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A Lighter Note

Writers Penn, Lose team up on
new book for ‘Baby Boomers’

‘Nobody Told Me’ offers humorous look at growing old

LA GRANGE, Ky. (July 2018) – Children’s author Linda M. Penn, a native of Canaan, Ind., has embarked  on a new journey writing a book for an adult audience, specifically the Baby Boomers. Penn is best known for the children’s series “Clayton’s River Adventures.”
Sara Lose is the co-writer for the book, “Nobody Told Me, 30 Days of Humor for Baby Boomers.” Both have strong work ethic and are retired educators. One day Penn and Lose neighbor’s commented, “Nobody told me what it was like to get old.” The two continued to hear similar comments from friends. That is how the two came upon the book idea and title.
The two  had not seen books on this topic that were humorous yet little bit inspirational. For example, the book is about how to deal with getting older; not addressing the religious, physical or mental qualities.

Photo provided

Children’s book author Linda Penn turns her attention to adult readers aimed at Baby Boomers.

“Nobody Told Me, 30 days of Humor for Baby Boomers” offers 30 different short stories from Penn and Lose. Each page includes a humorous-not off color quote. The quote is included to make you smile or laugh and is related to what is written about on that page. Penn shared a quote that inspires her: “My job is not to sell books, but to inspire others to read, write, create and enjoy it.” (Anonymous)
This is Lose’s first book. She lives in La Grange Ky., with her husband, Steve. Lose is a retired college professor with 30 years of experience. She enjoys her three grandchildren. Lose also reads a lot, knits a little, volunteers at the hospital and works with the Citizens Police Academy of La  Grange.
Lose first met Penn when they moved into the same neighborhood just months apart from each other. The two enjoy walking together in the neighborhood, which is where the idea for the book was first heard. This practice continued with most of the book ideas originating during the walks and talks.
Different people shared comments asking, “Why didn’t someone tell us what it was like to get older?” Then it occurred to Lose that maybe someone did tell us, and we didn’t pay any attention, thinking we weren’t going to get old.
“If you don’t have a sense of humor, you are doomed, anyway,” Lose said. “Things start to happen. For example, our vision changes, and you can’t reach your toes to cut your toenails.”
Comedian Billy Crystal once said, “I can’t be funny if my feet don’t feel right.”
Lose continued, “Nobody tells us what it’s going to be like. So we decided to focus on things to do to make it more pleasant. For example, keeping the mind active, getting involved in your community and staying in touch with people to combat isolation that sometimes happens as people get older.”
The two have finished writing the book, and it is now available. Lose said there is more to publishing a book than just writing it. There is formatting, illustrating, publishing and marketing. Lose said she was glad Penn’s experiences made the process easier.
Penn and Lose are launching “Nobody Told Me, 30 Days of Humor for Baby Boomers” this summer. Both authors will be at Oldham County Day, July 21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Oldham County Courthouse Square in La Grange. You can also visit www.lindampenn.com for details about other book signings, presentations and the book launch.

The book is a light and funny novelty book providing things to think about as humans age, making it a good gift for the “big” birthdays. According to Lose, a quote by Leon Trotsky best encapsulates the meaning of the book is: “Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man.”

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