Lois Peterson

Readings

My presentations might include a combination of any of the elements lists below, depending on age of group:

• Discussion of the history of storytelling and its role in everyday life
• A told creation story
• The Four Ws and How of Storytelling
• Creating an ‘Instabook’ to use to record story ideas and other projects
• Readings from and background info about my books
• Discussion of the road to publication
• Writing exercises – for high school students
• Collaborative storytelling – elementary students
• Q@A

Special Equipment:

Digital projector, flip chart and markers, laptop… as arranged at time of booking

Book Sales:

Yes

Workshops

Storytelling workshop
Using the Five Ws and How to create a story – verbal and/or written, depending on age of group.
Students use brainstorming, discussion and prompts to generate story ideas, which we then work on collaboratively, adding characterization, chants, dialogue, action. Then, older participants may write a version of their story. In mixed age groups, older children act as scribes to held younger children record their version of the story.
I encourage them to read their own work ‘aloud and proud’ and suggest ways in which they can contribute constructively to feedback sessions of their peers’ work.

Writing workshop
With more than 20 years teaching writing to children, seniors, adults, youth, prison inmates, the homeless, etc. I am able to customize a workshop that reflects school/class/participants’ needs and goals and curriculum priorities.
Past workshops have included: Poetry; Story and Plot; Bringing Fiction to Life Through Research…

Special Equipment:

Digital projector / writing materials / flip chart… as arranged at time of booking

Book Sales:

Yes

Other Presentations

Having worked for more than thirty years in public libraries I love talking to librarians about connecting children with story.
I am an experienced public speaker and can provide workshop sessions with considerable content, or keynote addresses in which I share my story from reader to writer, and motivate the audience to look at books and literacy in a broader context than just reading a story aloud.

I share personal and professional anecdotes, read from my own and the works of others, and share information about the road to publication.

Biography

I wrote short stories, personal narrative and articles for 20 years before I started writing for children in 2007. My first book MEETING MISS 405 was published in 2008, followed in 2010 by THE BALLAD OF KNUCKLES McGRAW and SILVER RAIN in 2010, BEYOND REPAIR in spring 2011. THE WRONG BUS, an early chapter book is scheduled for 2011 publication.

Working in a public library for more than thirty years, I have done storytelling, written and performed puppet shows, participated in story theatre and presented reading programs for children aged 2 – 18.

I think of myself as a thief and a liar – but in a good way. I pinch ideas from anywhere I can, and make up all kinds of stuff to create ‘my own’ stories, which I love to pass on to other people who share them any way they like with whoever will listen.

I grew up in England (and still talk a bit ‘funny’ after living in Canada for more than thirty years). Between then and now I lived in Iraq (which is why I love deserts and Arabic music), Paris (which is why I love croissants), and New York (where I went to a lot of folk clubs and learned to love cheesecake).