Cathy Beveridge

Readings

The nature of my readings varies slightly depending on which novels are being discussed. In the case of my historical fiction, which deal with Canadian disasters, I generally begin by using posters to help orient the students regarding the time and location of the event. My readings tend to be very interactive with the students responding to questions throughout and I always make an attempt to try in relevant curriculum information. Historical information is interspersed with reading from the novels, and the sharing of historical notes and artifacts. Readings involving my young adult contemporary novels, generally consist of reading from the novels, followed by a question and answer period with students. I also share glimpses into various aspects of my writing process such as character creation, brainstorming, story planning, revision, title generation, etc. and bring along plot diagrams, galley proofs, etc. I engage students in a lively discourse about their own writing and the difficulties they face and respond to questions regarding life as an author and writing in general.

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed.

Workshops

For the past eighteen years, I have been a creative writing consultant, conducting many different writing workshops for students. The nature of these workshops vary greatly, depending on the needs of the students or teachers, but can include such things as strengthening student writing, story planning, revising, generating problems and solutions, showing not telling, incorporating details, creating characters, etc. Workshops are grade and skill specific. All workshops focus on having students explore writing strategies that can be utilized throughout their writing lives.

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed.

Biography

I was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta and attended the University of Alberta, where I completed my teaching degree, with an English major and a French minor. It was while teaching that I first began to write alongside my students in an effort to better understand and teach the writing process. When I left teaching to have my eldest daughter, I began to write and publish short stories. Then, when my youngest was just an infant, we moved to the Sultanate of Oman in the Middle East for four years. While there, I developed a keen desire to write “Canadian” and upon our return to Calgary, published my first hockey novel, Offside, in 2001. I also went on to write a series about historical Canadian disasters, which, to date include, Shadows of Disaster about the Frank Slide, Chaos in Halifax about the Halifax explosion, and Stormstruck about the Great Storm of 1913. A second contemporary novel entitled One on One followed. I greatly enjoy the process of researching, creating and playing with ideas and characters. It is only when my characters begin to haunt me that I allow them to tell their stories. As well as being an author, I have also worked as a creative writing consultant for many years and still greatly enjoy being in the classroom. I currently live in Calgary with my husband, three daughters and our dog and cat.

OTHER PRESENTATIONS:
Teacher inservices on teaching creative writing include modelling and strategies to teach various aspects of writing including strengthening student writing, story planning, character creation, revising, editing, assessment, conferencing etc. These sessions are very practical and easy to implement in the classroom. They blend my insight as an author and a teacher, and take into account the time constraints of working in a classroom.