Do you have a library card?

Do you have a library card?

If not, you need to get one.

Reading is so important.

My favorite motivational speaker, the late Jim Rohn said, "the book you don't read won't help you."

Walt Disney said, "There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island [all you have to do is read them.]

Abe Lincoln said something along the lines that a person who brings him a book that he has not read would be his friend.

I [Danny Pettry] beleive that wisdom is hidden in books (both fiction and non-fiction). However, you must read them to discover the secrets. I had written a self-improvement book called Discover Hidden Secret Wisdom. It was on the importance of reading. Part of the profits went to First Book, which is a non-profit group that provides books to children in need.

I was at the W.Va. Book Festival!



Here is a picture of my sister, my mother and myself at the Book Festival. I had a booth to promote my first children’s book, “Building Character with Sam, Izzy, and Many Other Dogs.”



Kanawha (pronounced: /kəˈnɑː/) is a county in West Virginia. The county seat is Charleston, which is also the state capitol of West Virginia.


Kanawha County is one of the main sponsors for the West Virginia Book Festival. So naturally, the Kanawha County Public Library was there.

Here is a picture of the Kanawha County book mobile in the Charleston Town Center where the Book Festival was held. I thought having that indoors was wild.



Here are some more fun pictures from the W. Va. Book Fair:





The Kanawha county Public Library has Teen Services. Teens can stay informed on programs, contests, new books and more. You can click the “like” button for their facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Charleston-WV/Kanawha-County-Public-Library/162450860303?ref=ts&v=wall#!/pages/Charleston-WV/Kanawha-County-Public-Library-Teen-Services/123854341003395

I [Danny Pettry] am a big fan of teen books. As many people already know, I didn’t read a full book until I was 18-years-old. I think catching up on reading is one reason I like teen books so much now.

I'm the author of a few books.
You can get more information about them at these amazon links below:

Therapeutic benefits of stories for children!

“Story Time” always grabs my attention as a headline in a newspaper. As you already know, I’m a strong advocate for reading and literacy. You’d especially know this if you’ve read my best-selling book, Discover Hidden Secret Wisdom, which suggests that a person can become fulfilled in life by reading more books. Even a portion of the profits from this went to the non-profit, First Book. They provide free books to children in need addressing the number one factor facing literacy: access to age-appropriate books.

Laughing, smiling, and attentive children were shown on the front page of the Register-Herald Newspaper (Beckley, West Virginia) on Nov. 21, 2009 with the caption, “story time.”

Puppet show performances were provided for children last Friday at Stratton Elementary (Beckley area). These shows were based on various children’s stories.

I enjoyed the note in the picture caption that read:

“The stories are used to illustrate self-esteem, vanity, greed, tolerance, bullying, and stranger danger.”

It appears that there are several therapeutic values from these stories.

I’m very pleased that these puppet performances are being provided for children in Beckley!

Here are some activity ideas:

a.) Volunteer to read to children
b.) Develop a puppet show for children
c.) Have your kids read books and develop their own puppet show (with use of paper-bag puppets).
d.) Discuss the story with the child. How did that story make you feel? What do you think is the major lesson in the story? What did you learn from the story? How could you use this lesson in your life?
e.) Buy a child a book.

Source:

http://www.register-herald.com/local/local_story_324230340.html

Local authors from the Huntington, W.Va. area.

Friends of the Cabell County Public Library teamed up with local authors from the (Huntington, West Virginia area) to help promote library membership today.

I had a wonderful opportunity to meet several local authors who I’ll tell you about here.

I hoped that Jean Edward Smith, author of, FDR, would have been there. However, he wasn’t. Smith a professor at Marshall University (Huntington, West Virginia). I had heard on the news that Barack Obama was reading FDR shortly before being sworn in as the nation’s President.

Here is a list of local authors who were present: A.E. Stinger, Eliot Parker, James Casto, Colonel Charles D. Whitt, Edwin Roble Jr. and David Lilly (co-authors), Llewllyn McKernan, Jeanne Holland Crowther, Bobbie Benedict Watts, and of course, myself, Danny Pettry.

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A.E. Stinger author of Human Costume (poetry)

I regret to say that I don’t read poetry, myself. However, I do like the concept of this book. It explores the different people we become. I think "human costumes" is an appropriate title.

A. E. Stinger has taught writing and literature at Marshall University for 20 years. I’d like to take one of his writing courses.

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Eliot Parker author of The Prospect (fiction/ novel)

The Prospect seems to be an interesting story. It’s about a fictional baseball team in West Virginia. The main character Shane Triplet (drafted by the Cincinnati Reds) has been assigned to the fictional minor team, the Sheaville Loggers in West Virginia.

This novel would be a good read for baseball players and people from West Virginia. But, it’s also a good read for women, too. Shane Triplet falls in love with Olivia, which could be a whole new game. I plan to read this novel soon.

Eliot Parker, the author, is an assistant professor of English at Marshall Community and Technical College (Huntington, WV). He teaches writing classes for the college, too. I plan to take one of his writing classes because I have a personal goal to write a novel next.

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James Casto author of Marshall University (history)

James Casto is the author of several books, including: Cabell County (West Virginia), Marshall University, and Southern West Virginia: Coal Country.

Arcadia Publishing publishes his books. Arcadia is a leading publisher for local history books. They’ve got over 5,000 books about local communities in America.

Each book has many photographs that tell a story of the local community.

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Colonel Charles D. Whitt author of Legacy (history/ biography)

Colonel Charles Dahnmon Whitt has a passion for both genealogy and civil war history.

It’s no wonder he’s written a historic story about the “Legacy” of his grandfather, David Crockett Whitt during the Civil War years.

This book explores many local areas, including: Pike County, Floyd, Johnson, Lawrence, Greenup, Carter, and Boyd Counties in Kentucky. It covers the Tug Fork on the West Virginia side. Part of the book also covers Tazewell and now Buchanan County in Virginia.

This book focuses on faith and getting through tough times.

To purchase this book go to: http://dahnmonwhittfamily.com

The cost of this 580 page hard back is $30. plus $6.00 for shipping!

His new book out about the 1800's, civil war history and day to day living from 1836 to 1900 in south West Virginia and Kentucky. It is called "Legacy, The Days of David Crockett Whitt."

It can also be seen at: www.appalachianaga.com

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David M. Lilly and Edwin F. Roble Jr. (co-authors) of The Swords of Athos (science-fiction)

Lilly and Roble are a grandfather-grandson team of co-authors. They’ve worked together to create a science-fiction novel.

It’s set in a university with seven worlds. Six of them are ruled by wicked evil wizards. The seventh world is under an assault.

A young adventure goes on a mission to find seven swords in order to return order to the worlds. Five men join him on his journey. This book will take you on an adventure to magical lands with ghosts, beasts, dinosaurs, and dragons.

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Llewllyn McKernan author of several books (poetry).

Llewllyn McKernan has written several poetry books. She is also a contributing author for the recent book, Backcountry: Contemporary Writing in West Virginia. It’s a book with pomes, memoirs, and prose.

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Jeanne Holland Crowther author of The Other Side of Fear (self-help). Dr. Crowther was present, but she isn't shown in the picture. So, I got a picture of her book.

I was personally most interested in this book as a recreational therapist, teacher, and healer. I’ve also written a self-improvement book.

People living in fear are in prison. Dr. Crowther helps reveals ways on how a person can escape fear and become free. This book focuses on various emotions, including: anger, jealous, anxiety, worry, hate, and others.

The other side of fear is love. Cowther says that “love will find a way.” This book will provide a healing process for the reader.

Dr. Crowther has a BS in English, MA in counseling and rehabilitation, a MA in clinical psychology, a doctorate in Philosophy, a certification in Rubenfeld Synergy (which is a three year program in mind-body work. She’s counseled 1000s of people over the years and has been a psychology instructor for colleges and universities.

For more information, go to her website: http://www.theothersideoffear.us/

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Bobbie Benedict Watts author of Sunset House (fiction novel)

This story takes place during World War II.

Susan (the main character) is a grown woman with a degree in journalism from Marshall College (Huntington, West Virginia). She’s independent and successful now that she’s putting her degree to work.

But life takes a turn when she gets a call that she is needed back home in Florida.

Great book for people who are interested in history.

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and of course, I was there, too.

Here's an amazon link for my two books:

I hope you enjoyed the blog.

Please post your comments below.

Please tell other people to read this blog, too.

Thanks in advance.

Learn How to Read (with the help of a dog)

I just read an interesting article on CNN, titled, “Learning to read? Try talking to a dog.”

I’m very pleased to say that this article discussed my home state, West Virginia.

Children are learning to read by reading to therapy dogs. These dogs are also known as Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) This works because dogs offer unconditional acceptance. Children or people learning to read often feel embarrassed and judged when reading aloud to others. These dogs are perfect listners.

Jim Wilmth and his dog Bailey help with the “sit, stay, read” program at local libraries in West Virginia to help improve literacy. Naturally, I'm very pleased to hear this. As you may already knkow, the focus of my book, "Discover Hidden Secret Wisdom" was to promote literacy.

The article also discusses the health benefits of dogs, too.

I’m very pleased to hear about this program and Jim Wilmoth and his dog Bailey are now on my list of people to meet. I’m going to learn more about their program as soon as possible. I’ll upload pictures and more information to this blog for your enjoyment.

Source:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/10/22/dogs.irpt/index.html

Want to learn more about pet therapy?

If so, you might want to consider taking my self-study continuing education course, titled, Therapeutic Outcomes for Using Dogs as a Pet Therapy Approach. (5 clock hours of continuing education).
You may want to register for this course right away. It’s listed in the course library at my link here: http://www.dannypettry.com/Courses.htm

Danny's Book Tour: Stop # 1

Gift items that you'll receive from Danny Pettry on Oct. 24th 2:00 to 4:00 at library.

The Friends of the Library is on a mission to promote library membership. The Cabell County/ Huntington Public Library (located 455 9th Street Plaza, Huntington, WV 25701) will have several local authors selling and signing copies of their book on Sat. Oct. 24th from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. This will be on the third floor of the library.

Naturally, I’m very excited to meet a few local authors myself. I hope Jean Edward Smith, author of FDR will be there. However, I can’t confirm that he will be. Smith is a professor at Marshall University (Huntington, West Virginia). President Obama was said to have read FDR shortly before being sworn in as President. I’ll buy a copy of FDR, have Mr. Smith autograph it if he’s there.

I’ll have a few copies of my book, Discover Hidden Secret Wisdom: A Recreational Therapist's System on How You Can Become Great at Anything! on display there. This will be the first stop on my "Book Tour." Please note that I'm being silly when I say that. I do hope my next stop will be Oprah.



I won’t be selling my books at the library because my business is not set up to sell products. It’s a tax thing.

However, the first 50 to 100 people will get a “goody bag” from me. It’ll include the following:

1. Special $5 off discount coupon for my book
2. Access to download the introduction and chapter 1 from my book
3. Smiley face magnet
4. Smiley face button
5. One pencil and eraser
6. Two various colored ink pens
7. Sugar free candy
8. My autograph on sticker that you can apply to the front of your book.

9. Contest to win a copy of my book! But you must show up to sign-up and win!



I hope you'll make a quick stop to see my between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Sat. Oct. 24th.


Here is a link to the library:
http://cabell.lib.wv.us/



Here is a link to get a copy of my book:

http://astore.amazon.com/hiddensecretwisdom-20/detail/1442105739