Diary of a Real Payne Book 1: True Story

Old Schoolhouse Magazine's Best Children’s Book for 2013.  True Story! . . . These pages from EJ Payne’s diary will have you ROTFL as you witness her spunky personality and well-meant-but-often-misunderstood antics. You’ll fall in love with this first release in the Diary of a Real Payne series as EJ records her thoughts and feelings about living in little old Spooner, Wisconsin (snooze!), eventually leaving her hometown to do big things when she’s all grown up (oh glorious day!), and having to star in the role of lead angel in the Vine Street Christmas pageant (are you kidding me?). This colossal-fun series is overflowing with humor and memorable life lessons.

Watch for Book 2 - Church Camp Chaos in March 2014!

EJ is a dreamer. . .

Emma Jean Payne, a sometimes cranky but lovable, ten-year-old, dreams of moving out of LITTLE Spooner, Wisconsin (population 2500) to do BIG things when she’s all grown up. She’s convinced that the town of Spooner—home to the world’s largest muskie hatchery (snooze), railroad and woodcarving museums (double snooze), and the Spooner Rodeo (Triple-Decker SNOOZE-fest!)—isn’t where dreams come true.

When “the parents” expect EJ to star in the role of lead angel in this year’s Christmas pageant wearing a full-on angel costume (sparkly white wings, halo, and all!), she objects. But Mom and Dad aren’t buying any of her excuses. Will EJ become part of the adventure of the real Christmas story—and discover that her little role in the Christmas pageant in little old Spooner, Wisconsin, really isn’t so little after all?