Title: The DDLG Busy Book
Author: Penny Berry
Publisher: Self Published
Pages: 60
This DDLG workbook is designed for Littles within the Cg/l community. This workbook contains 50 activities to keep your Little occupied especially while riding in the car. Enjoy the quizzes, DDLG coloring pages, and more as you explore all of these activities designed for Littles by a Little.
This small but mighty book has been such a treat to read through. There are 50 activities to do - and I recommend taking a few of the pages and making a photo-copy for you to do with your caregiver and then swap the answers (such as for the "This or That" page) to double the fun!
One of the things I like the most about the activities is that they're challenging enough for "Big Me" while still allowing Little Me to have fun and not have to think TOO hard. ;) There's a great balance here and everything is very cute to appeal to Littles of all ages.
While it's aimed at keeping Littles busy while in the car, I found that it's a little too much to work on while driving on a bumpy road. Instead my caregiver and I have found that a survey/questionnaire before bed was a nice way to bond and talk without having stressors come up before sleeping time.
All in all 5 Triquetras for a well thought out workbook with a good balance.
*I received a free copy from the Author in exchange for an honest review. 18+.*
Title: Big Me, Little Me: A Survival Guide for Littles by Littles
Author: Penny Berry
Publisher: Self Published
Pages: 253
Another 5 Triquetras for this book as well! This one is way heftier than the first one and has a ton of information. The chapters are well thought out and has basic 101 information on BDSM, questions to ask a potential caregiver and some red flags to look for which is SO important in this community. I'm really impressed with the way things are laid out and how well thought out everything is.
If you've ever been curious about the CG/l lifestyle but haven't be sure on where to start this book will get you off on the right foot. There's a discussion of minors not belonging in kink and ways we can educate without including in adult-only spaces, but also while not alienating, which is an important conversation. I don't advocate for minors in kink spaces at all and many influencers are all too willing to turn a blind eye to this issue. I appreciated the conversation this book held.
The recipes in this book are also intriguing! I haven't been vegan in a while, and it looks like many of the recipes are vegan. We're most excited to try the edible cookie dough!
I think the other super helpful section of the book is going to be the last section on "training." It has 25 days filled with tasks and prompts so that you get into a solid routine, and I need help creating a solid morning and night routine. I'm excited to put these into practice to hopefully make my wake up and settle down hours of the day less stressful.
All in all I'm really excited to dive into the book again and give it a much more thorough reading as well as go through the prompts and recipes when I have more time with my CG.
*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Please read on for a lovely interview with author Penny Berry!
Author Interview
1. How long have you been in the scene?
I've been a Little for 4 years now.
2. How has it changed over the years? (If you have noticed a change)
Oh absolutely. When I first got into D/s, I was so naive to everything that I was experiencing. Back then, my very first dominant had issues of his own that I wasn't aware of at first and as such, the relationship was unhealthy. He didn't believe in the use of safewords. He didn't want me researching how to be a Little, or any other forms of submission. I felt limited and stifled in my capacity to grow as a person and as a sub so I began quietly researching and connecting with the BDSM community on my own. It was there, networking with others, that I realized the problems within my own D/s relationship. When I finally confronted my Ex-Dom he was livid that I had gone off and learned about the lifestyle instead of only turning to him as the one and only opinion. I broke things off shortly thereafter.
I believe that we should all be growing, evolving, and always striving to learn more. No one knows everything there is to know about being a Little, submissive, etc. We can all learn from each other. I love reading books out on the market from other BDSM authors to gain further knowledge and expand my viewpoints. In fact, I recently made a new submissive-friend who completely made me redefine my view on bratting when she introduced me to the concept of "healthy bratting"! It's moments like that, that make the journey so worthwhile.
3. What is the most difficult thing about being little?
The most difficult aspect of being a little is allowing yourself to be completely vulnerable. When I'm in Little Space I am completely open with my emotions. Unlike my adult self, where I use tact, caution, and triple-check myself... "Little Me" just goes off and says whatever bubbles up in my mind. There is a sense of freedom and liberation from the adult patterns of thinking when we have the capability to exist so wild and alive like this. But it can also be difficult. That's why I encourage my readers to always communicate with their dominant about what their Little Space looks like, and why they choose to regress as an adult little. Knowing yourself intimately will allow you to communicate your needs with your dominant and minimize any miscommunication that could cause hurt feelings between you two.
4. The most fun?
I am a music junkie! Hehe! Seriously, I am rocking out to music even typing this. Music is a huge part of my life and my little space. My Daddy and I are always swapping music. So when I'm in Little Space you can find me twirling around singing whatever song is bopping away in my brain. :)
5. What are your thoughts on "little names"?
A little name is special and sacred. It's the title given at the end of a short training period. Many dominants prefer to give their submissive a name right off the bat, and that's fine too. Some get a title during training, and then are gifted a new submissive name upon completion of their training. There are various ways to go about getting your little name, but there are several things that I would remind people to be mindful of when choosing a little name:
Choose a name that resonates with the submissive. Don't just call your sub "princess" or "angel" because that's what you've seen on the internet. There are many names to choose from. You want something that makes your submissive feel good. This is going to be their identity. (For example: I'm punkin because my favorite season is Fall. I also love pumpkin pie and I'm originally from the South where we call pumpkins, punkins :) so the name fit when my Daddy suggested it).
Incorporate your Little's name on a regular basis. It's easy to shift a Little into the mindset simply based upon how you speak to them. You could say, "honey, it's time for dinner". Or, you can say, "Princess, let's wash your hands. It's time for supper:. One is vanilla while the other uses a Little name and makes the submissive feel small.
Lastly, never threaten to strip away a little name from your submissive. Entering a D/s relationship is a serious step that should be taken with great care. As such, being gifted with your little name is a big deal and it becomes a part of your journey as a submissive. Don't ever threaten to take away that title. It would cause deep harm to your sub if you do.
6. What attracted you to the scene?
I always knew that I was different from other people my age, but for the longest time I didn't have a label for being a Little. I knew that unlike my vanilla friends, I loved everything Disney even into adulthood. As soon as I began watching anime, I soaked that up too with passion and excitement. I longed to look kawaii and have anime-esque hair lol. I felt youthful well into my 20's, and even after becoming a mother. But when I gave birth to my daughter, suddenly I was expected to "grow up" and that felt jarring. As a very young mother, (I had my daughter at 23), I didn't fit the mold for what a mom should look like. I felt kinky and sexy inside. I had seen enough porn to be curious about bondage and other kinks.
So, as a discreet way of living out my fantasies I began roleplaying in World of Warcraft for years. There, I got to experiment with fetishes in a safe, virtual way. For years no one knew that I was this "closet kinkster". By day I looked like a normal mom but by night after my kiddo was in bed, I would log on and dive into erotic roleplay that was arousing, stimulating, and thrilling. I met people from all walks of life who had fetishes of all kinds. I researched and read (because I'm a total nerd) and learned a lot about my own sexuality. As I moved into my 30's I began to feel more sure of myself as a person and it was at that point that my gaming had slowed down and I began to bring my fantasies to real life as I met my first dom and learned about D/s! :)
7. How did you find the confidence to write books and a blog? Are you scared of your privacy being invaded?
What a great question! Obviously, Penny Berry is my pen name. Penelope was one of my roleplay characters who went by the nickname, Penny, and my favorite fruit is a strawberry. So, put it together and you get Penny Berry! lol. But in all seriousness, it was a culmination of journaling for years as a Little that led me to publishing, "Big Me, Little Me: A Survival Guide For Littles By Littles". I wanted to take notes, research, and experiences that I had lived and bring them together in a place to help others. At the time of publishing there was only 1 other book out there that was specifically Cg/l, and I wanted to open up the market. So I wrote my first book. Then I began blogging daily and pouring myself into my blog sharing everything that I was living on the day to day. I wanted my readers to see me as I am: real, authentic, vulnerable, and raw. Was it scary at first? Perhaps a little. But, I think the largest step I took was beginning to show my face and body in photos on my blog. That was a big step. I went from simply being a pen name to stepping out into the spotlight and saying, "Hey! This is me! I'm a real adult little!". At the same time, it was also freeing. I have always been the type of person to be more of a leader than a follower, and my goal was to show that we don't always need to hide our face in the community. There is no shame in being a little, or any other type of submissive. No one should ever feel shame for having any kink, fetish, or fantasy. Be who YOU want to be, and live the life that you desire.
To answer your second question, no I try to not stress about my privacy being invaded. I actually stay very active on my social media: Twitter, Instagram, my blog, and my email on the contact Penny page. So my readers can always get a hold of me. That said, I am mindful that there are people who are very judgmental out there when it comes to Cg/l. There are vicious misconceptions, so I am cautious about what I wear out in public and how I present myself to society.
8. Do you think the ddlg scene needs more authors?
I am always supportive of other ddlg authors because we can all learn from one another. So if anyone else wants to publish a book, I'll likely be buying it and smiling from ear to ear. We are a wonderful community that is as diverse as a rainbow :) . It's pretty awesome.
9. Any more books you're going to write?
Yes! I'm currently writing a Cg/l picture book with my Daddy, Daddy Cernnunos (https://thewildwood.home.blog/ ) . It is a picture book filled with letters back and forth between us and spans topics that every Little can relate to. It's going to be called, "Conversations with Daddy"... so stay tuned for it to be published very soon!
10. Your thoughts on allowing minors "underage littles" in the ddlg spaces? (Note I am vehemently against this but would like your thoughts)
Excellent question. Like the whole of the BDSM community, I am adamantly opposed to minors in kink, period. If you are underage, you should not be involved in kink for several reasons:
You don't have the maturity and life experience to handle it.
You are at risk of breaking the law should you get involved sexually.
You are placing any legal adult in jeopardy of breaking the law as well.
The adolescent mind is still forming and developing at this stage, and minors need space to experiment with their personal identity before they become sexually active.
Now, that said, I also take a slightly different stance from my adult peers. Many people in the BDSM community simply block people on social media if a minor begins following them. I do not, because 99% of the time my content is SFW. I don't need to worry about harming a minor with my content. I also believe that simply blocking an adolescent doesn't change the fact that they will be curious about the kink lifestyle. This is why I advocate for: "Educate instead of alienate". Don't allow minors in kink. There is no place for them in kink. But I plan to create resources in the future for minors to print and read about why they should stay away from kink and D/s relationships. I want them to understand that they are at a beautiful age where they should be exploring the world, learning languages, and thinking about career paths. They don't need to focus on sex at such a young age. It's natural to be curious about sex. It's natural to have urges and desires. But, there is a psychological and developmental reason why minors should not engage in any form of play or be sexually active so young. (Trust me, I made that mistake! This is why I'm so passionate about helping minors remain innocent and to help preserve their childhood for as long as they can).
About the Author:
Penny Berry is a Cg/l author and adult little of "Big Me, Little Me: A Survival Guide For Littles By Littles" and "The DDLG Busy Book". She also actively blogs on littlepennyberry.com. She is the wife and little of Captain Taliron Quinn, the mother of kiddo, and the slave of Daddy Cernnunos. When she isn't busy publishing daily blog posts on her website, she can be found curled up with a cup of tea and a good book, or gaming the evening away on Guild Wars 2. She lives on the coast of California with her family.
7. How did you find the confidence to write books and a blog? Are you scared of your privacy being invaded?
What a great question! Obviously, Penny Berry is my pen name. Penelope was one of my roleplay characters who went by the nickname, Penny, and my favorite fruit is a strawberry. So, put it together and you get Penny Berry! lol. But in all seriousness, it was a culmination of journaling for years as a Little that led me to publishing, "Big Me, Little Me: A Survival Guide For Littles By Littles". I wanted to take notes, research, and experiences that I had lived and bring them together in a place to help others. At the time of publishing there was only 1 other book out there that was specifically Cg/l, and I wanted to open up the market. So I wrote my first book. Then I began blogging daily and pouring myself into my blog sharing everything that I was living on the day to day. I wanted my readers to see me as I am: real, authentic, vulnerable, and raw. Was it scary at first? Perhaps a little. But, I think the largest step I took was beginning to show my face and body in photos on my blog. That was a big step. I went from simply being a pen name to stepping out into the spotlight and saying, "Hey! This is me! I'm a real adult little!". At the same time, it was also freeing. I have always been the type of person to be more of a leader than a follower, and my goal was to show that we don't always need to hide our face in the community. There is no shame in being a little, or any other type of submissive. No one should ever feel shame for having any kink, fetish, or fantasy. Be who YOU want to be, and live the life that you desire.
To answer your second question, no I try to not stress about my privacy being invaded. I actually stay very active on my social media: Twitter, Instagram, my blog, and my email on the contact Penny page. So my readers can always get a hold of me. That said, I am mindful that there are people who are very judgmental out there when it comes to Cg/l. There are vicious misconceptions, so I am cautious about what I wear out in public and how I present myself to society.
8. Do you think the ddlg scene needs more authors?
I am always supportive of other ddlg authors because we can all learn from one another. So if anyone else wants to publish a book, I'll likely be buying it and smiling from ear to ear. We are a wonderful community that is as diverse as a rainbow :) . It's pretty awesome.
9. Any more books you're going to write?
Yes! I'm currently writing a Cg/l picture book with my Daddy, Daddy Cernnunos (https://thewildwood.home.blog/ ) . It is a picture book filled with letters back and forth between us and spans topics that every Little can relate to. It's going to be called, "Conversations with Daddy"... so stay tuned for it to be published very soon!
10. Your thoughts on allowing minors "underage littles" in the ddlg spaces? (Note I am vehemently against this but would like your thoughts)
Excellent question. Like the whole of the BDSM community, I am adamantly opposed to minors in kink, period. If you are underage, you should not be involved in kink for several reasons:
You don't have the maturity and life experience to handle it.
You are at risk of breaking the law should you get involved sexually.
You are placing any legal adult in jeopardy of breaking the law as well.
The adolescent mind is still forming and developing at this stage, and minors need space to experiment with their personal identity before they become sexually active.
Now, that said, I also take a slightly different stance from my adult peers. Many people in the BDSM community simply block people on social media if a minor begins following them. I do not, because 99% of the time my content is SFW. I don't need to worry about harming a minor with my content. I also believe that simply blocking an adolescent doesn't change the fact that they will be curious about the kink lifestyle. This is why I advocate for: "Educate instead of alienate". Don't allow minors in kink. There is no place for them in kink. But I plan to create resources in the future for minors to print and read about why they should stay away from kink and D/s relationships. I want them to understand that they are at a beautiful age where they should be exploring the world, learning languages, and thinking about career paths. They don't need to focus on sex at such a young age. It's natural to be curious about sex. It's natural to have urges and desires. But, there is a psychological and developmental reason why minors should not engage in any form of play or be sexually active so young. (Trust me, I made that mistake! This is why I'm so passionate about helping minors remain innocent and to help preserve their childhood for as long as they can).
About the Author:Penny Berry is a Cg/l author and adult little of "Big Me, Little Me: A Survival Guide For Littles By Littles" and "The DDLG Busy Book". She also actively blogs on littlepennyberry.com. She is the wife and little of Captain Taliron Quinn, the mother of kiddo, and the slave of Daddy Cernnunos. When she isn't busy publishing daily blog posts on her website, she can be found curled up with a cup of tea and a good book, or gaming the evening away on Guild Wars 2. She lives on the coast of California with her family.
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