Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Another busy weekend
On Friday, we went to see "Shear Madness" at Calgary's Vertigo Theatre. It was a wonderful show, extremely funny. Marc Bellamy, Vertigo's artistic director, starred as Tony Whitcomb, and he looked like he was having the time of his life. The show has been extended twice and is now open until June 9. If you have a chance to go, do! You'll enjoy it.
On Saturday, I went to the Young Alberta Book Society's AGM and workshops in Lacombe, AB. The AGM was nice and short and the workshops were great. We learned how to make the best of our voices (writers are aerobic speakers, so we need to warm up the muscles just as in any activity), how to tie our presentations in to the school curricula, and what teachers woul like to see during a writing workshop. A short digression during that led to a discussion of some of the problems writers and illustrators had encountered -- in one case, a school had tried to get away with having twice the number of agreed-upon students in a workshop (the speaker had agreed to 30; the school tried to get away with 60). Happily, these experiences are rare, and most speaking engagements and schools are terrific. The AGM was followed by a BBQ, and although the mosquitoes were out in force, the weather was lovely (this after snow the previous week). I even got in some shopping, buying some books and a print from Georgia Graham, a local artist and illustrator.
Being a member of YABS has already been beneficial -- not only was I able to go to the workshops, but I was also contacted by the Airdrie Public Library for a speaking engagement during their summer reading program. They found my info via YABS.
On Saturday, I went to the Young Alberta Book Society's AGM and workshops in Lacombe, AB. The AGM was nice and short and the workshops were great. We learned how to make the best of our voices (writers are aerobic speakers, so we need to warm up the muscles just as in any activity), how to tie our presentations in to the school curricula, and what teachers woul like to see during a writing workshop. A short digression during that led to a discussion of some of the problems writers and illustrators had encountered -- in one case, a school had tried to get away with having twice the number of agreed-upon students in a workshop (the speaker had agreed to 30; the school tried to get away with 60). Happily, these experiences are rare, and most speaking engagements and schools are terrific. The AGM was followed by a BBQ, and although the mosquitoes were out in force, the weather was lovely (this after snow the previous week). I even got in some shopping, buying some books and a print from Georgia Graham, a local artist and illustrator.
Being a member of YABS has already been beneficial -- not only was I able to go to the workshops, but I was also contacted by the Airdrie Public Library for a speaking engagement during their summer reading program. They found my info via YABS.
Labels: Vertigo Theatre, Young Alberta Book Society
Thursday, May 24, 2007
School Talk
I had my very first paid school talk last month. It was awesome! The kids (grade three) were terrific -- good listeners and lots of interaction. I showed them some photos that I had chosen as "triggers" and told them to take notes about the details, and what they thought had happened before the photo was taken or would happen after. They jotted down lots of notes, and I hope they ended up with plenty of fodder for stories. The were studying "stuck stories" at the time -- for example, being "stuck" somewhere, like at the airport, so I was able to work that into my presentations. There were four classes in total; I talked to two at a time. I was nervous, but I absolutely loved it. Amazing thing, networking.
I've been asked to come speak at the Airdrie public library for their summer reading program, on the topic of Ancient Egypt. Since my next book is set in ancient Egypt, I allowed as I could probably speak a little bit about that. Don't know the details yet, but that will probably be two talks to kids of different ages, on the same day.
And in other news, it snowed again today. Sheesh.
I've been asked to come speak at the Airdrie public library for their summer reading program, on the topic of Ancient Egypt. Since my next book is set in ancient Egypt, I allowed as I could probably speak a little bit about that. Don't know the details yet, but that will probably be two talks to kids of different ages, on the same day.
And in other news, it snowed again today. Sheesh.
Labels: Author Talks, Library, School
