Welcome!

My book is the perfect gift for Mom or your favorite Aunt, for Mother's Day. It promises to make them laugh out loud. It's not too late to order, on Amazon.com, in book form or in Kindle. It will be shipped in just a few days. If you're not sure about doing this, just check out the great reviews, while you're there.

HOW THE (BLEEP) DID I GET THIS OLD?"  is a collection of columns I've written during my thirteen years of writing humor columns. It's a great vacation read, and an excellent gift.

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Laverne H. Bardy’s humor column, Laverne’s View, has been syndicated with Senior News Wire Service since 2004, and is read in newspapers internationally. Her column was previously seen in 50 Plus Monthly, a regional New Jersey newspaper, where loyal readers laughed at her humor from 1999 to 2009. Laverne's View, can be read regularly at:

www.huffingtonpost.com/laverne-bardy/

www.AfterFiftyLiving.com, and www.Shrewsbury.net.

Laverne began her writing career in the mid 1970’s, when she was asked to write and edit Hotline, the Parent/Teacher newsletter at the school her children attended, in Livingston, New Jersey. During that same period she wrote one play, collaborated in writing another, and worked with the Livingston school system’s psychologist to write a series of Behavioral Modification skits that were presented to parents and teachers of the student body.

Laverne wrote human interest stories and press releases for West Essex Tribune and The Newark Star Ledger for a stretch then went on to join the staff of Northern Horizon and Montague newspapers.

Some publications Laverne’s work has appeared in are Reader’s Digest, Mature Living, Woman's Hockey, Big Apple Parents’ Paper, The Daily Record and New Jersey Jewish News. Anthologies include Chocolate for a Woman’s Courage, Rocking Chair Reader, Bedpan Banter and Story House. Writing accepted by Craft of the Modern Writer was submitted for use in a college text. Laverne has been interviewed by radio host, Carole Marks on her international show, A Touch of Grey, by blogger Brian Feinblum for his blog, "http://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com." Bottom Line Retirement magazine interviewed her twice.

When she is not writing Laverne gives talks and readings from her book, "How The (Bleep) Did I Get This Old?" and other humor columns she has written over the past thirteen years. Talks about the joys of aging don’t usually last more than three minutes.

Laverne was nominated for publication in the 2006 edition of Marquis Who’s Who of American Women.

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WHAT'S NEW? and WHAT'S OLD?

I made a new friend online. Her name is Dawn Dix; great name for a writer, isn't it? Dawn hails from New Jersey, just like yours truly, and is working hard toward completing work on her first novel, whose working title is, Visions of Violence. Dawn is still sweating out revisions, but it promises to be a real page turner. Keep your eyes peeled for updates as she gets closer to the finish line. In the meantime, check out her website, and read some of her thought provoking blogs.

www.dawn-dix.blogspot.com/ . ==================================

My April 23, 2012 talk and reading at Morris County Library in Whippany, was terrific fun. Despite it being a Monday evening, and a rainy one at that, there was a good turnout. Some guests planned to be there, others came in as a result of hearing laughter, which was nice. Two guests came up and asked where I'd gone. They miss my "Laverne's View" column in Fifty Plus, Monthly. That was especially nice to know.

I shared the night with poet, Alice Memdleson, who did readings from her book, Let's Celebrate.

Refreshmengs were served.

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I was contacted by The Huffington Post who asked if I would be interested in writing a blog for them. You can bet I said "YES!" It's a popular, prestigious e-zine and my byline and photo are thrilled to spend quality time there. I've never blogged in my life but....how hard could it be for someone who excels at blabbering? My blog will be in their www.HuffingtonPost50.com section, that targets Baby Boomers and up. I can't wait to start. www.huffingtonpost.com/laverne-h-bardy/

Forbes contacted me to do a blog, also, which initially delighted me. But, Forbes has very strict rules about what I could and couldn't write, which tended to stifle my creativity, while The Huffington Post pretty much gives me free rein.

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My March 10, 2012 BOOK SIGNING was a huge success. I hadn't anticipated many people would show because of the book store's remote location. As it happened I met many lovely people. One woman appeared with her high school year book. "You never signed my year book," she complained. I didn't know who she was until I checked her 1955 photo, which I immediately signed, 57 years late.

Another woman from high school, also came. As soon as I heard her name I realized who she was. I had had a crush on her husband (before she married him) in high school, and I recognized his last name.

One woman, who has been a faithful reader of my column, "Laverne's View," since I first started writing it back in 1999, came with her sister and we had a wonderful conversation. In fact, I had quality conversations with many of the people.

I was surprised to see a number of men, each of whom felt the need to say they were there on behalf of their wives, who were unable to make it. I am looking forward to my next event, on April 23, at Morris County Library, at 8:00 PM. This time I'll have an opportunity to talk a little, and read several of my columns, before signing books. I hope to see you there.

January 24, 2012

My book, How The (Bleep) Did I Get This Old? has been released and can be purchased at Amazon.com, Kindle, Smashwords.com, Books-a-Million.com and Createspace.com/3640610...(yes, I know that’s a strange URL, but it’s real, and offers me the best royalties.) The book is beautiful, and I have CreateSpace.com to thank for that. It has been a pleasure working with them every step of this exhausting, exciting, illuminating journey.

The book is a collection of many years of my published columns...some expanded, others new. It's the funny side of finding myself back in the dating scene, after the breakup of a 21 year marriage. It's about the aches, pains and general annoyances of arthritis, cataracts, and random hair growth. It about me cursing at hermetically sealed packages, battling with weight, and sulking over having to trade in sexy strappy heels for orthotic shoes, with laces. It's about what passes as fashion, today, and about the way men and women communicate. It covers what it was like being a housewife and a parent back in the 1950's through 1970's, (before the Woman's Liberation Movement opened my eyes) and how I failed miserably at both.

If you have laughed at my columns you'll laugh at my book. It's a great gift, too.

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Columnist and First Time Novelist, Cappy Hall Rearick

Check out Amazon.com for a new novel by Cappy Hall Rearick, titled The Road to Hell is Seldom Seen. One reviewer says,"she deserves the seat next to William Faulkner, that he will surely occupy in the annals of American literature."

Humor columnist and award winning short story writer, Rearick has authored five books and six columns, including Simply Southern, Simply Southern Ease, Simply Christmas, Christmas Past and Return to Rocky Bottom, a fictional memoir. The Road to Hell is Seldom Seen is her first novel, and well worth the read. Visit her site at: www.simplysoutherncappy.com

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March 11, 2011

Suzette Martinez Standring,

A Woman of Stature

Suzette Martinez Standring, author, columnist and host of her own TV show, It's All Write with Suzette, interviewed one of my favorite writers, W. Bruce Cameron. Cameron, who wrote the book, "Eight Simple Rules For Dating my Teenage Daughter," which was turned into the hit TV comedy show by the same name, starring John Ritter. I was fortunate to hear Cameron give an informal talk to an intimate group when I attended an Erma Bombeck Conference a number of years back. We spoke briefly after his talk. Cameron now has a new book out, "A Dog's Purpose," which will soon to be made into a movie by Dream Works. Click below, to view Suzette's interview with Cameron, who gives us insight into how this unusual book came about, and includes some interesting facts about how dogs think.

You don't have to be a writer to enjoy this, or any of Suzette's interviews. They are interesting, informative and entertaining.

Check out Suzette's website and read her often humorous, frequently inspirational, and always enjoyable columns at http://www.readsuzette.com.

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December 5, 2010

Shrewsbury Lantern

More good luck has come my way. Steven Levine, publisher of an online newspaper, Shrewsbury Lantern, spotted one of my columns, contacted me and asked if I would be interested in being a contributor to his ezine. I, of course, have never been one to shirk exposure, so I jumped at the opportunity. Steven chose to publish a group of my columns all at once, rather than going the traditional one-at-a-time route. Take a look at the list of ramblings he has included in his ezine. My column continues to be titled Laverne's View.

Go to www.shrewsbury.net  and scroll down. You can view the top of my semi-blonde head and the caption Welcome to our newest Shrewsbury Lantern's Columnist. After reading my column(s), make a point of perusing the paper. It truly is a great source of human interest and historical information. I'm particularly fond of the Photo of the Week section.

As a post script to this story, Steven Levine is my second cousin. I knew he was number one Real Estate Agent in New England, with ReMax, and an amazing humanitarian, because his parents, cousins Sandy and Charles Levine, never stop bragging about him. I now understand why. Until today I had no idea he wrote, mulch less created and edited an ezine. All I can say now is WOW.... Quite a talented and enterprising young man.

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 November 9, 2010

 AFTER FIFTY LIVING E-ZINE

My column, Laverne's View, has just been accepted by www.afterfiftyliving.com, an online publication dedicated to all aspects of senior living: health and fitness, finances, lifestyle, romance and now....drum roll....humor...my humor. A new column will appear roughly every two weeks. While the tangles are being combed out, my essays are being shown in various sections of the ezine. Today, it's in Health & Fitness. Go to the www.afterfiftyliving.com , click the small purple icon with the stethoscope in it and...voila...my face and my words will appear.

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JUNE 4, 2010

SUSSEX COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Being Keynote speaker for Senior Day at Sussex County Community College, in Newton, NJ, was a blast. I spoke about the value of having laughter in our lives, and read several of my columns that pointed out examples of humor in my own life. I was well received by an appreciative audience.

This event is held at the college every year for the 50+ crowd where exhibitors from government agencies, local recreation and community services are present. A wide variety of workshops are offered, including art, culture, finances, dance, and gardening to name just a few.

Next year I plan on attending as a guest.

Contact Me

I love to hear from readers. Feel free to drop me a line to let me know what you think about something I've written. I can take it. Honest.

Or, maybe you've had a humorous experience you'd like to share, or an idea for a future column. My Idea Well has been known to run dry every so often, so I'm always looking for suggestions, to refill it.

Laverne H. Bardy can be reached:
By Email:   laverneb@ptd.net

Home Phone: 973-383-1088
Cell Phone:  973-670-2688

Affiliations

• National Society of Newspaper Columnist (NSNC)
• International Women’s Writing Guild (IWWG)
• Women Reading Aloud (WRA)
• Toastmasters International
• National Writers Union (NWU)
• Sussex-Morris Critique Group