What Will You Leave Behind?

July 3, 2020– I was listening to Spotify a couple of days ago, and a song came on that’s been around for a while, but I never listened to the lyrics until now. One of the verses said, “…the sharp knife of a short life, well I’ve had just enough time.” This tiny sentence made me think long and hard about things and what I’m doing with my own life as a business owner, entrepreneur, and author.

I think that the point of our lives is to touch the lives of other people and to leave them a little better off than how we found them. It’s to build something that outlives us and to leave a legacy to our families that they can be proud of; that’s why I think that everyone should write a book.

There are so many things to write about, and if you’ve ever thought about writing a book, I urge you to reach out to us! We can help make it a reality send us an email at pandapublishing8@gmail.com for more information. Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Memoir-One specific event/aspects of the writer’s life. This could be something that you’ve overcome in your life or something that was very special to you, beating an addiction, a special talent, or long lost love rekindled. Of course, this is very personal, and you can choose any event of your life that meant the most to you. (Acts of Remembrance, by KG Watson and Engelina Aasman Hummel) is a great example of this!) Check it out here: https://atomic-temporary-128327429.wpcomstaging.com/product/acts-of-remembrance-by-k-g-watson-and-engelina-aasman-hummel/
2. Autobiography-The writer’s entire life organized chronologically. From your birth to present day, you’ll cover the events and people that shaped you into who you are today.
3. Family Recipes-Do you remember making peach pie in your grandmother’s kitchen? What about recipes that have been passed down in your family for generations? What dish are you always asked to bring to celebrations? (Fun fact Grandma’s Table by Michelle Pontefract, illustrated by Erin Cutler combines family recipes and a children’s book! Check it out here: https://atomic-temporary-128327429.wpcomstaging.com/product/grandmas-table/
4. Family History/Family Tree-Do you know your history? Where do you come from? Who are you historically related to? Are there family members that you’ve never met before?
5. Children’s book-Writing this type of book is magical because you’ll be able to have your kids, grandkids, nieces/nephews, godchildren etc. read your words before bed. Talk about a special connection! Imagine having a hand in igniting a child’s love for literacy with your stories…that’s a big deal.
6. Journal-Was there a time in your life that you reflected on through journaling? Maybe it was the birth of a child or a special event or having to say goodbye to someone you loved.

Write the book. Do it while there is still time because it’s important, and the legacy you leave matters.

*If you’d like more information on how the experts at Pandamonium Publishing House can help you with your book, email us at pandapublishing8@gmail.com.

 

Cancelled

June 19, 2020– Things in the world are so weird right now, but at least some restrictions are lifting, and hopefully, the quarantine will be entirely over soon. I know that there are things that are more important going on than the festivals and events that we look so forward to all year, but these chances to connect with the community face to face are so special to us, and they mean a lot.

So, there will be no It’s Your Festival, no SuperCrawl, no fall fairs, and no Peach Festival, to name a few events that we would have been scheduled to appear with our books and authors. Although these events have been cancelled, here is a list of things that are not:

1. Reading to your kids. This is the most sacred time between parents and children that shouldn’t be taken for granted. Kids will remember reading bedtime stories and snuggling with you forever; reading with them will ignite their love of literacy and create lasting memories for both of you.
2. Virtual book clubs. Book clubs, oh how we miss you, but virtual ones still make them possible. We are revamping our international book club program as we speak, so check back here for more information in the coming weeks! We’re doing a read around the world program where we feature books from different cultures and countries. I’m so excited, so stay tuned!
3. Virtual storytime and book launches. I’ve had the pleasure of reading my storybook, Panda, the Very Bad Cat for Frontier College online. What a great idea to help kids find new books! We also do online book launches for our new releases, and it’s a great idea because you can still connect with your readers and audience through Facebook Live and Instagram Live; it’s a new way of doing things, but still a lot of fun.
4.  Reading outdoors. Nothing beats a cold beverage on a hot day, except adding a great book into the mix! Hit the deck or patio and escape into another world for a few hours under the sun.
5. Writing. Now is the time to work on your novel or next writing project. If you’re working from home and keeping typical hours, consider waking up a bit earlier to have some writing time. Get inspired with ideas by reading blogs and writing in a journal.
6. Spending time in nature. This is one of our most favourite things to do at Pandamonium. Nature seems to reset us and allow us some much-needed downtime. This is also where some of our best ideas blossom! Grab a notebook and pen and head out for a hike or a walk, you’ll be glad you did.

While it’s easy to focus on all the things we still can’t do at this point, it’s better to focus on what we can do. Enjoy these summer days, and stay positive! X LLB

Lunch Lady Heroes

April 24, 2020– I was lucky enough to meet Jarrett when I was in New York attending the SCBWI winter conference last year. He’s a fantastic speaker and a lovely guy. Check out his Ted Talk about Why Lunch Ladies are Heroes and his graphic novel!

Bullet Journals…What Are They and Why You May Benefit From One…

October 11, 2019– What is a bullet journal exactly? It’s a system of keeping track of notes, ideas, storylines, and anything else that is important to you. It’s an easy way to simplify things! It’s a quick and simplified way of getting a snapshot of where you’re headed in your writing life.

Here are some ideas of what you can put in your bullet journal should you choose to use this method of organization for your writing:

1. Writing inspiration-write down story ideas as they pop into your mind.
2. Tracking your submissions to publishers-when and who you submitted to along with guidelines if applicable.
3. Organizing your storyline-plotting your novel and the important events that will take place in your book.
4. Managing your time-jotting down most important tasks, deadlines, and projected release dates.

Bullet journals can work really well for some writers if they enjoy this method of organization, give it a try and see if it works for you! Happy writing! X LLB

Fall Writing Challenge…

September 27, 2019- Fall is here! I absolutely love this season from the boots, to the wardrobe, to the colours, to the weather, I’m here for ALL of it.  Check out this awesome fall writing challenge below from our friends at shortandsincere.com. I’ll be working my way through this list too:) Enjoy!

F**K It, Do What You Love By John C. Parkin

April 19, 2019– About a year ago I read this wonderful little book called F**k It, Do What You Love by John C. Parkin. The basic overview of this book is to take a risk, take a leap, do what you love, and it will all work out. There are some things that I really liked about this book and other things that I didn’t, just as in any other book I’ve ever read.  Let’s focus on one really cool exercise that the book gives as homework.

Ask yourself the following questions and write down your answers in a journal…ready?

1. What do you love doing? (We aren’t just talking career here, we’re talking EVERYTHING you love to do)
2. What did you used to love doing? (Childhood memories or anything in the past that pops into your mind)
3. What can you imagine loving to do in the future? (Completely new stuff that you have yet to experience)

What do you notice about your answers? When I did this exercise I noticed that my answers to the first question came very quickly and the list was long! I also noticed that I get to do a lot of things that I love each and every day and for that, I am so grateful. The whole point of the above exercise is to figure out what you love doing and do more of it. For the author of the book, he quit his job, moved to a different country, wrote a book (this one), and started teaching. If we aren’t clear on what we want, how can we ever achieve it? There are many other exercises in this book and it’s definitely worth reading!

X LLB

 

Journaling…Do You Do This?

May 18, 2018- How many of you journal? I am definitely in the YES I DO camp of this question. I find that journaling helps with my sleep, my creativity, and when I’m feeling anxious.

If you’re not currently writing in a journal every day, I highly suggest that you start! Let’s examine the benefits of putting pen to paper. Of course, you can use any type of journal you’d like including digital, but I prefer to use a beautiful notebook and a nice pen. It’s completely up to you!

1. It will help you express what you’re really feeling. The thing about writing in a journal is that you can write whatever you want without judgement, because it’s your choice to keep it private. Journaling can reveal your inner most thoughts and feelings and allow you to say what you really want to. I’d even go as far to say that it helps unlock and unblock your subconscious mind. This usually happens when journaling is done before bed.
2.  It helps you know yourself. Journaling is essential to getting to know yourself better and is a wonderful problem solving tool. It allows you to see things from a different perspective and can help answer questions about yourself. Try the method of bullet-journaling and ask yourself some questions such as, Who am I? What do I care about? How do I see myself?, etc.
3. It’s healthy. Writing in a journal every day is so healthy for your mind, spirit, and immune system, believe it or not! As for the health benefits of journaling, they’ve been scientifically proven. Research shows the following: It improves cognitive functioning, it strengthens the immune system, and it counteracts many of the negative effects of stress.

So, pick up your pen and start journaling today! It will change your life.

X LLB