Teens in Juvenile Detention

One of the most powerful things I do is run a weekly poetry workshop with kids in a juvenile detention. This work is a way to share the healing power of writing and poetry with kids and it gives me an incredible depth of story ideas.

The program director recently shared how kids in another juvenile detention facility created a video which used some of their poems to tell their story. I felt the video says a lot about why I enjoy working with youth in detention.

Columbia Kids Spring 2009

A new edition of Columbia Kids has been posted. Columbia Kids e-zine is published by the Washington State History Museum and offers stories, pod-puzzles, and non-fiction articles about the Pacific Northwest. This edition includes stories by Kirby Larson and illustratrations by Richard Jesse Watson. There are also exciting stories about Northwesterners such as sculptor Dudley Carver and a junior Iditarod musher, as well as a rebus for very young readers and a Ghosts of the Great Hall ghostly reappearance of the popular Miss L. Peckinpaugh who sang a boat load of women and children to safety.

Sniplits Short Story Featured This Week

If you’re in the mood for a fun, quick, audio short story, check out Sniplits!

My tween story, “I Believe” is one of the featured stories this week! Enjoy!

Story Summary: Twelve-year-old Samantha has always believed in unicorns, dragons and fairies, but when her new Junior High history teacher says she must put away her childish ideas, Samantha is determined to stand up for her belief in the unseen.

Teen Writing Workshop–Everett Downtown Library

As a part of the Big Read sponsored by the Everett and Sno-Isle Library systems, I will be presenting a teen writing workshop.

Date: 05/16/2009 2:00 pm to 3:30 am

Writing the Supernatural Mystery: A Workshop for Teens

Location:
Everett Public Library, Main Branch, 2702 Hoyt Avenue
Everett, WA 98201

Description:
Ghosts, vampires, and surreal stories that scare–come explore the world of the supernatural mystery. In this workshop, we’ll look at elements used in creating the supernatural mystery including: establishing ground rules for the ghost, and building characters when our characters are not of this world. Before the end of the workshop, we’ll surely find the mysterious ghost who lurks in our stories! This is a hands-on writing workshop so bring paper, pencil, and all your creative ideas!