A new children's book has hit the shelves, focusing on the life story of Jamestown's star, Lucille Ball
Bronson Rasmussen joining me here at the news desk. And Bronson, I heard that you spoke with the author of the book, and it's a pretty cool tale, not just for kids
That is right, Justin. Author of Lucille Ball Little Golden Book Biography and Jamestown native, Wendy Loggia, telling us that while the Little Golden Book series is aimed for children
that anyone can enjoy Lucy's story. I'm hoping that whether you're a lifelong fan of Lucille Ball
or you might not be familiar with her, I'm hoping that people that pick up the book
really see that Lucille Ball lives a life before and after the I Love Lucy show
She worked really tremendously hard during the time that she was a young woman
Things were quite different than they are today, and she was truly an iconic trailblazer and paved the way for so many women, comedians, people wanting to pursue their small town dreams
She really was an icon in many ways. Drawing inspiration from her past experiences in Jamestown, as well as iconic locations like the Lucy Desi Museum
both Lucy statues, The I Love Lucy Show, and many works that describe Lucy's life
In researching the book, I knew that Lucy fans would, really come after me if I didn't get all my facts straight
So I read her biography, which was wonderful. I read everything I could get my hands on basically about Lucille Ball Lodja believes that Lucy life story will be inspirational to all who read her little golden books Showing her as a child working up at Ceylon
Park as a young woman, she sold hamburgers and ice cream up at the park. She ventured off to New York
City where she just sort of failed miserably in her acting and dancing class. She was told
that she didn't have any talent. She was never going to make it. And so I think anybody can
you know, really identify with that feeling of having a dream and being told by outsiders that your
dream isn't going to come true. She hopes that anyone who picks up her book will find a love for
Lucy, old fans, or new. I mean, I certainly hope after reading the book that kids might want
to watch some of the iconic Lucille Ball episodes. Now, Justin, there are other inspirational people
that these books cover, including from the back of this, Dolly Parton, Barack Obama, Dakota's favorite, Betty White
Yeah, and that's really amazing to see that we have this local connection to an author from James Down, who, by looking at the back of her set, she has several other big topic books here
Now, I hear Dakota, the book is available locally, but it's hard to find
And you were out this morning. I had to go to a couple of different places. I tried the Lucy Desi Museum, which is right next to us, but they had completely sold out
Which led me to a bookstore out in Lakewood, and both of them did tell me that they have contacted
the author and are hoping to get her out here back to her hometown to do a signing with
these books. Apparently it's been very popular, which you don't think so with the children's books