Hello all! I have finally added descriptions of my school talk subjects – if you go to the menu above and hit Teaching and Workshops all will be revealed! (Or click here.)
I can speak to all ages, really. From kindergarten kids (making up stories, reading books, different kinds of stories and characters) to middle and high school students (animation topics, writing careers, writing a novel, etc) and beyond (the writer’s life, writing television and books for children). It’s all here.
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Filed under Author Info/Biographical, the Writing Life
Phew! A lotta talking at Saltspring Elementary this afternoon. First I talked to the Kindergarten-Gr 2’s about being an author and making up stories. Then I spoke to the Gr. 3-5’s about writing for television and how cartoons are made. (Now that’s a huge topic – I could have gone on for hours.)
It all went well (thanks Powerpoint), I had a great time, and the students seemed pretty pumped too when it was all over. One Gr. 1 (S.) told me she was going to go home tonight and write a book!
I’m pretty revved up too, and (as I promised them) I am going to get some animation links up on this blog soon, and write more about storytelling, and writing how-to, and so forth…
Thanks Saltspring Elementary for being such a great audience!
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On Thursday I spoke to a group that was a bit of a change from my school readings… the local Saltspring UCW (United Church Women)!
(Plus a few male guests…)
It was nice to see that reading an excerpt from Eldritch intrigued them as much as the intended YA audience. But then of course YA fantasy novels are so commonly read by adults these days that they should really rename the whole genre.
I would highly recommend reading to “church ladies” for 3 reasons –
1. They are kind: if they find your talk not so interesting they are far more polite and discreet about it than kids are.
2. The coffee is always on.
3. They bake: whenever ladies like this gather, baked goodies are always in evidence, and they are always Excellent!
Thanks, ladies!
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Last Monday I had the great pleasure of reading from my book and chatting with a small but well-read group of students from the Centre School on Saltspring Island. I was a little nervous, but they were kind and had some great questions and comments. We discussed weird words, different kinds of fantasy fiction and mythology, which plays a big part in Eldritch Manor. They were extremely interested in Greek mythology because right now they’re reading Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief in class and are REALLY enjoying it.
One challenge involved in talking to students is pitching your comments to their age level. Whenever kids ask questions and contribute to the discussion it’s a huge help in discovering their interests and making the talk more interesting for them.
Thanks Centre School students! That was fun! And it was nice to meet in the gorgeous new library too.
(photos courtesy of Sheila Spence)
Filed under the Writing Life
And with the spring – this year at least – come the school talks! This afternoon I’m heading to the Saltspring Public Library to read from my book and chat with grade 3-5’s from the Centre School. I have a knee-shaking terror of speaking to an adult audience, but talking to young readers is actually fun for me. Thank goodness!
I hope they don’t ask me anything too hard.
In other news, I’m hoping to do more with this blog… talk about writing, recommend books, maybe even invite young guest reviewers to write about their favourite fantasy books? Contests, maybe?
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