writes about war from a young person's view #bannedbyrussia
The wonderful Caroline Fernandez of Authors’ Booking Service asked me, Adrienne Kress and Mireille Messier to give a panel on how to do author visits via zoom last Friday. It was fun! We always try to nab a group photo so we can show off our latest books.
Last week I had the pleasure of meeting with 300 students in 7th grade at J.L. Simpson in Leesburg Virginia over the course of 6 virtual sessions. Jeannine, their media specialist extraordinaire cobbled together grants from the Nora Roberts Foundation and HREC ED to make this happen and also to purchase copies of Winterkill for the students. The planning had been in the works since April of 2023! Students asked great questions, and look at the notes they took!
A totally non-writing day today! After presenting at St. Margurite d’Youville I popped over to visit two of my favourite schools. This is Holychka OH at Saint Sofia school. I surprised her with copies of Yulia Lyubka’s Видавництво 21 Ukrainian edition of Making Bombs for Hitler for her students, especially those from Ukraine. I then motored over to Halyna Kostiuk at St. Josephat and gifted copies for her students as well (no pic — I was illegally parked and got in and out in a flash). In case you’re wondering, St. Margurite also got Ukrainian editions.
This is me with librarian Lisa Sousa at St. Marguerite in Oakville. Had a GREAT visit today with her students!!! Ms Sousa is in the midst of reading Winterkill to the students and so the questions were about disinformation, history that’s hidden, the bullying by dictators and more. Since there are Ukrainians at this school, I also donated a Ukrainian editions each of Stolen Girl and Making Bombs for Hitler.
Here are students from room P5 at Meadows West School from the Winnipeg School Division. Their educator asked if I would send them a brief video greeting, which I did, and they sent this pic as thanks. So sweet!
Tiffanie from Roberts Elementary always lifts me up. After our author visit last week she emailed this feedback:
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!
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!
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!
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.