Privilege and Privation, a Love Story

Lucy, meet Lenny. Lenny, this is Lucy. What do you have in common? Nothing? Privilege And Privation, A Love Story is a fictional tale of two young people from immensely different backgrounds who fall in love. It is set amidst the contradictions of “haves” and “have nots,” the violence and hopelessness of those who don’t, and the dreams and hypocrisy of those who do.The story line follows the fortunes of Lenny, a middle class kid, and Lucy, a child born in poverty, from their earliest years. It highlights the impact of parental involvement, quality early childhood care and education, and recognition of each’s special gifts on the developmental process.Privilege And Privation puts human faces on the challenges we face in understanding and bridging cultural gaps, and provides a look at “class” from down to up, and up to down. It is a tragedy, a love story, and most importantly, a vision of hope.

Todd Parnell is the recently retired President of Drury University, founding CEO of THE BANK in Springfield, Mo., civic leader, environmental advocate as co-founder of the Upper White River Basin Foundation and recently retired Chairman of the Missouri Clean Water Commission, and award winning author inducted into the Missouri Writers Hall of Fame in 2012. He holds Masters degrees in Business Administration from Dartmouth University and History from Missouri State University, and an undergraduate degree from Drury University.Parnell began writing non-fiction during his years as a banker and educator, including published works The Buffalo, Ben, and Me, Trails of the Heart: Along the Buffalo River, Mom at War, and Postcards from Branson. He tried his hand at fiction upon retiring from the Drury presidency and hasn't stopped writing since, publishing the Ozarkian Folk Tales Trilogy (Skunk Creek, Swine Branch, and Donny Brook), with a second trilogy, Children of the Creek in production. Recently released is Pig Farm, unfolds a sweeping and rollicking historical tall tale set in the context of a real time environmental tragedy, along side America's first national river, the Buffalo.Parnell was born in Branson, Mo. and is an eighth-generation Ozarker. He resides with his wife of 42 years, Betty, in Springfield, Mo. and is blessed with four children and five grandchildren. The Parnells were inaugural co-chairs of the Every Child Promise initiative, and serve on its executive advisory board.