Joy Lynn Goddard

Readings

My Northview Tales series, Daredevils, Charlie’s Song and Hello, my name is Emily, features teens coming of age in the fictional city of Northview. In each book, danger, adventure, sports, and social problems are dominant themes, along with fast-paced storylines and the tendency to end each chapter with a cliff-hanger. Although readers will find some of the people and places are the same in each book, the plots are all very different.

Daredevils: Lizzie is based on a girl I taught who played goal on an all-boys’ team. Alex, a weird kid on the team, helps Lizzie plot against her enemies, never imagining the disastrous outcome. It begins with a dare at a hockey tournament in Niagara Falls and ends when Alex plunges headfirst into the Niagara Gorge.

Charlie’s Song: Charlie is a would-be singing star whose mixed-up family keeps standing in her way. She’s embarrassed by her younger brother, Nicholas, who’s a little “slow,” and fed up by her mother who runs off to the casino every chance she gets. After her crazy life is spread across the Internet, Charlie considers dropping out of school, but that would mean losing her spot in the school’s singing competition, Teen Idol. Charlie’s ex-friend, Alessa, would love that! After all, she plans on winning the competition and would stop at nothing to defeat Charlie. Suddenly, Charlie finds herself in grave danger with more to lose than Teen Idol. She could lose her life!

Hello, my name is Emily: Emily is a few years older than when she first appeared in Daredevils and is facing bigger problems. Her adoptive mother is making life miserable, so Emily sets out to find her birth mother. After reaching a dead end, she receives an email from a stranger that changes her life. She decides to meet him secretly, despite the warnings from her friend, Alex, and heads into serious trouble. Frantic, Alex tries to save her but he could be too late!

I wrote the Northview Tales series to hook reluctant readers, especially teenage boys, but teachers tell me that the books appeal to most of their students. Jazz, my fourth young-adult novel, and Mrs. Maloney’s Garden, my first junior novel, are written in the same style as the others. Following a reading from one or two of my books, I love answering kids’ questions and telling personal anecdotes about the writing process. I also like to do two or three fun and interactive writing activities, which help participants discover their own writing potential.

Special Equipment:

• computer projector to view power point presentation

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed. Or, books can be pre-ordered and sent by publisher prior to visit.

Workshops

My power point is entitled: Reaching Reluctant Readers and Writers, which appeals to teachers of struggling students from Grades 5-9. That said, the activities are useful to all students in the class. The workshop is fun and interactive, with tips and “hands on” activities to motivate language learners and develop literacy skills. Topics discussed include: Television Journals, Dialogue Notebooks, Chat Rooms and Blogging, Memory Pictures, Using Senses, Editing Tips, How-to-Books, High Interest/ Low Vocabulary Novels, Using Role-play in Writing Instruction, Everyday Activities that Enhance Writing, Engaging Readers with the Right Books and Format. Two of my novels, Daredevils and Charlie’s Song have manuals that link closely with language curriculum and Character Education; these will be discussed briefly. Participants will walk away with a lot of ideas to help them supplement their language programs.

I also can do a kids’ workshop for would-be writers. I touch on many of the activities above, answer questions, offer personal stories, do a couple of mini-readings, and then I oversee activities that will help kids grow as writers.

Special Equipment:

• computer projector for power point presentation
• easel with chart paper and drawing paper

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed. Or, books can be pre-ordered and sent by publisher prior to visit.

Other Presentations

During March Break, I am available for library visits (or school visits if schools are in session during my March Break). I am available any time during the summer months for any presentations (library, PD for teachers and librarians).

Biography

A former journalist, Joy Lynn Goddard has had many articles and short stories published in newspapers and magazines. Currently, she teaches in Guelph Ontario, drawing on her vast experiences in the classroom to make her books seem real. Her characters are composites of the many students she has taught – from the “weirdo” to the “brain” to the “jock.” To date, she has written four young-adult novels – Daredevils, Charlie’s Song, Hello, my name is Emily and Jazz – and one junior novel – Mrs. Maloney’s Garden. Daredevils (and its teacher manual, by Ruthanne Finnigan) won the Ontario English Catholic Teacher Association (OECTA) provincial Best Practice Award in 2005. In recognition of their contribution to literacy, Joy Lynn Goddard and Ruthanne Finnigan received the OECTA Award of Merit in 2009.