Marsha – Page 6 – Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch

Roberts Elementary author visit

I had a wonderful visit with Roberts Elementary in Gwinnett County, Georgia last week. I’ve been virtually visiting students at this school for a number of years and have such respect for their media specialist, Tiffanie, who has an infectiously positive and generous perspective on life. I also love how her students come up with the BEST questions. There were about 9 classes participating in the session and each one had 3 questions. My favorite question from yesterday was, if you could tell your younger self something, what would it be? My answer: that the people who told me I was a slow learner were wrong. I was a different learner, and that would ultimately be a gift.

Have to say, meeting with students is one of the most wonderful aspects of being a writer.

Tiffanie made my day when she emailed this after the session: WOW! WOW! WOW!

You have a magical way of engaging our students sparking curiosity that lasts way beyond your visit! You answered their questions with such grace, care, and honesty. We loved it!

The 6 pee wee eggs I made before English Easter this year

I have been in heavy novel-writing-mode so not much time for egg-writing. These are the 6 pysanky that I managed to do this year before Easter. Half of them have been gifted to family. Love working on pee wee eggs!

Made on World Pysanky Day

For World Pysanky Day. A traditional design from Zakarpattia on the left in memory of my Ukrainian grandmother, who was born there. On the right, a traditional design from Bukovyna, for my Ukrainian grandfather, who was born there.

Kobzar interview re Winterkill

Thank you, Ryan Boyko and the Shevchenko Foundation, for creating this interview about the inspiration for Winterkill. This was filmed at Firefly & Fox, a great independent bookstore in Simcoe Ontario.

Pysanka, first steps

Now there are 4 pee wee pysanky

Eeek. There’s a reason I don’t do videos! One pysanka nearly got away!

First pysanky of 2024

I like to do pysanky of all different sizes. These first two are pee wee eggs. To give you an idea of the size difference, here’s my first pee wee beside an XL egg from last year:

Here’s a step by step (primarily so I can show you the nifty Tryzub nail art that Lacey at Hair Body Boom did for the Kobzar event:

wax covering up everything that will remain white

I didn’t get a pic after the yellow dye. This is after the green, which doesn’t show on the final egg at all. These eggs seem to take the dyes to a deeper colour.

Interview with TQ Townsend of Children’s Literature Podcast

Thank you, Tiffney, for your well-considered questions. I enjoyed our discussion!

122 – Winterkill by Marsha Skrypuch

A Q&A instead of a read-aloud on WRAD

Ms Slapnik of Batesburg-Leesville Middle School North Carolina had scheduled a slot with me for her students, but forces beyond her control foiled our plans. Her students were assigned unexpected mandatory testing and weren’t available. She had a list of questions from the students, so I agreed have the Q&A zoom session recorded.

My one and only Canadian school during WRAD

Eleven of my twelve World-Read-Aloud-Day donated virtual visits were claimed by American schools, but one I gave to Melita School in Manitoba, and it came about when two grade 8 students, Chaz and Zander, were doing a project on one of my books and asked to meet with me virtually. Normally, I would have had to say no, but World Read Aloud Day was coming up, so I suggested we meet on that day, with their whole class. It was a wonderful visit with Ms Anderson and her students! Here are some pics.