Coming Soon: My First Book | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: Please join me in welcoming our newest contributor to BCN, Kathy Manos Penn, a native of the "Big Apple", by way of the "Peach City" - Atlanta. Kathy, a former English teacher, authors The Ink Penn blog and is now happily retired from a corporate career in communications.

    I am eagerly awaiting the publication of my first book − The Ink Penn, Celebrating the Magic in the Everyday−due to be released November 21. This book, a collection of 25 of my Dunwoody Crier columns, is very much a celebration of life in Dunwoody, the Georgia community where I live. If you live in the Atlanta area but OTP (outside the Perimeter), your friends who live ITP or inside the Perimeter likely question why you live where you do. This description of Dunwoody from the book cover will give them a hint: "Only minutes from downtown Atlanta, the community has a small town vibe that sets it apart from other suburbs." And, they'll have the complete answer once they read the book.

    One Dunwoody reader has already written me that "The Ink Penn" will make a "great holiday gift," and that she, "can't wait to send it to friends who used to live in Dunwoody and have moved away." Because I taught at Peachtree High School here in Dunwoody oh-so-many years ago, I can't help but think this is also the perfect gift for parents and grandparents to share with children and grandchildren who now live elsewhere.

    True to form for our town, when I approached local business owners about carrying the book, not a one hesitated. That's the community spirit I so appreciate about Dunwoody. I have to say that my publisher seemed surprised at the response. Here's hoping she'll also be surprised at how many books fly off the shelves.

    I discovered my publisher, BookLogix, when I saw the name in local author John J. Jedlicka's novel "Forever Indeed." I purchased his book at the Dunwoody author booth at the annual Lemonade Days Festival. When I googled BookLogix, I learned it was located just up the road in Alpharetta, Georgia. Working with the BookLogix team has been reminiscent of the collaborative efforts I enjoyed in corporate America.

    It really is true, as I kept hearing from them: "the hard work starts after you finish writing the book." Thank goodness I'd already written the 25 columns that ended up in the book. And thank goodness BookLogix brings so much to the table: a senior publishing consultant, a copy editor, a graphic artist for the cover, and a layout specialist. Had I attempted all this on my own via an online service, my amateur efforts wouldn't have resulted in the professional look I'm getting from BookLogix.

    My new website is also a work of art created by my talented artist friend Cathy McIntire. I'm just happy I managed to create a new FaceBook page on my own; a website would have been beyond me. With all this help, I've been able to focus primarily on my writing, which is after all, what started all this.

    Later in November, you'll be able to purchase "The Ink Penn" online at Amazon and BookLogix, and those who live in the Atlanta area will also be able to buy it the old-fashioned way by shopping at eleven - yes eleven - local businesses:

    Just thinking about these businesses makes me think, "Do I live in a great community or what?" If anyplace else out there would like to carry the book, please let me know. Is it obvious that I'm excited beyond words? Many, many thanks to these businesses and my readers. I am having the time of my life. Pre-order is set to start November 1 on my website kathymanospenn.com. Stay tuned to find out the official date it will be available.

    Kathy Manos Penn is a Sandy Springs resident now happily retired from a corporate career in communications. "The Ink Penn, Celebrating the Magic in the Everyday" will be available in Dunwoody shops in mid-November. Can't wait? Pre-order your copy at kathymanospenn.com. Follow Kathy on Facebook.