Pam Records's Blog: Pam Says:, page 21

[Action required] Your RSS.app Trial has Expired - Tue Aug 17 2021

Your trial has expired. Please update your subscription plan at rss.app. - (5qHnZ6NgYBYtTJah)

[Action required] Your RSS.app Trial has Expired - Mon Aug 16 2021

Your trial has expired. Please update your subscription plan at rss.app. - (5qHnZ6NgYBYtTJah)

Literacy Legacy

The mysteries of kindergarten, pig snouts and literacy    Reading is earned, not granted, I figured out one afternoon between “Lassie” and “Dr. Kildare” while eating a fried bologna sandwich and picking lint balls off the green carpet. This strange, startling realization rocked my teeny tiny world.  And has stuck with me for over 50 years. Picture the mid-1960s. I was six years old, small, sickly, and shy. Miss Montgomery, the kindergarten teacher at Caldwell Elementary School, was the most

Hot off the press

Front Page Fame I was recently interviewed by the editor of Chicago’s Polish Daily News, Dziennik Zwiazkowy. The experience was humbling. The resulting article—complete with my photo on the front page -- is one of the highlights of my up-and-down journey promoting the release of my first novel, Tied with Twine. Set in Hegewisch (on the southeast side of Chicago) in 1920, the novel is a fictionalized account of Polish immigrants, my great grandparents and my grandmother, as they tangled with

Polish Lessons

A Priestly Encounter of the Polish Kind    I met the unusual Father Steve at a Michigan City Polish Festival. He stopped by my booth where I was peddling my recently published novel, Tied with Twine. A denim jean jacket cleverly hid the traditional black and white clerical collar he wore. I didn’t realize he was a priest until I was half-way through my rote patter about my novel, the Polish community of Hegewisch in 1920, and the character of Halina, based on my grandmother, who was “one heck of

Constitution Day: A Day-late Celebration and Outrage

Yesterday, May 3, was Polish Constitution Day! I almost missed it. I had planned to write some emotion-packed tribute commemorating the day. But I got busy and distracted. And, honestly, I just couldn’t think of a thing to say. What do I know about Constitution Day? Nothing. Does it involve parades? Parties? A day off from school? Food? Everyone knows Poles have hearty appetites, so it’s easy to imagine lavish buffets featuring pierogis, kolachke, and kielbasa at events recognizing the day.

Podcast Trauma and Drama

To Podcast or Not to Podcast, that is the Question I’m switching modes, from writing to promoting. This part of the journey isn’t nearly as fun. In fact, I’d like to skip it. But, I know that isn’t smart. So, I’m jumping in, like a show-off kid doing a canon-ball leap into the deep end of the pool. I hope I don’t sink. Too bad my pockets are full of rocks. Social media platforms, here I come. I’m blogging my heart out, spilling my guts in first person epics that ramble around themes of

Orland Park or Bust

Festival fever It's official.  I am signed up for by first book signing event.  I'll be at Goralmania Polish American Food and Music Festival July 13-14 in Orland Park (south of Chicago). Góral translates to  highlander. The event focuses on the music and food of the Polish highlands. I confess, I had to use Google Translate and a map.  Although my novel was extensively researched, I am finding that there is so much I don't know. I'm having furn learning.   I'm excited about the event.

Fiction, she wrote

What would Jessica do? I have always been drawn to novels, movies, and TV shows with characters who are authors.  The Wonder Boys with Michael Douglas  is my favorite. Also,Words with Bradley Cooper,  Midnight in Paris with Owen Wilson, Trumbo, Becoming Jane, and (cringe) Misery.  But the one fictional author who has inspired me the most is Jessica Fletcher on the TV series Murder, She Wrote (1984-2003). Remember that one? The retired English teacher and best-selling author lives in Cabot Cove,

Giggle Water, Please

The waitress couched down so she didn't block the view. I ordered Giggle Water. My husband had Bathtub Fizz. My daughter went for the Bees Knees. It was made with bourbon and honey and came in a cute glass with a big chunk of ice. We were at the basement speakeasy at the Mob Museum in Las Vegas. No kidding. We were doing research for my novel. Yeah, that's my story. Playing along with the speakeasy theme, we had to utter the password to a slot in a door. “Cool Cat,” my daughter said to two