As a child I was the world’s worst speller, could not understand phonics, diagramming sentences, or proper grammar. Consequently, I was a struggling, poor and slow reader. I remember after school and even during the summer being carted off by my mother to be tutored in reading. To this day, I struggle with spelling and grammar. Thank goodness, for spelling and grammar checks in computer writing software or I would not be here today.
For some reason, things began to click and I started to read the Hardy Boy books, James Bond became popular and I attacked him as he out-fought Goldfinger. It did not hurt that Ian Fleming was a bit racy as well as an exciting writer. Next were Agatha Christie and Hercule Poirot, darned if I could never solve any of her mystery novels, but she got me hooked on reading.
Why say all this in an author’s bio? Kids do not give up on reading. Even if it is the back of a cereal box, read. Parents do not give up on your children. Read to them, take away the handheld video game or the game remote and stick a book in their hands. Show them the newspaper, subscribe to National Geographics, Sports Illustrated, or something they can pick up and read. For some reason boys are worse than girls when it comes to reading. Boys let’s get with it! If I could do it, you surely can as well. Reading is the building block of education and education of course is the building block of life.
Well, off my soapbox. Thanks for listening. |
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"I may be somewhere in the Great Smoky Mountains searching for that hidden colony of dwarf dragons, however I’ll get back with you. I promise." - Phil
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I could tell you that this is my fourth book. That I have been honored with a number of writing awards and am hailed as a new up and coming children’s book author. Publishers and agents from New York to London are clamoring after my next work all the time. Unfortunately, that would be greater fiction than “The Secret Society of Dragons – Parable of the Petty Thief." This is my first children’s chapter book. Hey, you have to start somewhere and sometime. I guess at 61 is a little late.
I have the honor of being twice retired. First as a Lieutenant Colonel from the United States Army, Military Police Corps and second from the Department of Energy as a nuclear weapons security inspector. I would not trade either of those careers for all the company boardrooms, fat bonuses and corporate jets in the world.
In pursuit of those elusive writing awards, I have just completed my third book, "The Secret Society of Dragons – Parable of the Green Backpack." Like the first two, it will have a glossary in the back of purposely-inserted difficult words found in the story. Please be looking for it. The Secret Society befriends and tries to help Skyler who took something that did not belong to him. The green backpack has something inside which causes not only Skyler trouble but members of the Secret Society as well. I have a fourth book banging around inside my head, The Secret Society of Dragons – Parable of the Troubled Environment.
I enjoy volunteer work at Saint James in Charles Town, writing, and retirement with my bride of 41 years in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of West Virginia.
Jody Wright the illustrator did just a marvelous job. She brought Sylvia and Durwood to life. Her website is: www.wsggallery.com check her out.
E-mail me! I may be somewhere in the Great Smoky Mountains searching for that hidden colony of dwarf dragons, however I’ll get back with you. I promise. phildragonspress@gmail.com
Hit the town library. Visit the school library. Go to a bookstore. Borrow and trade with your friends. Get books. Read.
Good reading to you all!
Phil Brenner
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