Introducing Joshua Emberley-Penney

 Over 20 years ago, a little boy started writing stories in a notebook. Now, he’s finally opening his portfolio and releasing everything he’s ever written.

An ordinary man’s life takes an exciting turn as his routine of working in retail and babysitting turns to editing books, designing covers, organizing photo shoots, and planning business trips. Armed with a portfolio of hundreds of original ideas (as well as a list containing hundreds of copyrighted ideas for production studios), Joshua is ready to take the world by storm. His determination to publish his work and see his movies on the big screen someday is a testament to his unwavering commitment to his creative dreams.

“I’ve been getting ideas for movies since I was eight,” says the 31-year-old author. “Eventually, as a teenager, the ideas coming to me were too overwhelming and hard to remember, so I had to start keeping a list. And through the years, I played around with whatever I was inspired to work on. Today, I have over 500 ideas, including original ideas and remakes, probably half and half of each.”

Joshua was born in Ontario on May 24th, 1993. Both parents came from large families, resulting in many aunts, uncles, and cousins. As he grew, Joshua quickly developed a love for movies and books.

“When he had a bigger movie collection than me and his father at six years old, I knew he would be like his uncle and grandfather, completely obsessed,” says his mother, Vanessa Emberley. “Josh has always loved stories since he was a toddler.”

“He’s the next Walt Disney,” says his father, Elvis Penney. “Someday, he will be the CEO of a movie company. He’s not afraid to work hard; people ask me about him, and I say, ‘Josh doesn’t stop.’”

“He started into books at a young age,” says Aunt Susan Penney, having spent many weekends with Joshua. “He would sit there and go through the book, page by page,” she continued. “Then, when he got books that would tell the story, he would remember and repeat the story! Then, he started watching the Disney movies, which could partly be the fault of his cousins. Oh my, Joshua and his movies, he’s something else; I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“His brain works differently,” adds his mother. “Quite frustrating at times because he can tell you everything Cinderella said throughout the whole movie, but he couldn’t be bothered with schoolwork. Says he can’t memorize it. But in parent-teacher interviews, they always praised his writing. Every teacher always wished he would stop chatting and recognize his potential, but better late than never, I guess.”

When Joshua was four, his parents decided to move home to Baytona, Newfoundland. He would attend Greenwood Academy in Campbellton. In 2002, Joshua’s family moved to Birchy Bay, their permanent home. Joshua left Greenwood in 2008 to attend high school at Lewisporte Collegiate, where he graduated in 2011. But the older he got, the more his grades slipped and the more concerned he was with his social life. All the while, his movie collection was still growing by the hundreds. In 2012, he moved to Grand Falls-Windsor, making more friends and memories until 2014. Then, he moved to the city of St. John's before returning home in 2016. In 2020, he relocated to Fort McMurray, Alberta, where he currently resides.

“I remember this particular day,” his mother recalls. “He had gotten a new movie, one he had wanted for a really long time. But the thing with Josh was that he would get a new movie, and about a week later, something else he didn’t have would get his attention. So, I asked him if he would ever have every movie he wanted. ‘Not as long as they keep making more,’ he said. That’s when I knew we were in trouble.”

While researching Joshua’s past, we quickly learned that the majority of the Penney clan children were raised on Disney movies, but he had the most.

“I realized Josh was different when he started school, so kindergarten,” says Cousin Tracy Penney. “The best thing about him is his sense of humor.”

Being memorable and entertaining, Joshua left a lasting impression on anyone in his life. We also spoke with fellow Greenwood classmate Megan Hoddinott.

“Josh always had a creative imagination growing up,” she said. “As a Disney fanatic, he was always true to himself and never shielded away from that. My favorite thing about him is his love for Disney. If I were ever on a trivia game show with a Disney question, he would be the friend I call!”

Being a social butterfly in the classroom and school hallways, Joshua was also heavily involved in church growing up.

“I realized Josh was different from the beginning,” says former youth pastor Robert Coles. “He had a very strong self-awareness at a young age. He has the ability to dream and speak the truth with no limit. I believe in him because of his confidence.”

Diving deeper into the discussion, we discovered that Joshua wasn’t always interested in pursuing a career as an author. Growing up, he desired to be an actor, starring in Hollywood’s latest blockbusters. He even worked one summer doing dinner theatre and dreamed of studying at Sir Wilfred Grenfell.

However, as he matured towards adulthood, there was more pressure to choose a realistic career that could pay the bills. Sadly, this led him to view his talent as more of a childish hobby—something not to be focused on or taken seriously. Overcoming these societal pressures and self-doubt has been a significant part of Joshua’s journey.

“It was time to grow up,” he said. “But I didn’t know what I wanted to do. So, I avoided school and more student loans, working minimum wage until I figured out what I wanted in life. And here I am, over ten years later, realizing now that I should’ve kept my focus and stayed true to myself. But I don’t regret any of my experiences or memories; they shaped me into who I am, and I’m okay with that.”

But Joshua’s love for movies never stopped. The last time he counted his collection was January 2018; the total number of titles was 1,322, and it’s still growing to this day. When we asked Joshua how he regained his love of writing, he revealed it was a specific request.

“I believe Christmas 2020 was coming up,” he said. “And I asked my cousin Dillon what he wanted. I always used to vent to him about my love for writing, but never being able to focus because it felt like a waste of time, and nothing would ever come of it. Therefore, I had never actually finished anything. So that was what he wanted for Christmas; he wanted me to finish my first book. And when my coworkers discovered what I was doing, they urged me to publish. That summer marked 20 years since I started writing the story as a child, so it seemed fitting. But life happens, and stuff gets delayed.”

We caught up with Dillon Budden to catch his view on recent events.

“When we were kids, we would write short stories in our notebooks. That was the first glimpse I caught of the natural creativity that Josh has,” he says. “My favorite quality about Josh is that he has the inherent ability to look for the best in others.”

While charming coworkers along the way, Joshua always works hard and is determined to accomplish whatever task is at hand. A former McDonald’s store manager has said, “Josh’s work ethic has become a standard in our store since he left. He is missed.”

Another of Joshua’s favorite managers from McDonald’s was Connie England, who said, “I enjoyed working with Josh. We had so much singing, and he was awesome at his drive-thru order-taking. His love for movies helped me believe he would be great at making them. He could tell you about a movie with such detail and show so much compassion. I do miss working with him.”

We also spoke with Raissa Smith, one of Josh’s current managers from Staples.

“As soon as I met Josh, I saw he was a very charismatic person that can easily accomplish any task he sets his mind to,” she said. “His fire and passion for the things he loves are why I believe in him. He puts his whole heart into everything he loves. My favorite thing about him is his quirkiness and his outgoingness with and for the people he loves.”

These different circles caused Joshua to create many long-lasting friendships with people dear to his heart, who also inspired him.

“The stories I write were the movies I wanted to star in,” he says. “I’m usually the main actor of my stories, and my friends and favorite actors are my co-stars. Imagination is a wonderful thing.”

Having been followed by a history of scandal, partying, and mental illness, Joshua has finally taken his future into his own hands. Deciding to focus on what truly matters, he has taken a leave of absence from work and placed himself in therapy. Every day, Joshua works towards rehabilitation, striving to become a better, happier person. He is focusing on his goals while being a nanny to his roommate’s toddler during a routine of praying and manifestation. As he does this, his friends and family stand by, offering support and love as he works to achieve the destiny that they’ve always believed in.

But how did he prepare to turn his first childhood story into a novel worthy of publication?

“I took a few courses one summer and actually really enjoyed it,” he revealed. “I can do school as long as I’m interested in what I’m learning. I quickly learned how to map out a plotline and was surprised to learn that I had been doing a lot of things correctly already. And depending on your subject matter, I learned that you should study similar stories and authors. Where my brain is wired for movies, I studied similar movies as well. I watched a lot of family-oriented films involving children of the same age. I re-read stories from my favorite authors, such as R.L. Stine, Nicholas Sparks, Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, Roald Dahl, C.S. Lewis, and James Patterson. Honestly, the list could go on for the whole interview. I never have any trouble getting my hands on a book or movie. Obviously, life also contributes inspiration, as well as friends, family, and relationships.”

But with writing, editing, and publishing comes much pressure. We asked Joshua how he dealt with it while working on his first novel.

“I completely underestimated it,” he answered. “There’s so much work from writing multiple drafts to editing, and then discussions with test audiences and negotiations with artists for the cover. I’ve shed tears dealing with this book, let me tell you. Also, when you struggle with your mental health, everything you work at feels like so much more of a mental battle. And when you self-publish, you have to handle all the marketing, publicity, and, of course, sales. I just wasn’t ready four years ago after dealing with my third heartbreak, but now, things are different. I’m ready to get back to doing what I love, and I’m extremely thankful to have the team behind me that I do. And I’m grateful that Amazon gives people the opportunity to self-publish their books.”

Joshua also said he experienced much stress from the pressure to brand himself, which he refused to do.

“As I grew up, my movie collection opened up to more genres,” he explained. “And so did my writing. In a way, if you look at my portfolio in chronological order, you can almost watch me growing up. That’s why I don’t like being branded. I want to be able to write all kinds of stories, whether they’re for kids or adults. A love story, a scary story, a thriller, or whatever. My target audience is people like me who love a good story, regardless of the genre. I mean, come on, I can’t make decisions. I can’t choose just one brand. When they ask me at Mary Brown’s if I want curds or shredded cheese on my poutine, I say ‘both!’”

Every day, Joshua works on books and has discussions with his team. He will forever be in debt to everyone who helped him get his feet off the ground. Thankfully, he’s already lucky to have his manager, assistant, two stylists, a marketing consultant, two business consultants, a publicity consultant, and a cinematographer with plans to produce a documentary. Plus, a test audience of over 20 readers consisting of English teachers, fellow writers and bookworms, and even children.

However, the most crucial member of his staff would be the person who would be by his side throughout his future business endeavors. He chose his best friend for the past eighteen years.

“I knew Johnny was my first choice,” Joshua said regarding management. “Nobody would look out for me more and negotiate for me better than him. I tell him all the time that he needs to put me in a conservatorship or adopt me.”

“I believe in Josh because he has passion for everything he does,” says Johnny, who graciously and proudly accepted the position. “Josh also has passion and loyalty for his family and friends, and that’s my favorite thing about him. He’ll be the most famous of us all as long as he doesn’t give up and keeps grinding. I knew before I saw his movie collection that he was different. Being different is where it’s at.”

Alexis Poole has been Joshua’s close friend since high school. She has been giving feedback on Joshua’s writing since then, which they enjoy doing together most. She says that’s when she realized he was talented and destined to be a writer.

“His book is so good, I loved it! I will help in any way I can,” she said when asked about her position.

“She’s my OG editor!” says Joshua. “I knew I couldn’t do this without her.”

Samantha Martin is another writer and close friend who realized Joshua’s potential and supported his dreams since high school.

“I’m excited to be reading this again,” she says when asked about editing for the second time. “I didn’t see much that needed improvement at all! I love this story.”

Megan Hoddinott is also on the editing team. She is happy to help Joshua with her experience as a middle-school teacher.

“Growing up, Josh always wanted to write stories and make movies,” she added to her comment. “Today, he is still willing to go the distance, even though it will be very hard work. He always has a passion for storytelling and wants to share them with anyone who crosses his path. His first book is good at making connections. Kids can connect it to creating an adventure with their best friend, connect it to media, wondering what will happen next, learning about personalities, Good vs. Evil, I can go on.”

Another member of the editing team is Joshua’s Aunt, Theola Budden. “When I was at the Disney resort, I kept thinking, ‘Joshua should work here,’” she said. “I am trying to help him out. My reward is seeing him feeling proud of his accomplishments.”

When asked about future book releases, Joshua said, “I would like four, maximum, released before the new year. But I don’t like to count my chickens before they hatch. I have a horror novel and a Christmas novel to be edited while rewriting two more stories from my childhood. We will see what happens.”

“He’s been sitting on it for years,” adds assistant Desmond Martin regarding the Christmas story in production. “He needs to publish it. Hallmark won’t know what hit them if they get their hands on it. This is my boy, and I’ve seen what he can do. He can come up with the plot of a movie just like that; it’s a talent that not everyone has. I’m already ready to call Netflix on his behalf.”

Joshua admits that he wouldn’t have as much drive and motivation without the spectacular people who push him when he needs it.

“He has never really given this career a chance before,” says his best friend and stylist, Cassondra Canning. “He should do it. It’s always been his passion, and you can be destined for anything if you really want it. How many people do you know as passionate as Josh is about movies these days? Not many.”

“He’s determined to persevere,” his mother adds. “And I didn’t raise no quitter. He has the ability to talk to anyone and make friends. He was always accused of plagiarism while writing stories in school, and one teacher even said she could see him working for CBC one day. Now it’s time to stretch his wings.”

          “He has a great imagination,” continues Aunt Susan. “And with that, you can put words on a piece of paper and share with others so they can hear your stories.”

Her husband, Marshall Penney, comments, “When Joshua told me he wanted to do this, I asked him how he would stand out from everyone else. His answer was that he’s ‘original.’ He knows he’s different, and he can accept that. He will stand tall; he always has.”

“Josh is full of the childhood magic we all need,” says a close anonymous source. “He makes you laugh; he makes you feel loved, and that’s all we need in this world. I don’t think anybody is ready for what he’s capable of, not even him.”

Joshua’s family’s unwavering support and encouragement have been a constant source of strength. Many people in his life have told him that they hoped he would pursue a career in television or writing. To conclude the interview, we asked Joshua what he hopes to achieve.

“The way I look at it,” he said. “If I can make someone feel loved through a romance, scare them with a horror novel, make them shake with suspense in a thriller, figure out a mystery, or just get swallowed up in the drama, whether they’re kids or adults, I feel my purpose is beyond accomplished. I want to provide people with an escape and entertain them, whether they have the world at their fingertips or living at rock bottom. I want to provide a distraction from life’s troubles, just like my movie collection has done for me. I don’t need fame or fortune; making movies would be ideal, but if all I ever do is self-publish on Amazon for friends and family, then I’m content. I’m sure there are worse ways to spend my time.”

So, who is Joshua Emberley-Penney? He loves his friends and family and has a flair for the dramatic. He has a passion for movies and storytelling. He’s a hard worker, determined, and humble, showcasing a unique talent only God can provide.

“I may be a bit of an oversized brat sometimes,” Joshua laughs. “But I strive to do and be better. I like to follow the golden rule, but I also treat people how they treat me. Like the rest of us, I’m just someone who is still growing and figuring himself out. I have a lot of work and changes coming ahead, and I welcome it.”

Watch Out for Minor Problem!

Written by Joshua Emberley-Penney, 

                                     Canada’s newest self-publishing author!

Available August 2024.