From Pages to Hearts: D.A. Jennings on Writing for Children

Sponsored by Eco-Cool HVAC

In this episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett, Rich is joined by children’s author D.A. Jennings to discuss her beloved book series featuring Kip the mouse. Jennings shares how her books teach children valuable life lessons through fun and imaginative stories. She also delves into her passion for literacy outreach, her experiences reading to children, and how she inspires the next generation of young readers. Sponsored by Eco-Cool HVAC, a trusted, veteran-owned HVAC service provider in Harford County, Maryland.

Author / Presenter / Educator | United States | Dajennings Author

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Transcript

Rich Bennett 0:00
I am sitting here for a young lady who's been on. I think this is your third. No, third. 

Debbie Jennings 0:07
I was on one with Claudine. 

Rich Bennett 0:09
Right? Yeah. We ain't going to mention her name. No. 

Debbie Jennings 0:11
Oh. 

Rich Bennett 0:12
Okay. Now, as part of the list, ladies, I have D.A. Jennings on children's author and, well, actually an adult author as well, because you. You wrote the other book. Yes. Which. 

Debbie Jennings 0:25
American sports legend. 

Rich Bennett 0:26
Yes, we love that one. Where's the other one? Something about cheese? No, not the children's book. The, um. I got. I used it in the headline for the title. 

Debbie Jennings 0:38
Yes. You combine two titles together. What was that? 

Rich Bennett 0:43
Son best season the cheese with. 

Debbie Jennings 0:47
Oh, wow. 

Rich Bennett 0:47
So you've written nine books to write, you know, eight, eight, eight books to. 

Debbie Jennings 0:53
I've got the ninth one coming out next year. 

Rich Bennett 0:55
Okay. Just so the six children's books. And what were the other two? 

Debbie Jennings 0:59
100 lives. 

Rich Bennett 1:00
Right. 

Debbie Jennings 1:01
And American sports legends. 

Rich Bennett 1:03
Okay. Okay. 

Debbie Jennings 1:05
It was 

Rich Bennett 1:05
No, 

Debbie Jennings 1:05
something. 

Rich Bennett 1:05
thank you. 

Debbie Jennings 1:06
Eating the cheese was 

Rich Bennett 1:07
Yeah. So like 

Debbie Jennings 1:08
right. 

Rich Bennett 1:08
that? Yeah, I can't remember. So anyways, we had Debbie, who's going to be here talking about 

her books. I'm sorry. Jennings. 

Debbie Jennings 1:19
That's okay. Debbie's good. 

Rich Bennett 1:22
Because her latest book, which is a trilogy, Right. Is shared. The cheese started with CS, the cheese. And then the second one here. Cheese? Yes, please. And now share the cheese. It's something about these three books. They're children's books. But even as an adult, you'll learn a lot from them. And before we talk about shared cheese, talk about how the books tie together. 

Debbie Jennings 1:53
Okay, Very good. Each of the books is a standalone. And I started the first one, like I was looking at a child just starting out because we definitely have a tendency to be a little greedy. Everything is about us and we want everything. Thus the little mouse is seizing all the cheese he can. The characters Kip, and he is an adorable mouse who is always into mischief but a lot of fun. And in this book, a little boy takes him into the house and gives him a place to stay. But very soon. Is into everything. He's swimming. I think he's climbing. UPS. He's shaking down cherries. He is just raising havoc in the house. And the little boy gets a little frustrated. So typical of males. He's coming up with a way to get rid of this cute little mouse. But Kip is smarter than most mice, so he sidesteps all the traps. He seizes all the cheese, and poof, he is gone. But the interesting thing was much like life is there are people in our lives that we don't appreciate until they're gone. And once Kip is gone, he realizes how much fun Kip. 

Rich Bennett 3:07
Once Kip is gone, Kip realizes 

Debbie Jennings 3:09
No, 

Rich Bennett 3:09
how much fun he was. 

Debbie Jennings 3:10
no. Once Kip is gone, the little boy 

Rich Bennett 3:13
boy. 

Debbie Jennings 3:14
realizes how much fun Kip was. The next book is a little girl who's at home by herself because all of her friends have left for the summer. And she is. 

Rich Bennett 3:25
Looking. 

Debbie Jennings 3:25
Looking for a summertime friend when Kit comes in, knocks on her bedroom window. Well, she welcomes a man. But very soon Kip is up to his same mischief. His nature. He's drawing on the walls with his tail and her nail polish. He's putting glue on her dolls, and she comes to the same point that the little boy does where she can't take it anymore. But the pivot point is where Kip says, If you let me stay, I'll try to be better. And even as adults, we have to realize that sometimes our behavior is not acceptable, but we have to be the ones willing to change. And when we have that willingness, great things can happen. 

Rich Bennett 4:06
Yes. 

Debbie Jennings 4:06
Because the little girl helps keep transform his mischievous energy into adventure. So for the rest of the book, they are using their imaginations and going on adventure all around the house and outside and inside. And at the end of this book, because of Kip's turning point choice and the little girls, she doesn't want him to go. But he says he needs to go because all of her friends are coming back. 

Rich Bennett 4:34
Oh, wow. 

Debbie Jennings 4:35
And that leads us to the third book. So he's gone from being mischievous to learning manners, and now he's mature. He's coming to a dairy farm. And we had the book launch for that at Broome's Bloom Dairy Farm, because it makes sense. And on this farm, there's a lot of children. And he loves children. And he loves cows because that generally means there's going to be cheese to be handed 

Rich Bennett 4:59
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 4:59
out. And on this farm, some of the kids are real. Some are not so happy and they're chasing him around trying to get rid of him. When a little boy in a wheelchair sees Kip and he befriends them. And he tells the other kids, Look, I'm different than you are too, but you like me, Give the little mouse a chance. And they do. And it's to everybody benefit because KIPP shows them how to use the imagination that he learned about in the second book to make chores fun and exciting by using your imagination and to show his maturity at the end of the book. He takes his most precious treasure cheese and he shares it with other. So this is the little trilogy about Kip and his cheese. 

Rich Bennett 5:49
So when did shared cheese come out? 

Debbie Jennings 5:51
It came out in April. 

Rich Bennett 5:53
April. 

Debbie Jennings 5:53
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 5:53
Okay. And the first one sees the cheese came out. When? 

Debbie Jennings 5:57
Oh, it came out about six years ago. 

Rich Bennett 5:59
Has it been that long? 

Debbie Jennings 6:00
Yes, because I wrote it for my grandson before he was born. And I read it to his mommy's tummy because I wanted him to hear the rhythm of the words, 

Rich Bennett 6:09
Right. 

Debbie Jennings 6:10
the patterns. And I wanted to know him, to know his mommy's voice. So I. And he's really quite 

Rich Bennett 6:16
That's 

Debbie Jennings 6:16
a good 

Rich Bennett 6:16
a. 

Debbie Jennings 6:16
reader. 

Rich Bennett 6:17
They say that's a good thing to do, 

Debbie Jennings 6:18
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 6:18
is to read to the baby while the is in the womb. 

Debbie Jennings 6:20
Yes. So I have and I've continued to read to him and I read to his little brother and now I read to our granddaughter. 

Rich Bennett 6:26
I think my mother kept bringing me jokes. Oh. 

Debbie Jennings 6:30
You know what? What takes? 

Rich Bennett 6:32
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 6:32
Just encourage your children to read and use their image. 

Rich Bennett 6:36
Hmm. Oh. 

Debbie Jennings 6:37
That's pivotal. Pivotal? 

Rich Bennett 6:38
So and be honest, is there going to be a fourth? 

Debbie Jennings 6:42
Yes, there is, but it's not going to be part of this trilogy. 

Rich Bennett 6:45
Oh. 

Debbie Jennings 6:46
It's a new book about Kip and Christmas. 

Rich Bennett 6:49
Oh. 

Debbie Jennings 6:49
Where the real joy of Christmas comes from and it will be coming out next year. 

Rich Bennett 6:55
You know, you're going to have to also do something after Christmas, because maybe Kip got tired of cheese and found out that he likes peanut butter more. 

Debbie Jennings 7:05
Oh, no, no. Kip would never get poached cheese. Peanut butter would stick in his mouth, but not as much as cheese. 

Rich Bennett 7:12
Well, yeah, that's true, because it's easier for them to steal the G. 

Debbie Jennings 7:15
And run away. 

Rich Bennett 7:16
Right away there. 

Debbie Jennings 7:17
Exactly. Exactly. 

Rich Bennett 7:18
So I saw this came out in April. 

Debbie Jennings 7:20
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 7:22
Howard, book sales of this for 

Debbie Jennings 7:24
They've been very good. 

Rich Bennett 7:25
good. 

Debbie Jennings 7:25
The local community has been so supportive of this and I have already enjoyed reading this book to over 2000 students this year 

Rich Bennett 7:34
Wow. 

Debbie Jennings 7:34
and parents. And so I've been a little busy sharing the cheese of Kip all around the community. 

Rich Bennett 7:41
All right. And I may have mentioned this to you before. Did you ever get a microphone and everything so you could record podcast at home? 

Debbie Jennings 7:51
I don't do podcasts. I leave that to the experts like you. 

Rich Bennett 7:54
No, no, no. I don't mean for you to start a pocket. 

Debbie Jennings 7:57
Uh huh. 

Rich Bennett 7:58
I mean for you to be guest on other podcast. 

Debbie Jennings 8:01
Oh, well, we just used the microphone that we have at home. 

Rich Bennett 8:04
Which is all you need. 

Debbie Jennings 8:05
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 8:06
Because I'm thinking you need to get on podcasts here at the world to tell everybody about these great books. 

Debbie Jennings 8:12
Oh, thank you. 

Rich Bennett 8:14
And not just about the books but the. So when you. Because when you came on the first time and you told me about this program you wanted to do. 

Debbie Jennings 8:24
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 8:27
I thought, okay, this is fantastic. This is great. How come I've never heard of any other authors doing this? 

And you need to just spread word about that because people, not just here in Maryland, not even just in California, throughout the world, need to read these. 

Debbie Jennings 8:50
That's fair. 

Rich Bennett 8:50
All your books. I mean, the TV series. The tapping stick. Without a doubt. 

Debbie Jennings 8:55
Thank you. My environmental book. 

Rich Bennett 8:57
Yeah. And speaking of which, if you haven't talked to him about his name. Right, Phil Rosner believe it is of nature works. Phil, if you're listening, get in touch of D.A. Jennings, because this book, the Tapping Stick, would be perfect for you to use as some of the things you do at Nature Works. 

Then it's who I pronounce right, Mia, 

Debbie Jennings 9:20
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 9:20
which is two, two books. Right. 

Debbie Jennings 9:22
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 9:22
Is there going to be a third one? 

Debbie Jennings 9:23
Yes, I'm already working 

Rich Bennett 9:24
Oh. 

Debbie Jennings 9:24
on the third one. It's just a matter of time getting it out. And one thing that was so much fun, I just did an event this last week and I had a little boy run up to me, so excited. And he goes, I have finished the first two Miller books. I loved them. He told me who his favorite characters were. He told me what his favorite event was in the book, and he goes, Is a third one coming out. It's in the works. It's in the works. So. 

Rich Bennett 9:50
So I to explain everybody well, explain to everybody about the type of stigma. Because all your books are awesome, especially. Well, the TV series are from what, pre-K on. 

Debbie Jennings 10:05
They're very good to read to pre-K. 

Rich Bennett 10:08
Okay. 

Debbie Jennings 10:08
If you're talking about a child reining in on their own, you're probably talking second, third and fourth 

Rich Bennett 10:14
Okay. 

Debbie Jennings 10:14
grade. But they're fun because you can be so expressive. 

Rich Bennett 10:18
Right. 

Debbie Jennings 10:18
Reading kicks Kip's stories, his adventures. 

Rich Bennett 10:21
Initiating the tapestry. 

Debbie Jennings 10:22
Yes. Yes. Now, the tapping stick is my pandemic book. It came out when we didn't know how COVID was spread 

Rich Bennett 10:31
Mm. 

Debbie Jennings 10:31
and we were at the Emilee Baylis Graham Trail in Bel Air by the Festival Theatre. And my grandson wanted to play the chimes, but I didn't want him to touch the hammer because I didn't know how. 

Rich Bennett 10:43
Right. 

Debbie Jennings 10:43
Spread. So I said, No, no, no. Use a stick. So he looked around for the proper stick. He got it and he played the chimes. I thought he would throw the stick away, but he kept it for the entire trail. And he tapped on every. So I saw. 

Rich Bennett 10:58
Little drummer. 

Debbie Jennings 10:59
Oh. Eight. A drummer. Conductor. 

Rich Bennett 11:02
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 11:03
So I saw this little two year old body walking through the trail, tapping on everything. I thought, well, what would other children do with a proper stick in their hand? So I researched all different kinds of trees and what they're actually used for. And like, the Birch Tree is actually. Sticks. 

Rich Bennett 11:20
So. 

Debbie Jennings 11:21
I have a little girl in there leading a chorus of birds singing with her conducting stick. And it just carries the child through, encouraging them to use their imaginations as far as what they would do with 

Rich Bennett 11:34
Right. 

Debbie Jennings 11:34
a. Stick in their hand. And then at the end of the book, the little boy is planting a tree for future generations. So my grandson is six now. He's responsible for watering the tree and weeding the tree. He and my husband, because they did plant a tree, take pictures of who's growing the fastest. They document it. So when we did another edition of the book, we included in the back of the book a section where families can keep track of their trees and paste pictures in there or draw pictures. And my grandson feels like he's part of making the future better. 

Rich Bennett 12:10
What you just said. Another addition to the book. 

Debbie Jennings 12:13
Well, we did the first edition and then. 

Rich Bennett 12:15
Addiction. 

Debbie Jennings 12:16
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 12:16
Okay, Never mind. I thought you meant there's going to be a second book. 

Debbie Jennings 12:19
No, no. We just did an update of this one and we were very fortunate. It won a silver medal in an international children's competition. 

Rich Bennett 12:28
It's a great book. I mean, it teaches a very good lesson. 

Debbie Jennings 12:31
So. 

Rich Bennett 12:32
I think a follow up for that would be the floating leaf. 

Debbie Jennings 12:35
The floating leaf. What would you do with the floating leaf? 

Rich Bennett 12:38
There's so many things you could do. 

Debbie Jennings 12:39
I bet. 

Rich Bennett 12:40
I mean, it's like the palm of your hand. You ever look at the lines? 

Debbie Jennings 12:43
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 12:44
Look at the lines on a leaf 

Debbie Jennings 12:45
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 12:46
and everything. It. 

Debbie Jennings 12:46
And No. Two are the same. 

Rich Bennett 12:48
No, they're not. And the colors, how they change color throughout 

Debbie Jennings 12:51
Mm hmm. 

Rich Bennett 12:52
the world, which. And it's but yet it's the same leaf. 

Debbie Jennings 12:55
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 12:55
So that same leaf that changes colors could be telling you something about humans. No matter what color human is. We're all the same color. 

Debbie Jennings 13:06
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 13:06
Deep down inside. 

Debbie Jennings 13:07
Mm hmm. 

Rich Bennett 13:09
Maybe I should be children's. 

Debbie Jennings 13:10
I think you should. Everybody's got at least one children. Side of them. 

Rich Bennett 13:15
The other two. Mia. I explain what they're about. 

Debbie Jennings 13:20
Mia is a delightful, adventuresome little Italian mouse. 

Rich Bennett 13:25
No relation to Kip. 

Debbie Jennings 13:26
No relation to. 

Rich Bennett 13:27
Yet. 

Debbie Jennings 13:28
No, no, no. They're two different character styles, so they shall never meet. But in this book, she is inspired by her papineau, who loves adventure. And he instills in her that this is a big world that needs to be explored. So one point in the book, very early on, she stows away on a cargo ship, travels across the Mediterranean Ocean and finds herself in Africa, where she meets all the amazing exotic animals in Africa. And some want to be her friend and others want to eat her. And she finds out she is more resourceful and more clever than she thought she could ever be. And when she finishes, this adventure leads her to her next book. And it's Me of the Crooked Road. And have you ever woken up in that day and you think you know what you're going to do, but it doesn't turn out that way. 

Rich Bennett 14:21
All the time. 

Debbie Jennings 14:22
All the time. 

Rich Bennett 14:23
Yeah, 

Debbie Jennings 14:23
Well, in Mia's case, she thinks she's going to go to Australia for her next adventure. Betty's life happens. She travels a cricket road. And sometimes that cricket road is not where we want it to be, but it's where we need to be 

Rich Bennett 14:37
right. 

Debbie Jennings 14:37
to serve a purpose and to find out more about ourself and others. And if I may add, I think writers of children's books have a trifecta goal that they need to meet. Your book needs to engage. It needs to entertain, but it also needs to educate. 

Rich Bennett 14:57
Yes. 

Debbie Jennings 14:58
And I think that is one of the most humbling goals that we can have because we are inspiring children to read, to use their imagination, to start problem solving, to start analytical thinking. And so I try to make all of my books have a purpose, a theme, and redeeming value to encourage children in their journey. 

Rich Bennett 15:26
I guess me is going to the third one going to. 

Debbie Jennings 15:28
Yes, she does. She does. I'm hoping 

Rich Bennett 15:31
I was reading 

Debbie Jennings 15:32
Kip's 

Rich Bennett 15:32
Kip's fourth 

Debbie Jennings 15:33
for. 

Rich Bennett 15:33
book. 

Debbie Jennings 15:34
To the artist that I will get back to me is third book. I've already started it. I'm so excited because in this book Mia decides where she is going to go and make it her home. So I will not tell you where that's going to be. 

Rich Bennett 15:51
Not back. Whenever I do. Tell me. 

Debbie Jennings 15:53
I can't. I can't. Because you know what? Sometimes Mia takes me different places than I thought. I'm going to go. I think I know where she's going to make her home. But she may have something different to say. 

Rich Bennett 16:03
Between all the times you're writing, all the times you go and read the kids, all the events you set up. Where do you find time for yourself? 

Debbie Jennings 16:13
For me, my writing for the kids is myself. My babysitting of my children is something I enjoy. My care for my mother is something I enjoy and definitely every minute with my husband I enjoy. So those are all things I do for myself. 

Rich Bennett 16:25
And that I have a funny feeling. All those things you just mentioned is what leads you to write the wonderful books that you write? 

Debbie Jennings 16:34
They inspire me. 

Rich Bennett 16:35
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 16:35
They inspire me. I told my husband one time, I said, you know, it's funny that the people who take my time away from writing are the very people who inspire me. And without their inspiration, there would be no book. 

Rich Bennett 16:49
There'd be no books. 

Debbie Jennings 16:50
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 16:50
So I mentioned earlier about the great program that you're doing and explain to everybody what this is, because when you told me the first time you came on. And I. I told you, I said, this is something I want to see get done. And I had you come and talk to one of our Lions Club meets, 

Debbie Jennings 17:09
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 17:09
explain it. And you figure everybody here loved the idea, too. So I'm not the only one. Explain to everybody what that is, because I think more people need to do. 

Debbie Jennings 17:21
Well, it was one of the scariest things I've ever done. You can put me up in front of an audience of a thousand people, and it doesn't bother me. 

Rich Bennett 17:29
Right. 

Debbie Jennings 17:29
But when I came to your club, the job at Town Lions Club, I was a nervous wreck because I was coming asking for something. And that's not in my nature. And what I was asking for, as you well know, is for your club to consider sponsoring books for children who are covered under Title one, 

Rich Bennett 17:49
Mhm. 

Debbie Jennings 17:50
because these child, these children need need to feel like they're important because they are 

Rich Bennett 17:56
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 17:57
and they need to get new books. They need to have books in their hands that they've never had before that they can call their own. And it was just so inspiring. When I came to you all and you didn't hesitate, your whole group just said yes, and you overwhelmed me with the amount of your sponsorship. And because of your generosity, we were able to take books to students and give to them at no charge to them. And I remember one of the schools I went to, there was a little boy who listened to the reading of the book. 

Rich Bennett 18:33
Right. 

Debbie Jennings 18:34
And of course, when I go and offer them the books, I let them choose whatever books they want of my books, 

Rich Bennett 18:40
Okay. 

Debbie Jennings 18:41
because there's no one book for every child. 

Rich Bennett 18:42
Right. 

Debbie Jennings 18:43
Let them choose what they like. But after my presentation of reading the book, this little boy raised his hand and stood up. Now we're talking about a child like seven years old. He was. Let me get this straight. 

Rich Bennett 18:58
Ow, Ow, Ow, ow, 

Debbie Jennings 18:58
Said this book is mine to keep and I can pick out which book I want. I said, That's true. He goes, I don't have to bring it back to the library. 

Rich Bennett 19:07
Ow! 

Debbie Jennings 19:07
I said, No, I don't have to give it back to you. No, I can take it home and keep it for as long as I want to. I said yes. And he was so excited to have a book. 

Rich Bennett 19:19
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 19:19
And that was kind of the jump off point. And so now I'm going out soliciting other sponsors of my books. And the key that I do is I only charge for the cost of getting the book to the. 

Rich Bennett 19:33
Right. 

Debbie Jennings 19:34
I don't charge for writing the book. Editing the book. I don't charge for any of my husband's time with everything he does in supporting me for the website and everything like that. The sponsors only pay for what it actually costs me to give a child a book, and I know my children's books are a little bit more expensive than most. But I do try to keep everything in America the illustrators, the printers. 

Rich Bennett 20:02
Can't put a price on teaching a kid how to read. 

Debbie Jennings 20:04
No, you can't. You can't. And that's why your generosity was so appreciated. And it inspired another group to do the same. 

Rich Bennett 20:12
And we talked about this because, you know, you hear about what is the status that you do every year and how reading is very. 

Debbie Jennings 20:22
Oh, yes, Yes. 

Rich Bennett 20:24
And a lot of people say, well, we need to get something into these high schools to help them learn how to read. We're saying that means like, no, we need to give it to them while they're in pre-K. 

Debbie Jennings 20:37
That's exactly right. 

Rich Bennett 20:38
And elementary school 

Debbie Jennings 20:39
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 20:39
because that's where the reading starts. 

Debbie Jennings 20:41
Yes. And I think one of the exciting things is and since I've started writing children's books, I've seen a growth 

Rich Bennett 20:47
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 20:47
in children's writers, which is. 

Rich Bennett 20:49
Oh, yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 20:50
Siding. It's really, really good. But to be able to go out to a school and read your book to these children and tell them you live in Harford County. 

Rich Bennett 21:00
Mm. 

Debbie Jennings 21:01
These children are thinking, Hey, I live in Harford County and she did this, I can do this. And one of the things I try to do is to appeal to subjects that interest the children, but also knowing we're not just encouraging readers, we're encouraging artists. 

Rich Bennett 21:16
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 21:17
And so my daughter, who developed the character with me, she created a step by step diagram of six steps on how to draw KIPP. And it's on my website. It's a free download at DHS and intercom and art teachers can use it. Children can use it. And I think sometimes the adults have the most fun trying to replicate the little KIPP character. 

Rich Bennett 21:39
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 21:40
But we want to just inundate these children with love and with books for them to start a book collection at home. 

Rich Bennett 21:48
Mhm. Or you know, you hear as we get older a lot of adults join book clubs. Why not some book clubs for the kids, 

Debbie Jennings 21:58
Yes. Well, that's one thing I've even mentioned at some of the schools. I come and read to the children my 

Rich Bennett 22:04
right? 

Debbie Jennings 22:04
illustrated books, and I tell them if the children want to read the MIA books, because I can't read those, they're they're chapter books, so I can't read them to the group. But I would love to come and talk to the children about the books. So that's one thing I'm offering to. 

Rich Bennett 22:19
You mentioned you're seeing more children's authors. Are you still part of the Hartford Writers Group? 

Debbie Jennings 22:24
Yes, I am. 

Rich Bennett 22:24
How many children's authors are in that, and how do you know? 

Debbie Jennings 22:27
I think we have. To others besides myself. 

Rich Bennett 22:31
Okay. 

Debbie Jennings 22:31
And one of them, Heidi Johnson, is coming out with her own book very soon. It's a little Christmas book. Really excited. 

Rich Bennett 22:38
She. And she's local. 

Debbie Jennings 22:40
Yes. Yes. 

Rich Bennett 22:41
Huh? Okay, now you put me in contact with more. These people have them. 

Debbie Jennings 22:45
Okay. I will. 

Rich Bennett 22:46
And is it Karen? Right. Karen Harrison. 

Debbie Jennings 22:50
Karen Harrison. 

Rich Bennett 22:50
Is she still the president? 

Debbie Jennings 22:52
No. 

Rich Bennett 22:52
She 

Debbie Jennings 22:52
She stepped 

Rich Bennett 22:52
still. 

Debbie Jennings 22:53
down this year. 

Rich Bennett 22:54
Okay. 

Debbie Jennings 22:54
And Jim Wheeler has taken over. 

Rich Bennett 22:57
Okay. 

Debbie Jennings 22:58
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 22:59
I don't think I've met him. Has he been there? 

Debbie Jennings 23:02
Well, he's been a part of the group for several years, 

Rich Bennett 23:05
Okay. 

Debbie Jennings 23:06
but. Took over this month. 

Rich Bennett 23:08
Okay. 

Debbie Jennings 23:09
Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 23:09
For 

Debbie Jennings 23:09
for. 

Rich Bennett 23:09
those of you listening, if you don't know what I'm talking about, Harvard Writers Writers Group is not just a success. It's a local writer's group. And I've met Karen. I think it's because of the writing group. I met you. 

Debbie Jennings 23:24
I think so. 

Rich Bennett 23:26
And what I love about it is and of course, authors are encouraged. And actually you don't even have to be an author to join. Right. 

Debbie Jennings 23:34
You know, some people just like to hear the readings. 

Rich Bennett 23:36
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 23:36
But generally it is for people who are writing or wanting to be writers. 

Rich Bennett 23:41
Okay. And what I love about it when because I spoke at the one meeting when during COVID. So it was virtual and they told me I could stick around for the critique part. I love that. 

Debbie Jennings 23:54
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 23:55
And I. You're here. And I thought Harvard Square was like, something original. Like the only one. 

Debbie Jennings 24:04
Oh. 

Rich Bennett 24:05
But it's great to talk to all these other authors and find out that a lot of them belong to other writers groups. 

Debbie Jennings 24:11
Absolutely. 

Rich Bennett 24:13
It is kind of upsetting, though, when you talk when I talk to some and a lot of them don't belong to right issues, like why not? 

Debbie Jennings 24:20
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 24:20
You're just helping yourself and you're helping others. 

Debbie Jennings 24:23
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 24:23
It's the networking of businesses. You could say. 

Debbie Jennings 24:28
It's networking with others. Finding out what's out there. 

Rich Bennett 24:31
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 24:31
And also you get amazing feedback from other writers 

Rich Bennett 24:35
Mm. 

Debbie Jennings 24:35
and everybody. On something different. Some of them focus on grammar, some of them focus on plot. You know, some of them focus on characters. So you get a variety of input to it, which is wonderful. 

Rich Bennett 24:49
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 24:50
And if I can be a little greedy right now, I would like to plug my class. I do teach creative writing at Harvard Community 

Rich Bennett 24:57
You're still 

Debbie Jennings 24:58
College. 

Rich Bennett 24:58
the. 

Debbie Jennings 24:58
I'm still doing that. 

Rich Bennett 25:00
Trying to tell my daughter to take a nap. 

Debbie Jennings 25:02
Oh, well, I've had to pull back. Last year I did three classes, but with my commitments it was just a little much. 

Rich Bennett 25:07
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 25:08
So I'm doing a fall class and I'm very excited about it because I have the full scale. I have some people in there that have already published. I have some people who are brand new, but you can always learn something new. 

Rich Bennett 25:22
Oh, yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 25:23
And the classes are in the evening. And so it allows people who work to come in and participate. 

Rich Bennett 25:29
I don't care what you do. You should belong to a group of, I guess, your peers that are in that same business. I'm in different podcasting groups. I learned from other podcasters. 

Debbie Jennings 25:40
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 25:41
All the time. Otherwise, you're. You're not helping yourself. 

Debbie Jennings 25:45
You get stale 

Rich Bennett 25:46
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 25:46
and it challenges you. And you know what's exciting, though, is you hear an idea, but then you make it your own. 

Rich Bennett 25:53
Mm. 

Debbie Jennings 25:54
You know, you think, well, that might not work for my audience, but if I tweak it here or tweak it there, you know, it's just like writers. You get a lot of ideas from other writers, but you write differently. 

Rich Bennett 26:03
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 26:03
So you approach it differently, you know? 

Rich Bennett 26:05
So I shows your classes in-person or virtual. 

Debbie Jennings 26:08
Oh, in person. 

Rich Bennett 26:09
Okay. 

Debbie Jennings 26:09
In person. I love in-person classes 

Rich Bennett 26:12
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 26:12
because I think you can get so much more out of them. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 26:16
In the evening. 

Debbie Jennings 26:16
It's on Tuesday evenings. It starts in October, the first Tuesday in October, and it's 6 to 8 at night at Harvard Community College. 

Rich Bennett 26:25
God, I wish I could take that. 

Debbie Jennings 26:26
It would be fun. You would 

Rich Bennett 26:27
I 

Debbie Jennings 26:27
be hysterical. 

Rich Bennett 26:27
will. I will not mention it to you before 

Debbie Jennings 26:30
Yes, 

Rich Bennett 26:30
I. 

Debbie Jennings 26:30
you did. 

Rich Bennett 26:31
Love to do it. 

Debbie Jennings 26:32
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 26:32
I mean, 

I keep Greg is going to yell at me because I've been trying to write a book. I started on it, stopped. You know what to do. 

Debbie Jennings 26:43
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 26:43
Start it on again. Stop. I need to get back to doing it. 

Debbie Jennings 26:48
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 26:48
It's just. It's. Well, first of all, it's fun and you learn you would depend on what you write. Well, I think it's depend on what you're writing about. You're writing just it's opening up your mind. 

Debbie Jennings 27:03
Yes, it is. 

Rich Bennett 27:04
More and more became rich. Quit making excuses and just do it. 

Debbie Jennings 27:09
Just take the class. 

Rich Bennett 27:11
How are the little ladies doing? 

Debbie Jennings 27:13
Oh, the ladies are great. Oh, my gosh. What a fun group. What a fun group. Claudine and I just. 

Rich Bennett 27:20
I said we can't mention her. 

Debbie Jennings 27:22
The woman with no name. 

Rich Bennett 27:25
I still love you, Claudine. 

Debbie Jennings 27:26
We partnered together and were part of. Bel Air Arts Festival is last week. 

Rich Bennett 27:32
I saw that 

Debbie Jennings 27:33
We had a marvelous time and we worked so well together. 

Rich Bennett 27:37
I. 

Debbie Jennings 27:37
Yes, she does. The Bel-Air marketplace. 

Rich Bennett 27:40
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 27:40
And she's she's just so fun to be with. But I'll tell you what, when the four of us get together, you know, it is great fun because we all we all love what we do. 

Rich Bennett 27:52
Right. 

Debbie Jennings 27:53
And we're also different in our genres and our target audiences. And so when we have somebody, we try to get our booths close together. When we have somebody come in, oh, well, you don't read children's books. No problem. You don't have any children, right? We have psychological thrillers. We have science fiction. We have true suspense. We have young love. We have. 

Irmgard and Kay are in. Claudine and I just support one another so. Well, and it just makes for a fun time when we go out. 

Rich Bennett 28:26
All need to. 

Debbie Jennings 28:28
Go ahead. 

Rich Bennett 28:30
I got a better not because I'm now. 

Debbie Jennings 28:32
Don't let fear hold you back. 

Rich Bennett 28:33
I'm going to give Dave more work. I think the little ladies need their own website. 

Debbie Jennings 28:38
Oh, my gosh. 

Rich Bennett 28:39
She's promoting all your books 

Debbie Jennings 28:40
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 28:41
on everybody's books on it. Sorry, I did not tell you that. 

Debbie Jennings 28:44
Oh. 

Rich Bennett 28:44
You told me to go ahead and say it. 

Debbie Jennings 28:46
Did. I'm very selfish with my husband's time. 

Rich Bennett 28:50
Have you ever or has anybody even approached you? Have you approached anybody about doing a collaboration? 

Debbie Jennings 29:00
I can't say so. No. 

Rich Bennett 29:01
Have you ever thought about? 

Debbie Jennings 29:03
No. 

Rich Bennett 29:04
All right. All right. Let me ask you this. If you could do a collaboration with another author, local or non local, doesn't matter. Who would you like it to be and why? 

Debbie Jennings 29:18
I think it would like to be anonymous through. I would like to have somebody viewpoint of what they like to read. And then talk to me as an audience, not as a writer. 

Rich Bennett 29:31
So we 

Debbie Jennings 29:31
And 

Rich Bennett 29:31
say. 

Debbie Jennings 29:31
then. Yes. Yes. And that way we could come up together with something entirely different. Because sometimes writers think in one certain. Way. But you get someone who loves to read but doesn't write. Well, what do you love to read? Why do you like it? What is appealing to you? What made you pick up that book? What made you put it down? And what do you think is of interest? And they will bring in their interests, I would think, and the interests of similar readers to it. And you may come up with some. Entirely different. 

Rich Bennett 30:09
Interesting. 

Debbie Jennings 30:09
So how is that for subverting an answer to your question about another author? 

Rich Bennett 30:14
Very good. I mean, it's, uh. I'm ready. 

Debbie Jennings 30:18
Oh, okay. Good. Let's do it. 

Rich Bennett 30:22
Kept that. She kept the cheese. KIPP convert KIPP Amir decided to start a podcast. 

Debbie Jennings 30:29
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 30:30
Yeah. No, that wouldn't work. 

Debbie Jennings 30:31
Hey, it could is. 

Rich Bennett 30:32
It's two different characters. 

Debbie Jennings 30:34
Well. 

Rich Bennett 30:36
Q. 

Debbie Jennings 30:36
Kip. And you. That could be fun. 

Rich Bennett 30:39
No. He'll try to steal the microphone. 

Debbie Jennings 30:41
Well, he would, of course. 

Rich Bennett 30:42
Especially if I put a yellow cover on. 

Debbie Jennings 30:43
And he had run away with it. 

Rich Bennett 30:46
He's like, Oh, big cheese 

Debbie Jennings 30:48
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 30:49
yet? No. Then he goes to work. So when it comes to all your books, I mean, you've written a little bit. Everything. Um, is there anything that you haven't written yet? A genre that you would love to try to do? 

Debbie Jennings 31:04
Yes. Yes. I would like to write futuristic for adults. 

Rich Bennett 31:08
Ooh. 

Debbie Jennings 31:09
I would like to write. I've already got ideas for them. I would like to write some realistic drama for adults. But right now my focus is the children. 

Rich Bennett 31:20
Yeah, 

Debbie Jennings 31:21
And I want to keep that going because for me, children's literacy is so important. So I'll put my other dreams on the backburner for right now. But I already have writings that have I have started for other books, 

Rich Bennett 31:32
right. 

Debbie Jennings 31:32
right? Mm hmm. 

Rich Bennett 31:34
I could see you doing a little class for these little kids after you read to them. Just to give them ideas because reading is one thing. But if they go home and start writing and trying to write their own book. 

Debbie Jennings 31:49
Well, I actually met with a little girl from one of the schools I had gone to. Her father contacted me through my website and said, My daughter's interested in being a writer. Could you meet with us? So my husband went with me because if it's if it's the publishing aspect of it, you know, the technical part of it, he's the one. 

Rich Bennett 32:08
Right. 

Debbie Jennings 32:08
If it's the creative side, I'm the one. We're quite a team. So I met with the little girl, her mother. 

Rich Bennett 32:14
How young. 

Debbie Jennings 32:15
She was probably seven eight. 

Rich Bennett 32:18
Wow. 

Debbie Jennings 32:18
She already had a book in mind. She brought it for me to look at, and it was the mother, the father and the little brother. And so I talked to her about writing and what it takes and I was very impressed with what she already had. And her brother. I'm just not really in the conversation. She. 

Rich Bennett 32:35
Right. 

Debbie Jennings 32:36
She had wanted him to do some artwork for it, but he didn't. But then once he heard me talking and saw some of the work and what his work could actually result in, 

Rich Bennett 32:46
Right. 

Debbie Jennings 32:46
he said. Illustrate that book for you. And it was really fun because the most fun when you publish a book is when it's a team effort. 

Rich Bennett 32:53
Yeah, 

Debbie Jennings 32:54
It really, really is nice. And I've met with some students at different schools who the teachers have said, you know, so-and-so is interested in writing his own book. Would you meet with him or her? And so I do that, and it's wonderful to encourage somebody on that journey. And that's one reason I love teaching so much, because what I am is a cheerleader. I'm a cheerleader for people 

Rich Bennett 33:13
right. 

Debbie Jennings 33:13
who want to write their own books. 

Rich Bennett 33:16
So. And I yelled at you about this before. Well, you know it, you know. But when 

Debbie Jennings 33:21
I'll be the judge of that. 

Rich Bennett 33:22
we're. 

Debbie Jennings 33:22
What? 

Rich Bennett 33:23
When are you going to start? Even though you have the websites that technically already are, when you're going to start pushing this out to people throughout the world? 

Debbie Jennings 33:34
Well, I'm a person that likes to do things organically. 

Rich Bennett 33:40
Hmm. 

Debbie Jennings 33:41
And for me right now, my seeds are in Harford County. 

Rich Bennett 33:44
Okay. 

Debbie Jennings 33:44
I'm really trying to make a difference in my own community. And if that happens to reach out further, then that's great. But right now I think my biggest influence can be on the children and their parents who I meet to help them encourage their children to read. I think my biggest influence can be there, and that's where I would like to spend most of my time. 

Rich Bennett 34:08
Okay, So what you're what I'm hearing right now, then, if somebody from a library in Iceland contacts me and says, Hey, we heard D.A. Jennings on your show, we would love to pay for her to come out, he, her and her husband to come out here and tour the different libraries and daycares or read to the kids you tell me you want to do. 

Debbie Jennings 34:34
I would do that. Children. 

Rich Bennett 34:38
That's 

Debbie Jennings 34:38
Children are my priority. But you know what? 

Rich Bennett 34:41
good. 

Debbie Jennings 34:41
What you will find is that so much of your time is eaten up 

Rich Bennett 34:45
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 34:46
in trying to find 

Rich Bennett 34:47
If 

Debbie Jennings 34:47
venues. 

Rich Bennett 34:47
what you're doing to. 

Debbie Jennings 34:48
Teachers. You know, it was so hard when I first started this just getting into the schools. And, you know, for a writer, I didn't understand that at first. But then, hey, it made perfect sense for me. This is my, um, my bloodline to the kids. But teachers have so many responsibilities that coming to read at their school is a big deal because they have to reschedule schedules. They have to make time for it. They have to make sure children are covered, accounted for, going back and forth. And I think I've built up a good reputation in this community. So now that people can go to my website and they can see all of the schools that I've been to, they can contact any of the schools, and I think they'll be pleased with what they hear. It's gotten a lot easier for me to get into schools now. 

Rich Bennett 35:38
I say summertime when the kids schools are. 

Debbie Jennings 35:41
When the livin is easy. 

Rich Bennett 35:44
It's all. Once schools start back up. Is it like you have to go back to 

square one and try all over again to get into the schools or is it because you already got that rapport with them? 

Debbie Jennings 35:59
It's a little mixture. Some of them contact me and say, Debbie, I know you have a new book. Can you come out back to the school? And 

Rich Bennett 36:05
Right. 

Debbie Jennings 36:05
I said, Sure, I'd be happy to. Other schools I'm trying to reach out to are some that I haven't covered before. And so that takes a little bit more time. 

Rich Bennett 36:13
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 36:13
But I find that the website that my husband created and maintains is very good at giving people confidence in what I do because they'll see that I've not only been in schools, but I was also asked to be the keynote speaker for the state of Maryland, the Literary Association. 

Rich Bennett 36:31
Wow. 

Debbie Jennings 36:32
Yes. For their middle and high school contest winners for writing. So I went out and spoke to them and their teachers and their families. And then I was also asked to give a second presentation to teachers about writing and what I'm about. So they see things like that. They see that I teach writing. So this is just not a pastime for me. It is a passion. It is a quest. It is a mission. 

Rich Bennett 36:58
Wow. Did you ever think you I mean, when you wrote your first book, did you ever think that you would be out speaking to people? 

Debbie Jennings 37:07
No, I wrote it for my grandson and it just seemed to grow from there organically. 

Rich Bennett 37:13
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 37:13
And that's what I like. I, I like to feel like this is what should be, 

Rich Bennett 37:18
Right. 

Debbie Jennings 37:18
you know, But I will never turn down that invitation 

Rich Bennett 37:21
To I. 

Debbie Jennings 37:21
to go to Iceland. And one thing 

Rich Bennett 37:24
I'm 

Debbie Jennings 37:24
that. 

Rich Bennett 37:24
with you. 

Debbie Jennings 37:25
I got a very nice review from the United Kingdom 

Rich Bennett 37:29
Wow. 

Debbie Jennings 37:29
about one of my books, which was very nice, and I've gotten good reviews from the San Francisco Journal. I've gotten good reviews from, 

um, gosh, Kirkus. 

Rich Bennett 37:41
Mm 

Debbie Jennings 37:41
You know, and so I've been very, very fortunate. And if I may, one of my favorite reviews came from a woman who was 92 years old, lived by herself on a lake in Maine. She read me The Crooked Road, and in her note to me, she said, Sweetheart, you may say these books are for children, but they're for adults, too, because I found myself all through that book having to be braver and more courageous than 

Rich Bennett 38:08
hmm. 

Debbie Jennings 38:09
I thought I could ever be. And that's what I want in these chapter books. That's what I want in my illustrated books, that people can look at it at different stages of their lives and say, yes, this still has meaning. It has 

Rich Bennett 38:20
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 38:20
truths. You know, that's what I love. 

Rich Bennett 38:22
I think that's what makes a good children's book, is if an adult can learn from it, then, you know, the kids are as well. 

Debbie Jennings 38:29
That's my hope. 

Rich Bennett 38:30
And yours are definitely doing that. 

Debbie Jennings 38:32
Well, thank 

Rich Bennett 38:32
That is awesome. I was getting ready for something and it went. Really? 

Debbie Jennings 38:36
I just blew your mind out 

Rich Bennett 38:37
You 

Debbie Jennings 38:37
with my 

Rich Bennett 38:37
did? 

Debbie Jennings 38:37
little old lady. 

Rich Bennett 38:38
Bet the 92 year old. It's like, wow. Oh, you were talking about the reviews 

with the reviews. That reminds me, all of you listening when you go to is it D.R. Jennings dot com? When you go to the dot and you purchase the box, make sure you leave a full review. If you cannot. If you buy it for your kids after your kids read the book, ask them what you know. And that could be fun. That could be exercise. Here's the kids to write a review about on paper and you can always put it on. Good reads. Barnes Noble, Amazon, whatever. Because the more reviews that are left for Debbie, then the more books are going to be sold because it drives the algorithm algorithms up. No, I know now because when you mentioned the 92 year old lady, the first thing that went into my mind was the young lady we had on, um, 101 years old and still writing. 

Debbie Jennings 39:44
Isn't that one. 

Rich Bennett 39:45
Oh, yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 39:46
He's 

Rich Bennett 39:46
And 

Debbie Jennings 39:46
in the. 

Rich Bennett 39:46
it's like 

people you start young now and. 

Writing is so really good for your mental health. 

Debbie Jennings 39:58
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 39:59
Writing is good as well. 

Debbie Jennings 40:01
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 40:01
You look at all the books out there and how much it changes people's lives. 

Debbie Jennings 40:07
Hmm. 

Rich Bennett 40:08
You are changing people's lives. You've seen it, you've heard about it. 

Debbie Jennings 40:11
I hope so. 

Rich Bennett 40:14
Any of you want to learn how to start writing? You're never too young. You're never too old. She teaches a creative writing class. Just saying, you can take that as well if you're here in Hartford County, of course. 

Debbie Jennings 40:27
Yes. And. 

Rich Bennett 40:28
That may be something you have to do a webinar. 

Debbie Jennings 40:31
I have thought about that. But for me, it's that personal touch. It's meeting people. 

Rich Bennett 40:36
Mm hmm. 

Debbie Jennings 40:36
It's being in their presence and being able to enjoy what they have to say. But if I may backtrack for just a minute. 

Rich Bennett 40:43
I didn't do it. 

Debbie Jennings 40:44
I wanted to thank you for asking people to write reviews because that is something I never do. 

Rich Bennett 40:49
Now. 

Debbie Jennings 40:50
I have. I don't ask people. 

Rich Bennett 40:51
It is hard. 

Debbie Jennings 40:53
I just want people to enjoy the book. 

Rich Bennett 40:54
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 40:55
And when they come up and they see me in an event and they say something, that means the world. 

Rich Bennett 41:01
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 41:02
But in other writers are so good at marketing, I'm more of the, you know, behind the wall writer. 

Rich Bennett 41:10
You let Dave handle all the marketing write? 

Debbie Jennings 41:12
Oh, pretty much so. Yeah. I wouldn't be where I am without that guy. 

Rich Bennett 41:16
Yeah. He's telling you you need to sell more books. 

Debbie Jennings 41:19
He says, I need to. Yes, we had to pay for all this stuff. 

Rich Bennett 41:24
You know, and that's a great thing for those of you listening. The holidays are coming up. These would make excellent gifts not just for the kids, but even for adults, because as an adult, well, you know what? I'm going to put it I'm going to put it back in your lap here. 

Debbie Jennings 41:42
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 41:44
I tell everybody how exciting it is for you to read these books to kids. 

Debbie Jennings 41:50
Oh, it is super exciting. If it wasn't, I wouldn't do it. 

You have their attention. And one thing my husband does is all of my illustrated books he puts on the big screen. 

Rich Bennett 42:03
Mm hmm. 

Debbie Jennings 42:03
So I may have an audience of 250 children and all of them can read that screen. All of them can see the illustrations. And I love to see that sparkle in their eye, that giggle. 

Rich Bennett 42:15
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 42:15
I love to hear them chanting, Seize the cheese. Seize the cheese. Jesus. Please, Jesus, please. It's just it's so excited to see them get excited about a story. And then that's why they're excited about the story. But they don't realize that there's a lesson in there. Subtle. And it's about being good to each other. It's about being the best friend that you can be. And the best friend that you should choose is the one who makes you a better version of yourself. And I think that is such an important lesson for all of us, even as adults, is have that symbiotic relationship where you both are growing in a positive way. And oh, I've I've been at a school before and I know that there are certain regulations about, you know, you don't hug the children, you don't do all that stuff. 

Rich Bennett 43:07
That's hard. 

Debbie Jennings 43:07
It is very hard because, you know, you see these kids. I was at a school and I finished reading one of my books and this little girl jumped up and she was I just wanna hug you. And I looked at the librarian and she gave me the nod. So I was just able to open my arms. And this little girl came and hugged me. The whole group got up, and it 

Rich Bennett 43:29
They 

Debbie Jennings 43:29
was a 

Rich Bennett 43:29
want 

Debbie Jennings 43:29
huge 

Rich Bennett 43:29
to. 

Debbie Jennings 43:30
jellyroll hug. I mean, we're all hugging together because we were excited about a book. 

Rich Bennett 43:36
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 43:37
And that was just amazing. Another thing that was very amazing, it doesn't have to be a profound action like that, but I was at a school reading the tapping Stick, 

Rich Bennett 43:47
Mm. 

Debbie Jennings 43:47
which is a book about celebrating nature and all the kids who enjoy it. After it was over, this young boy stood up and he was probably 12 and he wasn't talking to anybody. He just said, I love this book. And he looked at the screen again. He goes, I love this book. And that just touched my heart. You know, it's moments like that. 

Rich Bennett 44:10
Yeah. 

Debbie Jennings 44:11
That reinforces why you do what you do. You know, it's just wonderful. 

Rich Bennett 44:17
So those of you listening, 

that's another reason for you to buy it. So you can read it to the kids, you can read it to your 

grandkids, your nieces, your nephew, who's and. Which I got. It just gave me another idea. Dave's going to yell at me, but I'll tell you, after we're done 

Debbie Jennings 44:37
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 44:41
again. Good idea. Jennings Tor.com purchased the books, leave a review, purchased them as gifts, sponsor them because, as you know, it's very important that we get these into the schools, to daycares, to teach kids how to read the books, Anything like that before we wrap it up. 

Debbie Jennings 45:01
Yes, there is one more thing. There's always one more thing. I would just like to say to our schools out there, public and private, that whenever I go to a school, I do not charge for a reading whether they buy a book or not. There is no charge. 

Rich Bennett 45:19
Hmm. 

School of thought. If you're going to have to count. If you haven't 

Debbie Jennings 45:25
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 45:26
talked about that. 

Debbie Jennings 45:26
Okay. Offline. Har har. Har har. 

Rich Bennett 45:29
Debbie, thanks so much. 

Debbie Jennings 45:31
And thank you, Rich. Really appreciate it.