, 2007. Most signings sell five to ten copies. Your enthusiasm for my book sold 31 books outright! If you missed the signing, there are an additional 10 signed copies in the store. Thank you for supporting my first book, and I hope you enjoy reading and sharing it with others.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I finished reading Astrid and Veronika by Lisa Olsson this afternoon. While most will enjoy this book for its theme about female friendships that transcend age and tragic circumstances, I began reading this book for very different reasons. Not only did my mother recommend it by giving me a copy, but I am lately drawn to Swedish authors. My own book of poetry is influenced by Tomas Transtromer, Kjell Espmark, and Lars Gustafsson. I have never been to Sweden, though I hope to visit one day, yet as I read Swedish authors I find natural kinship with them. As well I should I suppose being half-Swedish. There is no exception after completing Olsson's novel. But, I found another connection to this author because she uses poetry within her novel. Not only does she begin each chapter with a poetic heading, but her own style of writing contains the rhythm and imagery of a hidden poet, not just a translator. While her book has received mixed reviews and I see the point of those who see its shortcomings, as the author of a first book and an avid reader, I say "well done" to Ms. Olsson. I hope she will continue to write with the same lyric, compelling style and incorporate poetry in her future stories. For me, the linking of these two genres made the book that much more inviting and intriguing.  

Tate Publishing and Enterprises

The Lord gave the Word; great was the company of those that published it.”

-Psalms 68:11

Penny J Johnson Book Signing Event

Date:   November 17, 2007          Time: 1pm – 3pm

Waldenbooks

212 Northtown Dr, Blaine, MN

We hope to see you there!

Tate Publishing and Enterprises, LLC

Can’t make the event?  

Go to www.tatepublishing.com to visit our online bookstore to get a copy!

PLEASE NOTE

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Tate Publishing and Enterprises

The Lord gave the Word; great was the company of those that published it.”

-Psalms 68:11

Penny J Johnson Book Signing Event

Date:   November 17, 2007          Time: 3pm – 5pm

Waldenbooks

212 Northtown Dr, Blaine, MN

We hope to see you there!

Tate Publishing and Enterprises, LLC

Can’t make the event?  

Go to www.tatepublishing.com to visit our online bookstore to get a copy!

Yesterday and today, I had to explain inertia to my boys for our science lesson. Being a rather resistant student when it came to math and science, I am surprised that in needing to teach something I forced myself to misunderstand, I actually "get it." At least enough to explain why hard boiled eggs spin. At least enough to realize how much I resist change, that an inert life sounds inviting sometimes, that the push and pull of life often causes more friction even to a damaging degree. But if something soothing is added to my life--a smile, a kind word, a tender touch--the friction lessens much like oil to shifts and gears. It reminds me that an inert life is a dull life, and learning how to enjoy life's spin makes all the doing worth while.

One of my sons and I were working on a wordfind for his spelling lesson yesterday. He hates these very much, claiming that he was never taught how to do them properly. I found the words he had the most trouble finding were the ones spelled backwards. As I was helping him see these words from a different perspective, I noticed something. Hidden in the words "ridicule" and "ridiculous" is the word "lucid." So I wonder...Before resorting to ridicule, do we need to look at the actions and ideas of others from their perspective no matter how backwards they may seem? In other words, within the ridiculous is something lucid hidden?

Good Evening!

May I officially welcome you to Penny's Pages. Hopefully, this will be the first of many visits we will have together.

These pages may be filled with musings and mutterings. They may be coherent or nonsensical. They may depend on the weather or the day or the time or on nothing at all. They may be complimentary or constructively critical. Either way, may every rave (or raving) be brave. May courageous encouragement discourage discouragement. And if none of this makes sense right now, keep reading.