Meet John Burns, Author of
“Pengey’s Many Adventures”
Pengey’s Charities
Dear Readers,
My chosen profession is a solitary one, but I’ve never minded being alone. I spend days, sometimes weeks alone in my studio in the invention of writing. I enjoy it immensely-- from concept, through the finished work -- writing and developing my story into a book or screenplay is a satisfying experience. I was encouraged from the start because my friends liked, or should I say “loved” to read me.
In 1996, the head of the screenwriting department at UCLA wrote to me praising my very first screenplay. That script was read and passed around to some of the biggest producers in Hollywood at the time. It had famous agents. The stars loved it. It was the best thing anyone had ever read, but none of them couldn’t get the movie made.
I continued to write and confidently send my new work to literary agents with connections to publishers and others to movie studios -- to those who can raise the unbelievable amount of money to produce my manuscripts into books, my scripts into movies. It seemed my work could always find an agent, Emmy Award winning TV producers, Oscar Nominated Producers for film, and the like, but even what looked like a sure deal with the Hallmark Hall of Fame, for my screenplay, “Tomorrow’s Christmas” eventually did not pan out.
In 2001 it was my great honor to accept, The Living Legacy Award, from Arizona Women in Film for Best Screenplay. My hopes for, “Tomorrow’s Christmas” lit up again. But even with a television producer with 7 Emmies and the Living Legacy Award it was turned down for a third time by Hallmark. After twelve years of writing spec scripts for the Hollywood machine I had had it. With no sales I was seriously thinking of taking a job, any job that would get me out of my writing studio.
After, “The Many Adventures of Pengey Penguin” was published in 2005, I began to get constant praise from you out there in the world. In 2006 I won the Family Choice Award and was a finalist in the USA Book News Award for Pengey’s Adventures.
But for me, continuing to write was bolstered more by all the positive feedback from you, the readers of Pengey’s adventures. In the two years since “Pengey One” was released I’ve received thousands of letters, e-mails and post cards from parents. grandparents, teachers, and most of all kids who have all fallen in love with Pengey Penguin. With you on my side went on to write two more novels about my favorite penguin.
Now even Pengey.com has developed from the rough and ragged little website it was into what it is today. I think that it will continue to develop in positive ways that will give you and your kids the happy and wholesome literary experience that you’re looking for.
It’s my turn to say, “Thanks,” to you my readers, because without your encouragement Pengey Penguin may never have existed at all.
All the Best to all of you,
John Burns
PS My wife, Carol Jean and me
at the Living Legacy Awards.