As an elementary teacher for 22 years, I have spent the 17 years since I retired learning to write children's books. Yankee Girl is my first publishing success. Now I have added Goodnight Mrs. Dinglewall! Sleep Tight! and Inventing Chloe. I have done several book signings at Barnes & Noble and Borders in the Houston area and Pensacola, Florida.
I have presented in several schools and public libraries in Abilene, Sonora, Gulf Breeze and Milton, Florida, Baytown and Houston, Lee College and San Jacinto College community colleges and university classes and retirement homes. I even went to Zurich, Switzerland, last January and did presentations in several schools. Quite an experience!
I adjust my presentation to be age-appropriate for various groups, as low as Second grade through University classes. The audience is usually very interested in the process of writing, publishing, and marketing. I need about 40-45 minutes. that when necessary. My fee is negotiable according to how far away and possible book sales. Some of the Florida schools bought 2 classroom sets (50 books) so the fee was waived.
If the group is small enough, I try to involve the students to respond with enthusiasm. But a large group in the library or auditorium works well too.
The students are so interested and I try to emphasize persistence and hard work, lots of practice, reading and writing, in addition to the stories and background of the books. Sometimes teachers ask for reading/writing connections and activities that promote this.
Outline of topics in Presentation of Yankee Girl
Where do Ideas come from? Magic of writing Uncommon Soldier as beginning Why not Southern Girl? Research for Historical fiction Artwork Magazine Publishing and Book Reviewing How I write - stressful, intense, challenging
A Middle school in Abilene, a High School in Milton, Florida and two Baytown elementaries have bought a classroom set and used it to introduce their Civil War unit before going to the textbook.
Three teachers at the junior school level shared with me the techniques and strategies they used to teach the reading objectives of TEKS. I have compiled them into an activity book aligned with TAK test & TEK reading objectives, READ AND WRITE WITH YANKEE GIRL. It is also for sale or free with the purchase of classroom sets of books. We are giving permission for these pages to be reproduced and used as a resource by teachers or students.
Teachers are pleased to find a novel that first secures the students' interest, then emphasizes reading skills such as foreshadowing, summarizing, predicting, context clues, flashbacks, and symbolism..
RESPONSES TO YANKEE GIRL PRESENTATION - 6TH GRADE
CEDAR BAYOU JUNIOR SCHOOL - FEBRUARY 17, 2003
“She kept on trying and trying until she was successful. Her book was super, I mean I just read two pages and I couldn’t put it down. I felt like I was in the story, like I could smell the smell that the people smelled.” -Patrick
“It's like a dream; writing for fun and getting a little cash for it too! I just want to be retired, writing a book on my comfortable bed and thinking of JoAn Martin.” -Dylan
“She taught us to not give up even if we try 56 times.” -Randy
“I learned lots of writing tips, like to write, then edit. The characters are great and it is very realistic in relationship to the year of 1863. It had vivid description and I could see when Obie died in the midst of battle.” -Trevor
“Just the thought of getting a book published is awesome. She looked like a writer somehow should. The passages she read out loud were down and out splendid. -Ross
“It is a perfect mix of action for the guys and romance for the girls. I would give it a 10 out of 10.” -Tanner
“I like when she read about how Wanda dressed up like a boy and changed her name to Wayne so she could go to war.” -Elizabeth
“Mrs. Martin told us how she gets caught up in her writing.” -Eli
“I was very inspired by JoAn Martin. I am going to check it out as soon as Mr.James puts it on the shelf.” -Merrie
“She told us to never stop believing in what you want to do.” -Allie
