So Few On Earth

p Hi friends and dedicated readers. I just checked on the internet in general by typing my name just to see what would come up. There are still several sites about my book on there plus the radio interview that CBC radio did last May. Kool#160;#160; An employee of my publisher , Dundurn ,#160;#160; told me that ‘working on your#160; book was very special#160;#160; for all of us at Dundurn-#160; …#160; it touched my heart. I have had a busy year and am now getting bookings for 2012. I enjoy immensely the opportunities to#160; share#160; with#160; people of my homeland Labrador./p pa href=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/001.jpg”img style=”background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px” title=”001″ border=”0″ alt=”001″ src=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/001_thumb.jpg” width=”244″ height=”184″ //a/p pCanada geese#160; swimming by our home on Lake Erie. there are thousands here. Hope this picture post OK./p

p#160; /p pa href=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_0375.jpg”img style=”background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px” title=”Holidays,also Spotted Islands” border=”0″ alt=”Holidays,also Spotted Islands” src=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_0375_thumb.jpg” width=”244″ height=”184″ //a#160;#160; a href=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_0382.jpg”img style=”background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px” title=”Holidays,also Spotted Islands” border=”0″ alt=”Holidays,also Spotted Islands” src=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_0382_thumb.jpg” width=”184″ height=”244″ //a/p pFirst Book Signing and reading…Dunnville,#160; .#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160; /p p#160; a href=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_0632.jpg”img style=”background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px” title=”IMG_0632″ border=”0″ alt=”IMG_0632″ src=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_0632_thumb.jpg” width=”244″ height=”184″ //a#160;#160; /p pI enjoy my new Job and meeting new people/p p#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160; a href=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_2600.jpg”img style=”background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px” title=”IMG_2600″ border=”0″ alt=”IMG_2600″ src=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_2600_thumb.jpg” width=”244″ height=”184″ //a/p p#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160;#160; Proudly displaying my Labrador Flag#160; /p p#160;/p pa href=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_2604.jpg”img style=”background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px” title=”IMG_2604″ border=”0″ alt=”IMG_2604″ src=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_2604_thumb.jpg” width=”244″ height=”184″ //a/p pBook Fair in Port Dover There were#160; many, many more events throughout#160; the year./p pstrongSome comments#160; I’ve heard lately:/strong/p p“You have to make a movie of this book,,,It’s amazing!”/p pquot;I’m reading it for the second time…I love it”/p p“You are a very gifted writer…When is the next one coming out?”/p p“ Hurry with the next one, I can’t wait.” /p pstrongfont color=”#29303b”Wishing all my readers a Very Merry Christmas and A joyous new year!/font/strong/p pstrongfont color=”#29303b”/font/strong/p

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pretta href=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Book-Launch-Parliment-Hill-Ottawa-Ont.-1.jpg”img style=”background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px” title=”Book Launch-Parliment Hill, Ottawa, Ont. (1)” border=”0″ alt=”Book Launch-Parliment Hill, Ottawa, Ont. (1)” src=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Book-Launch-Parliment-Hill-Ottawa-Ont.-1_thumb.jpg” width=”244″ height=”184″ //a a href=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Book-Launch-Parliment-Hill-Ottawa-Ont.-20-Copy.jpg”img style=”background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px” title=”Held in Senatot Rompkeys Office” border=”0″ alt=”Held in Senatot Rompkeys Office” src=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Book-Launch-Parliment-Hill-Ottawa-Ont.-20-Copy_thumb.jpg” width=”244″ height=”184″ //a/tt/pre

prettIt was a thrill for my family, humbling for me and I’m so grateful to Bill-/tt/pre

prettSenator Rompkey /ttttfor doing this for me. /tt/pre

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pretta href=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Book-Launch-Parliment-Hill-Ottawa-Ont.-33.jpg”img style=”background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px” title=”Book Launch-Parliment Hill, Ottawa, Ont. (33)” border=”0″ alt=”Book Launch-Parliment Hill, Ottawa, Ont. (33)” src=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Book-Launch-Parliment-Hill-Ottawa-Ont.-33_thumb.jpg” width=”244″ height=”184″ //a a href=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Book-Launch-Parliment-Hill-Ottawa-Ont.-62.jpg”img style=”background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px” title=”Held in Senatot Rompkeys Office” border=”0″ alt=”Held in Senatot Rompkeys Office” src=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Book-Launch-Parliment-Hill-Ottawa-Ont.-62_thumb.jpg” width=”244″ height=”184″ //a/tt/pre

prettSIGNING MY BOOK THIS BEAUTIFUL MAN In his 90’s/tt/pre

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pretta href=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Book-Launch-Parliment-Hill-Ottawa-Ont.-66.jpg”img style=”background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px” title=”Held in Senatot Rompkeys Office” border=”0″ alt=”Held in Senatot Rompkeys Office” src=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Book-Launch-Parliment-Hill-Ottawa-Ont.-66_thumb.jpg” width=”244″ height=”184″ //a a href=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Book-Launch-Parliment-Hill-Ottawa-Ont.-86.jpg”img style=”background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px” title=”Held in Senatot Rompkeys Office” border=”0″ alt=”Held in Senatot Rompkeys Office” src=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Book-Launch-Parliment-Hill-Ottawa-Ont.-86_thumb.jpg” width=”244″ height=”184″ //a/tt/pre

prettMy 1st.writing instr. Robert, MacMaster University- My nephew John Croucher /tt/pre

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pretta href=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Book-Launch-Parliment-Hill-Ottawa-Ont.-71.jpg”img style=”background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px” title=”Held in Senatot Rompkeys Office” border=”0″ alt=”Held in Senatot Rompkeys Office” src=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Book-Launch-Parliment-Hill-Ottawa-Ont.-71_thumb.jpg” width=”244″ height=”184″ //a a href=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Book-Launch-Parliment-Hill-Ottawa-Ont.-74.jpg”img style=”background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px” title=”Held in Senatot Rompkeys Office” border=”0″ alt=”Held in Senatot Rompkeys Office” src=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Book-Launch-Parliment-Hill-Ottawa-Ont.-74_thumb.jpg” width=”244″ height=”184″ //a/tt/pre

prettMrs. Rompky was a lovely hostess My Cartwright school mate (Kate)/tt/pre

pretta href=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Book-Launch-Parliment-Hill-Ottawa-Ont.-89.jpg”img style=”background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px” title=”Held in Senatot Rompkeys Office” border=”0″ alt=”Held in Senatot Rompkeys Office” src=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Book-Launch-Parliment-Hill-Ottawa-Ont.-89_thumb.jpg” width=”244″ height=”184″ //a a href=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Book-Launch-Parliment-Hill-Ottawa-Ont.-94.jpg”img style=”background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px” title=”Held in Senatot Rompkeys Office” border=”0″ alt=”Held in Senatot Rompkeys Office” src=”http://sofewonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Book-Launch-Parliment-Hill-Ottawa-Ont.-94_thumb.jpg” width=”244″ height=”184″ //a/tt/pre

prettBusy signing all the politicians books they bought… Bill chatting with guests./tt/pre

prettI will never forget this opportunity you gave me Bill. Sorry there will be no/tt/pre

prettChristmas party on the HILL THIS YEAR. I HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING YOUR RETIREMENT…./tt/pre

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         Keith fishing from our  deck he built on the lake, (Bass fish)

Our lakeside patio                                                     Rock Garden

Summer flowers from or property and  the beach  beyond.  

My family taking it up for the winter….after Thanksgiving dinner!

All gone, safely stored for the winter.. hopefully we won’t have  put it back down too early like  we did this year, We lost 11 sections and had to replace them…expensive lesson learned. all ready for winter, lots of wood in the woos shed. Thank you Keith hugs….

Hi friends and loyal readers, My book so few on earth is still doing well, and I finally found the server of comments from my web site! I was not able to open them because I didn’t have the right password! To all who are  or were enjoying  my blog I will try to do better in keeping it going. So, thank you all so, so much for the kind words. I ‘m a tad  slow to learn –at  times, or maybe I won’t take the time to try to figure  it all out. I am also busy writing  the next book! Stay tuned for more…Hugs to you all!  Josie

A few comments  I didn’t know I had!

Comment: Bravo Josie! I feel so proud of you and all the things you have accomplished even before your book. Congratulations. I love the title and how you came to use it. I get that remark too whenever I tell where I am from. You are very kind to respond the way you do. See you soon! From my friend Katie:

Comment: Eldred Mesher December 8, Re: Book.No doubt Josie, writing about your home and about your past is the perfect way to inform your children about their roots. Your story is very detailed and touching and makes a wonderful read for anyone.

Comment: Paul W. Blake Hi Josie. Just to let you know I placed a comment on your website a couple days ago, but it has disappeared……any idea what happened there?
I am really enjoying your book…..I’m up to chapter 27 right now and there is never a dull moment. Great stuff.

Comment: Valuable information and excellent design you got here! I would like to thank you for sharing your thoughts and time into the stuff in your post!! Thumbs up!

Comment: Why didn’t I think about this? I hear exactly what you’re saying and I’m so happy that I came across your blog. You really know what you’re talking about, and you made me feel like I should learn more about this. Thanks for this; I’m officially a huge fan of your blog.

Comment: Hi Josie, Just a short note to let you know I am enjoying your book immensely. I read it when I get in bed simply because I want no distractions to take away from my savouring every word. The way you have interjected your constant youthful inquisitions upon whomever was near you, adds such innocent humour to an otherwise adverse existence portrayed in your story. Although I can relate to your kind of life as a youth to a smaller degree, it is soul-wrenching to know that this kind of life actually existed in our not too distant past. How times have changed! I applaud you for a well written and most interesting story of your life….you are indeed a true Labrador daughter, and this book will, hopefully, become mandatory reading for Labrador students as part of our history and heritage. A must for school libraries. My hats off to you on this book. Bravo!

Comment: hi Josie got your book, you and i could be sisters, our stories are so familiar. i am going to ns for Nov. 29, to promote my story "broken wings" thinking of continue on your way. if i miss your reading on parliament hill, will still contact you if i come on through and meet up with you and Keith, perhaps ill be able to attend your next reading. take care and so glad to see your book is doing so well Clarisse

Comment: Hello Josie, Just a note to say that I really enjoyed reading So Few On Earth. Even though I have never journeyed to "the land God gave to Cain", after reading your memoirs I felt as though I was there. I believe that many people will be able to identify with some of the hardships which you overcame. As an immigrant family, we left Europe in 1951, with virtually the clothes on our backs & struggled to make it in Canada. Isn’t it ironical that often the most challenging times in our lives form the happiest & fondest memories-a sense of ‘paradoxical unity’ if you will. Congratulations Josie, I wish you continued success! Remember the words of your instructor, "Write what you know & let the chips fall." Sincerely, Victor (Keith’s friend @ Different Strokes)

Comment: Comfortably,  the post is in reality the greatest on this valuable topic. I fit in with your conclusions and will thirstily look forward to your upcoming updates. Saying thanks will not just be sufficient, for the phenomenal clarity in your writing. I will directly grab your rss feed to stay abreast of any updates. Genuine work and much success in your business dealings

Comment: This is a really good read for me, Must admit that you are one of the best bloggers I ever saw.Thanks for posting this informative article.

New E-mail address. josie@sofewonearth.com

Hi friends and family!  I just wanted to touch base and fill you in to all who care that It has been a summer of great joy and much sorrow.  It started out beautifully with Keith and I celebrating 50 years of marriage, For all the people  I have hurt or offended I am truly sorry. I’m for making people happy, helping them out with feelings, emotions and freedom to love unconditionally! Something I didn’t recognize  until a few years  ago!

My beautiful  children threw  us a big 50th. anniversary party here on our property.

We then went to Labrador  and reconnected with a  bunch of people  celebrating COME HOME YEAR.

I even got to spend a couple of glorious days salmon fishing with my family! Something I’d never done before.  It was a joy to behold spending two whole day in Hare Harbour . Thank you Les. The only downer was Dora wasn’t with us. nor Linda or Rhoda, I was  lucky enough to have spent some time with brother Eddy too this year. He was in from deep sea fishing. and brother Phil was still working at the fish plant in Cartwright.

We then went to visit what’s was left of Keith’s family in Newfoundland. There were only two siblings  left from a family of nine. Just  as we started to enjoy a relaxing couple days with Dora and Clifford in Main Brook, NL. we got a call form Pasadena that Keith’s sister Mable was very ill and we should go down right away! So we did. Mable was indeed gravely ill and on her way to meet her maker. I like to think she recognized us. As the family gathered round we could see it was only a matter of time . The following morning she passed away peacefully at age  90, Leaving three sons Rev. Keith Peterson

and brothers, Alton and Graham;

Keith and Rev Keith Peterson                              Alton and

Graham ,Sharon ,her brothers Adolph and Keith.

My heart  cries for  them as they are the only two left, I sure drives home the  thoughts of mortality and immortality….

The only  positive thing about this sad situation was that we saved the cost of having to fly out as we were already in the area. Dolph is 84…

Life’s like that isn’t it,  full of joys and sorrows. and always learning to adapt and adjust to whatever  comes your way.I really believe in the power of positive thinking. Keith had a difficult time after we arrived back in Ontario, but is doing much better now.

They are very close……… Cheers for now  Josie

Hi to all my  faithful readers. It’s coming up to 1 year of my book coming out.  I will never forget that day. It had been 17 years to get it to this point. 10 years to write it, 2 years editing, a couple of years of rejections, and then Dundurn called. Wouldn’t you know – after reading the contract I rejected them. Michel from Dundurn e-mailed  me and said we need to talk! I called him and he talked me through the whole contract! on the phone! wow–Talk about determination!

It’s been a labour of love for my children, and now that I’m starting back to promoting it, I’m feeling  proud to be able to talk about my homeland Labrador. Keith has been such a great marketing man, and had a picture of the cover put on my car.

And yes I am writing  again. I love writing so much and hopefully can get the next one  out  in a LOT less time then the first one. So many people love this book and are waiting for the rest of the story!

The first shipment to come from the publisher Dundurn in Toronto. September 17th ,2010.

I’m staring in disbelief…and shedding a few tears of joy as well.

                            So, so proud! I’m even happier that so may people  are enjoying it!

Getting ready to wrap it.                                       Wet burlap, palm leaves, tea  leaves

Vivian visiting from Hawaii bought it         Laying it on the wrapper…

Next we stuffed it with fresh vegies .     All wrapped and ready for the PIT. It was 

We are all stuffed with excellent food and  relaxing well into the evening.  A day to remember  for sure.Just one of those experiences I will not soon forget. The weather was beautiful as well. I am blessed….and grateful….

A Writing Story…

Comments (0) Filed under: Uncategorized

To all my readers who would like to write their stories!

I’m still trying to comprehend and understand how this all came about. It’s been17 years since I started writing MY STORY and what I’m trying to wrap my head around is what constitutes a writer? Why would someone with only a grade seven education even attempt to write a book, someone who was terrible in English class. I knew I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, so I started taking writing courses. And 10 years later when i was trying to finish my courses, while at the same time continue to write my story I never gave up. I never thought of publishing it way back then. I was just driven to tell it for my 4 adult children and 9 grandchildren! Eventually I ended up finishing the book…558 pages to that point!

Then I was told I would have to re-write and proof-read the whole thing over…up to 3 or 4 times! I whittled it down to 400 pages; Editing out repeats etc. then started sending it to publishers… After 5 rejections I was told I would have to find an editor! That it needed professional Editing! After finding an Editor at 40.00 dollars and hour (regular price is 45 to 50 dollars) and a whole year of intense work, I let the whole thing sit in a drawer for another year!

The following summer, (while taking a writing course to write  children’s books)  a fellow student: Sarah   sent me an address through e-mail to send  my  manuscript to. I was told I had nothing to lose a, so I sent it to “The Dundurn Group” in Toronto.

I was also informed during my writing courses that no one EVER sent a complete manuscript to a Publisher, but I did… I sent the whole thing!

Than I went about preparing my property for the summer. I was shovelling gravel when the call came from Dundurn in Toronto…and the rest is history. So now I’m thinking, nothing was by chance, whatever drove me to write this book, is now irrelevant, and it was just meant to be. I will never know what constitutes a writer or why writers write, they just do…So if you want to write your story…just write it…Thank you my readers for your kindness and support. I am one grateful lady!!! Hugs

Josie Penny — Author of “SO FEW ON EARTH” available in book stores everywhere.

POSTSCRIPT- There are so many stories that need to be written. what will happen to our history if nobody writes it?

Sisters are forever! We missed you Rhoda. I’m sorry for not getting together with my two brothers, but I did visit them. I didn’t get bakeapples this year, but did get some shrimp from brother Eddy…Thank you soooo much…delicious!

The joy to be hugged—or smothered!    Rhoda in blue jacket   in Winnie’s van and sister Dora who just returned from her annual check up; Cancer Free! Again                                                           

Fresh salmon from the nets!                    My Brother in law Les Hamel took us out in his boat to Hare Harbour, Labrador with his daughter Sharron…She can really handle a boat and clean the salmon too…regulations a very strict and must be adhered to!

I am not a salmon fisherman as you can see, but sooo enjoyed the two days with the my family….the experts! It was a hot day, but we have to wear floater clothing in the boats…

A FEW COMMENTS FROM FRIENDS

C. Bruce Pilgrim posted on your Wall.

"Sorry to hear about Mabel, and somewhat disappointed we didn’t get to chat. We knew you were here but thought to see you next day. Should have followed my mind and visited that evening. However, look forward to seeing you next year. Tell Josie that Donna and I enjoyed her book very much. Promoting it wherever we go, and to all who visit. Looking forward to the sequel. Take care."

James Nitsman

Hi Josie-too bad I missed you and Keith coming through Goose-where are you now?Really enjoyed your book-would have been nice to talk about it over coffee.Enjoy the day.Was at Hopedale most of the summer.