Ever feel like you aren’t getting everything you want out
of life? A man on a bus smiles or a stranger radiates happiness and you wonder,
why isn’t that me? A child runs giggling across your path and reminds you what
pure joy looks like, causing you to stop and ask… where is my joy?
Saving Our Pennys, a
new release by Roy Dimond and Jeff Leitch is the book you need to read, to wipe
that aged frown off your face – to find confidence in your abilities, to be
happy, and to fearlessly embrace all of life's magic to the end, regardless of
the difficulties you may encounter.
This book tells the
story of a teacher, who facing a crisis, searches for answers to some of life’s
most difficult questions. He is overwhelmed with the everyday burdens of life,
yet must be there for others. He sees someone who walks in harmony with life,
joyfully embracing the moment, and is inspired to begin his hunt for a mentor.
During his search, it is revealed to him that the universe seldom takes a
gentle path. Yet, if he has the courage to embrace his quest, he may discover
that a hero’s journey will take him to the strangest of places. True enlightenment
always leads to the unexpected. Growing from a “shadow” into a person of
“substance,” he realizes that the sacred moment always waits patiently.
By embracing the now, he grows into his true nature, the state called, “spirit”
where balance and peace of mind exist, the place where wondrous joy has always
been.
D.O: Forever, I've been wishing to
write an inspirational book like Saving Our Pennys. But forever, I remain a
terrible creator who uses lies to tell greater truths. Now that Roy & Jeff
are here, I hope they will teach me to write one.
[Smiles]
I welcome the two of you on the site.
Thanks for choosing Authors Curtilage for your book promotion. Thanks to Madi Preda your publicist, for sending you over
here.
D.O: Is Saving Our Pennys your first
co. authored book?
Roy…
First Darmie, let me take a moment and thank you for interviewing us. It is
greatly appreciated. Yes, this is the first time that I have worked with
another writer on a book. It’s been
quite the experience and one I hope to repeat.
Jeff…
(laughing)… and my first baptism into writing.
It’s been a fantastic ride so far…. And yes, this is my first experience
as a published author. It’s been great
co-writing with Roy on this story. I
would co-write again in a heartbeat as well.
And before we go any further, as Roy said a moment ago, thank you for
interviewing us both. We sincerely
appreciate you taking the time.
D.O: Roy & Jeff, what event in your
life or career had a strong influence on you to write this soul lifting
inspirational book, Saving Our Pennys?
Roy…
As a Youth Worker in schools for over thirty years I met so many inspirational
teachers, administrators, students, and parents. It’s a wonderful environment
to work in. Everyday, there is somebody, somewhere in the school, helping
someone. To have those situations around you, all the time, makes it a pretty
special place to go to work.
Jeff…
Couldn’t agree with Roy more. It is
amazing the amount of goodwill that is demonstrated every day. I have been teaching for almost twenty years
and you can’t help but feel fortunate to witness this daily ‘slice of
life’. It’s a fantastic job; people are
incredible.
D.O: Saving Our Pennys takes the reader
on an odyssey through one man's life as he comes to terms with his life and his
own ability to be happy. Is this book based on true a life experience?
Roy…
Oh yes, Penny was a real student and a true inspiration. We describe her at the
end of the book, although we changed many details to fit the larger story that
we wanted to tell. Lab, the dog we mention, was also real and his role is
prominently mentioned in the book. Lab inspired many, usually to laugh, and
often to feed him, but he was indeed very real.
Jeff…And
many of those details were based on our collective experiences as well. We also infused some of our educational
experiences into the story, when needed, to really try and capture the life
messages that have hit us each day and over the course of a career.
D.O: Hmm. That’s fascinating! How
did the two of you begin writing and start gathering materials for the book
Saving Our Pennys?
Roy…
Jeff and I had worked together with at-risk students and I was moving from the
area, so before I left, he and I hiked into an area called Golden Ears Mountain
to reminisce. Along that hike we stopped at a bench and started talking about
writing down some of our experiences. Twelve years later here we sit being
interviewed. It has been a grand journey.
Jeff…During
our time working together we both discussed how great it would be to write a book. We both had a similar vision and questions
about education and after some great talks, we knew we had something. As well, I was pretty new to the profession,
and Roy had seen a lifetime (laughing)… but it was very vindicating for me to
have similar questions at the beginning of my career and just prior to Roy’s
retirement. We knew we had a story to
tell.
D.O: I know that Jeff is the writer of focus of a Chicken
Soup for the Soul: Children with Special Needs series called, Toss of a Coin
written by Ted Kuntz. And Roy is the
author of The Singing Bowl and The Rubicon Effect. Who are you guys? Quickly
before we come back to Saving Our Pennys, let's meet you.
Roy…
Well Jeff’s the smart one. I’m the good looking one. Seriously though, I love
traveling, love experiencing different cultures. I love being immersed in a
culture where just getting dinner is a major effort. From Japan, to South
America, to Europe, I travel with my wife and find it enriches our souls. We
live in a little harbor on the west coast of Canada called Garden Bay and from
our log home we look out at the Pacific Ocean. I try to walk around the lakes
near my home everyday and of course to write.
Jeff…(laughing)
The definition of smart just got downgraded.
Well, I’m a proud Dad of three and happily married to my wife
Linda. We live in Maple Ridge, British
Columbia and are near many parks and streams.
Life consists of teaching full time with students and adults in both Day
and Night School, as well as living at the hockey rinks and sports fields. We’re extremely busy as a family but I always
try to find time to read, to go for a run, and enjoy a great slow dinner with
our busy family. Right now, it’s an
incredibly busy time for our family but Linda and I are really doing our best
to enjoy the moments.
D.O: How hard was it to create the
teacher in Saving Our Pennys and fleshed him out between the two of you?
Roy…
Of the two of us Jeff’s the teacher and I think there was a lot of him in the
story. Especially the caring and enlightened side of the character. Having
worked together in that environment it was pretty easy to know what we wanted
from the teacher in our book. I also based some of him on my mentor so we did
not lack for good role models to base the character on.
Jeff…To
me, it seemed the teacher voice came from both of us, as well as the myriad of
conversations we had with our colleagues.
The feedback from many is how well they were able to understand and
sympathize with the “teacher voice” as well as the everyday frustrations of
those who go to work, and through life, uninspired. But as well, many will see myself as the
teacher in the story and Roy as the Scottish Teacher for obvious reasons. Roy has been leaned on by thousands for his perspective on life;
there is a reason for this. I believe
Roy’s and his mentor’s voice is truly one of the magical components of Saving
Our Pennys.
D.O: How are characterization, plot,
settings, imagery and theme fully and authentically realized in the story
Saving Our Pennys?
Roy…
Publishers so often ask writers, “What gives you the right to write this book?”
For Saving Our Pennys we have spent a combined fifty years in the environment
we wrote about. So we know that world well, how it feels, the pressure and the
strains. The characters, plots, etc., it was all around us every day. To
paraphrase from one of our characters, “We just had to have eyes… and use
them.”
Jeff…
Agreed… I don’t think I could answer that question any better.
D.O: Hmm. OK. What are the most
wonderful things our readers will take away reading Saving Our Pennys book?
Roy…
Great question. I hope there are many things people can come away with after
reading our book… the importance of ‘the moment’ being one of them. That the
fundamental need to change may start a journey more grand than anyone could
ever imagine. Those who may inspire us are everywhere, IF you have the energy to look.
Jeff…
I would also add that you can never, ever give up. Our hope is that Saving Our Pennys will give
people the courage to act on this message.
D.O: What have the two of you learned creating this
book?
Roy…
I learned a lot about my friend Jeff. His insights and wisdom. I also learned
how to have patience with another writer when he’s wrong. Sorry, just kidding
Jeff. I learned that if you care about your story enough and work hard enough,
you will find the real story you want to tell.
Jeff… (Laughing) We never doubted this story would
not be told. Roy and I also come from a
healthy background in sports. I believe
that our team experiences groomed us for this.
Sometimes on a team you have to let others lead and there were times
that this needed to happen. Not because
of ego, but passion for the message.
I’ve also learned that inner instincts are rarely ever wrong. We acted on our impulses in many aspects of
Saving Our Pennys. I really believe Roy
and I went the distance and left no stone unturned.
D.O: Any last thought for the readers
of Authors Curtilage?
Roy…
Just if you have a story in you, make sure you get to experience it, either
through writing, music, or play. And if you can share that experience with a
good friend it will be all the richer.
Jeff…
Absolutely…. the world needs these messages.
With all the shared pain on this planet, we need each other’s stories to
maintain and reinforce the magic of the common and uncommon in each day.
D.O: Do you have a few suggestions to
help anyone become an inspirational writer? If so, what are they?
Roy…
It may sound trite but it is accurate. If you want to be a writer, sit down and
write… every day. If you want to be an inspirational writer then you must allow
others to inspire you. Jeff inspired me every day that we worked on this book
and I will be forever grateful for that.
Thank you for taking the time to
interview us Darmie. It’s a wonderful thing you do, supporting writers.
Jeff…
Yes…. Write, and read….as much as you can.
Start a blog, write a diary, go for walks and runs - to let your world
slow down so your words can accelerate.
You will absolutely amaze yourself at how fast your story emerges. My Mom and Dad instilled the wonder of
books. My Dad always dabbled in the
written word and inspired me to put pencil to paper. By the time I had the great fortune to meet
and get to know Roy, I knew this book was inevitable – published or not. Pretty incredible to meet and work with
someone who never breaks a promise,
let alone to call ‘friend.’ It can’t be
said enough…Thank you Roy.
And Thank you Darmie. I am continually amazed at the writer’s world
and the people who cherish the written word like yourself. This is such a great experience. Thanks so much.
D.O: [Smiles] thank you so much Roy and
Jeff. It’s been an honor interviewing you. Dear readers, thanks for reading
this interview. Purchase your copy of Saving Our Pennys soon. It is the best protection you need for your heart if you ever feel a hole in
it is opening like a dark door.
Roy and Jeff, I wish you all the luck
you need to be best-selling authors. Once again, thanks for stopping by.
Saving our Pennys is Available in:
Paperback $11.45
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