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With 2021 well underway, I believe its time for me to jump back on the horse and update this blog! My word for this year = intention. I struggle to balance my three worlds, (family world, teacher world and author world). Its 5:10am here and my new blue heeler puppy rests at my feet, annoyed he is having to wait to go on a walk. I know I’m not alone in the quest to “do it all”. My intention is to get up at 4:00am. I hear the alarm and shut it off. I lay in bed thinking of writing this post and even of doing a 30 minute peloton workout, but I remain motionless until 4:52am. I’m a work in progress, but it feels good to write this in the silence of my living room. I’m seated at our occasional table right by the front door. I think of all the things that lie before me today and happily, know this post is almost complete. Intention, what a strong word to anchor myself to each day. I’m going to redefine it to be softer, more grace giving and open. My intention this year is to gift myself more time to write and post. Today gives me hope I can do it!

Happy Labor Day weekend, everyone! I hope this new month of September has brought you cooler weather, for me, not so much. But I have seen the occasional fall themed wreath or garden flag on my weekly walks and feel slightly~ hopeful. The Truth Turned Upside Down was released in audiobook format without much fanfare as I was grappling with the start of a new school year. Things are finally normalizing for me and so here it is…..drum roll please….The Truth Turned Upside Down in audio format, brilliantly narrated by Kathleen Li.

www.amzn.com/B08F32XC3Z

Sample Chapters

All my best~ Penelope

Well, its here-the 2020-2021 school year. My dreams of finishing the first book in the Red Rock Redemption series came true, minus a beta read or editing. But, the show must go on. Once I’m back with my students, time is a luxury I rarely get. However, I am committed to bringing this story to you, readers! The cast of new characters have grown in my heart and I think you will be smitten, as well.

I made the hard decision to pull The Truth Turned Upside Down (full length ebook version) from Smashwords, Kobe and Barnes and Noble. I plan to release it on Amazon soon, along with the audiobook version. This book is my baby and mama tears up with each new milestone.

An interesting thing happened recently, I sent out a short story ( one chapter to be exact) to my email list, featuring Cooper and Eli from The Truth Turned Upside Down. The feedback I received was positive. Lots of subscribers dowloaded the content and a few even emailed me wanting to know more about Lucy and Finn’s life with the kids. I’m planning to write more, possibly an entire book as a sequel to The Truth Turned Upside Down. Join my mailing list to receive each new chapter, I’d love you to take this journey with me!

All my best~ Penelope

In real life, I’m a teacher and today, I officially have less than two weeks until my first day of the 2020-2021 school year. Yes, I’m a bit uncertain, hopeful and…curious. My classroom has 9 large tables at which I typically seat 3-4 students. That’s not gonna work per the CDC, will any of it work? I know we as a nation, are all asking ourselves that right now. So…I thought I would write a short story about Cooper and Eli ( short for Elizabeth) heading off to school this fall. If you are not aware, these are characters from The Truth Turned Upside Down series. There ARE SPOILERS in this short chapter, but if you like it, maybe you will want to know more. I hope you all are doing well and realize, whatever choices you make for your family, they are the right ones. You are not alone in this, dear readers, I see you!

https://dl.bookfunnel.com/9w52q36709

All my best~ Penelope

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The first book in the series is free on amazon for the next two days! Check it out and please, share. http://www.amzn.com/B08994MPGC

So how is everyone doing post 4th of July? Still the weirdest summer of my life-thanks COVID19! I have been working on producing the audiobook for The Truth Turned Upside Down with a wonderful narrator-Kathleen Li. If you missed her voiceover sample please drop back to my post from June 19th-its awesome. When will the audiobook be released? To quote Amazon… in about 30 business days from July 8th. I’ll let you know!

I have also been working on new covers (again) I mean the last set, (I made), and they look like duck faces. I think these covers are here to stay….I really appreciate my grass root followers as I know your time is precious and following a new author is risky, but possibly -entertaining as well. I have my fingers in about 100 pots right now and although it’s exhausting, I am excited every day to take this journey with you.

I loaded up the ebook version of The Truth Turned Upside Down to Smashwords today, so it’s currently available for $4.97. Hopefully soon, it will also be available on Nook Press, Kobo and Apple Books. The link to buy it on Smashwords is posted on the right hand side of my blog. However, I am running a FREE promotion on Amazon Wednesday for the first book in the print novel -The Truth Lucy Saw. Just to clarify, The Truth Turned Upside Down is a collection of three books. You have choices people! Ok, enough rambling….I hope this week treats you well, masks on and Godspeed!

All my best ~Penelope

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R14BWC73HYOT82/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B08994MPGC

My first verified review of The Truth Lucy Saw! I adore EVERY review I get but because Amazon puts so much weight on verified reviews….this one had me singing in the shower! I am also testing new covers for the books this week. Those are the good things that happened. On a downward note, someone hit my car yesterday and ran!! Who does these things? Someone with red and white paint on THEIR car does these things. This is life, the up and the down of hit. I had to laugh because my husband had the same exact thing happen to his car several months ago and so now we have matching, ugly dents. Mind you, both these cars were made before 2010, they are basically antiques. The glamorous life of a teacher, want to be best selling author, don’t get too jealous.

All my best ~Penelope

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I secured my narrator for the audiobook version of all three books, The Truth Turned Upside Down. It was so difficult to choose, but I am over the moon-excited with the talented individual ( Kathleen Li on Amazon ACX ) who will be the voice of Lucy, Anne, Dianna, John and Finn. I want to put her audition on my blog, but need to ask her first if this is acceptable? I am again, like a fish out of water, learning my way in the world of authorship. The audiobook needs a cover of course -tag you’re it Diana Nemesu! I am also going to use this image as the cover for the novel as I think it deserves it’s own cover. Here is what I sent her today as a rough sketch, Lucy, Anne and Dianna- she will work magic with it! What do you think? Of course, the rabid, anime bunny, is just for kicks!

All my best ~Penelope

My brain is tired this week, anyone relate? For some reason, I thought launching The Truth Turned Upside Down series and writing Red Rock Redemption at the same time was feasible. This only strengthens my notion about the fleeting state of my sanity. However, I push on with the unconditional love of two, ying and yang pups!

I see this sometimes when I take walks, an owner with a large and small dog, walking unbalanced and happy down the sidewalk. My large dog is the kindest, most anxious of creatures; but to look at him might cause you a fright. He is HUGE and has a very loud bark when he decides to sound off. My little guy is dreadfully disobedient and believes himself to be quite intimidating, all eleven pounds of him.

The one thing they share in common is close proximity to me when tied to my computer, writing and deciding what to work on next. Just a brief stoke of their fur reminds me that this is not the big scary thing I imagine it to be, this new author role, this casting of stones in life’s stream. They are here and I am just me, still me but with a new endeavor. I hope that whatever you are miring in this week, you remember you are still just you, a great you that deserves to relax and just breathe. We are all about to begin, in the middle of, or wrapping up endeavors. We are here and greatly loved, that is enough!

All my best ~Penelope