|
|
||||
|
BIOGRAPHY
MY CHILDHOOD
I was born on April 6, 1955 in Dayton, Ohio. My name really is Ronda Jean Friend. I grew up Down on Friendly Acres in West Alexandria, Ohio, and was lovingly raised by my parents, Harold and Jean Friend, and mentored by my Grandma Brombaugh.
As a young child, I loved life on the farm and spending time with my family, my cousins and my friends. As farmers, we raised cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens, rabbits, and one horse named Maverick. My family was very involved in 4-H and I looked forward to summer fairs with great anticipation.
I grew up before there were malls, computers, cell phones and video games. The year I was born, there were only forty-eight stars on the flag. I didn't go to kindergarten because they didn't have kindergarten. I wore dresses to school — that was the rule. I'm older than Disneyland, Barbie and Kermit the Frog.I had a Chatty Cathy doll and would pull her string every night until she spoke the words, "I love you!"
Excerpts from my series best describe my childhood:
MY HOME
Friendly Acres' Farmhouse was built in 1850... Nooks 'n crannies provide for some spooky places — 'specially if you don't know much about them. However, nooks 'n crannies make great places to play hide-'n-seek. Along with countless closets and dozens of doors, this old house has a dark, dingy attic, a laundry chute, a humongous fireplace in the parlor, a dumbwaiter, and an endless cellar.
MY NAME
You would think having a name like Ronda Friend would be simple. It isn't!
I don't want to make a big deal about my name. But my name is Ronda Jean. You spell my first name R-o-n-d-a. Most Rhondas I know spell their name with an "h." That would make it
It doesn't take a tree full of owls to know that if you put an "h" in Ronda it wouldn't be Ronda. It would be Rrrr-honda. Now, I don't have a Honda. And there's no "h" in Ronda.
I'm a Friend. If I tell someone I've never met before my name, they say, "You're a what?"
And I say, "I'm a Friend."
And they say, "We just met. How do you know you're my friend?"
And I say, "No, no, no. I'm R. Friend."
And they say, "Our friend, your friend, my friend. I don't care! WHAT'S YOUR NAME?"
And I say, "My name is Ronda Jean Friend.
Then the strangers say, "Why didn't you say so in the first place?"
I thought I did.
MY PARENTS
I didn't have to look very far for all the other colorful characters. Farmer Friend was quite a joker. My daddy's not just a farmer! He was a weatherman, veterinarian, fisherman, and a war hero. He loved giving goo-goo eyes to my mother. My momma, an only child, loved her family. As a young child she loved bugs, music and the sun!
MY SIBLINGS
There's my brother, Ronald, the oldest Friend. He loves to read. When I was growing up, my parents bought the World Book Encyclopedias from a door-to-door salesman. One thing never changes: "If you read a lot you know a lot!" I call Ronald — Mr. World Bookworm Encylopedia.
My other brother, Duane, and I, ...are as different as night and day. But Duane and I do have several things in common. We like to talk 'n talk 'n talk and fuss 'n fuss 'n fight! Momma says every day we get better and better at fussin' 'n fightin'.
My baby sister, Diane, she's the baby. She never gets in trouble. That's 'cause everybody thinks she's an angel. Everybody doesn't live with her. I do. Who are they kidding? She's not an angel. She's a hawkephant. Diane is always watchin' like a hawk. Then she remembers like an elephant what we did to get in trouble. She knows what NOT to do. That's why I call her a "hawkephant!"
MY GRANDMOTHER
"If there's an angel in our family, it's not my sister. It's my grandma — Grandma Brombaugh. She can't fly. She doesn't have wings or a halo — although, she's always wearing hats. I don't think she has a halo."
"She has more wisdom in her little pinky than some people do in their whole bodies." Grandma's always asking me if her slip is showing. And her slip just happens to be white. Therefore, I have come to the conclusion that the so-called "slip" is just her angel costume peeking out from under her dress. She is an undercover angel.
MY ADULTHOOD
I graduated from college with a degree in education and a minor in music. I have played the piano since I was five years old. Having worked with children for over thirty years, I directed a preschool that evolved into a private school where I wrote and directed dozens of children's musicals.
For nine years I was a professional storyteller with Scholastic Book Fairs. Some of my favorite authors are Robert Munsch, Patricia Polacco, Kevin Henkes, and Bill Wallace.
MY PASSION
Several years ago I launched Sunflower Seeds Press, a children's publishing company with the mission of reaching children's hearts and minds by sowing seeds of a different kind.
I named my company in honor of my friend, Carol Ann, who died too young. At her funeral sunflower seeds were given out to represent the seeds of kindness, love, patience, forgiveness she had sown in the lives of so many. On the back of each of our books, you will find a Seal of the Sun that represents the seed of character the book highlights.
MY TRAVELS AS AN AUTHOR
As an author, I have visited over 600 schools across the United States and have shared with over 400,000 students my love of storytelling, music, fine arts, reading, and, most importantly, my love of family and friends.
The Friend Family has never met a stranger they didn't know. That is 'cause we Friends love to talk 'n talk 'n talk. Sooner or later we find out, if we talk to somebody long enough, that we know somebody, who knows somebody, who knows somebody, who knows them. So now the stranger is a friend too.
MY FAMILY
I met my best friend, Bill, in college and we have been married for thirty-two years. My husband and I work together as a team. He is Sunflower Seeds Press's computer whiz, accountant, manager, web designer, chauffeur and, much more importantly, my partner in life.
We are blessed with two wonderful children, Jeremy (his wife, Joy) and Stephanie. I want to grow up to be like my children but they both remind me that I will never grow up! That's fine and dandy with me!
I love to travel, hike, bike, snow ski, swim, decorate, sew, garden and most of all I love meeting new friends! I reckon if I sat down with you, I would find out that I know somebody, who knows somebody, who knows somebody, who knows you. And even if we didn't, you could still be my friend. Why?
'Cause... I'm a Friend and U R 2!
LEARN MORE ABOUT RONDA FRIEND