Teaching Resources

Writing Prompt. 1.

January 10, 2022

Photo: Darius Baužys, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

It looks like we’ve all got some more indoors time heading our way. I thought I might, over the next few months, share some of the prompts I’ve been giving my students in Creative Writing.

If we gotta hunker, we might as well write.

This month we’ve been writing calligrammes, aka concrete poems. Here’s a charming and quick introduction to Guillaume Apollinaire, who did not invent the concrete poem but most certainly perfected it.

Take a look, for example, at his

Photo: Darius Baužys, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

It looks like we’ve all got some more indoors time heading our way. I thought I might, over the next few months, share some of the prompts I’ve been giving my students in Creative Writing.

If we gotta hunker, we might as well write.

This month we’ve been writing calligrammes, aka concrete poems. Here’s a charming and quick introduction to Guillaume Apollinaire, who did not invent the concrete poem but most certainly perfected it.

Take a look, for example, at his

Easter Eggs : A Reader’s Guide to This is Not a Werewolf Story

December 28, 2020

If you love medieval French literature, you will discover that I have hidden a lot of ‘easter eggs’ in This is Not a Werewolf Story. For example, the names Bisclavret, Raul, Oliver, and Nicolette. Those are the names of my favorite heroes from my favorite medieval epics and romances. I tried to make my characters share a strong personality trait with their medieval namesakes. So Oliver Swift (the dean) is a man who likes to see the truth, just like Olivier in the 12th century Song of Roland. And Nicolette Tern seems nice enough but don’t push her around because You Will Regret It—just like the heroine of the 12th century Aucassin et Nicolette. Bisclavret is not a werewolf in...

If you love medieval French literature, you will discover that I have hidden a lot of ‘easter eggs’ in This is Not a Werewolf Story. For example, the names Bisclavret, Raul, Oliver, and Nicolette. Those are the names of my favorite heroes from my favorite medieval epics and romances. I tried to make my characters share a strong personality trait with their medieval namesakes. So Oliver Swift (the dean) is a man who likes to see the truth, just like Olivier in the 12th century Song of Roland. And Nicolette Tern seems nice enough but don’t push her around because You Will Regret It—just like the heroine of the 12th century Aucassin et Nicolette. Bisclavret is not a werewolf in...

Easter Eggs : A Reader’s Guide to This is Not a Werewolf Story

December 28, 2020

If you love medieval French literature, you will discover that I have hidden a lot of ‘easter eggs’ in This is Not a Werewolf Story. For example, the names Bisclavret, Raul, Oliver, and Nicolette. Those are the names of my favorite heroes from my favorite medieval epics and romances. I tried to make my characters share a strong personality trait with their medieval namesakes. So Oliver Swift (the dean) is a man who likes to see the truth, just like Olivier in the 12th century Song of Roland. And Nicolette Tern seems nice enough but don’t push her around because You Will Regret It—just like the heroine of the 12th century Aucassin et Nicolette. Bisclavret is not a werewolf in...

If you love medieval French literature, you will discover that I have hidden a lot of ‘easter eggs’ in This is Not a Werewolf Story. For example, the names Bisclavret, Raul, Oliver, and Nicolette. Those are the names of my favorite heroes from my favorite medieval epics and romances. I tried to make my characters share a strong personality trait with their medieval namesakes. So Oliver Swift (the dean) is a man who likes to see the truth, just like Olivier in the 12th century Song of Roland. And Nicolette Tern seems nice enough but don’t push her around because You Will Regret It—just like the heroine of the 12th century Aucassin et Nicolette. Bisclavret is not a werewolf in...

A white orca in Puget sound? So rare. So wonderful.

April 18, 2020

These are dark days but this dear Earth we live on gives us one joyous marvel after another.

These are dark days but this dear Earth we live on gives us one joyous marvel after another.

Are you teaching from home? Resources.

March 31, 2020

If you are a parent teaching from home or a teacher teaching online, here is a one-stop post where you can find links to all of the resources I’ve created as companion pieces to This is not a Werewolf Story. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me! I love to exchange messages with readers and I love to see their art. If you are a teacher and are interested in arranging a Zoom meeting with me and your class, I’d love to hear from you.

In the meantime, let’s just remember that we are all the descendants of survivors. It’s hardwired into us. We know what to do. Show up. Do our best. Find the joy...

If you are a parent teaching from home or a teacher teaching online, here is a one-stop post where you can find links to all of the resources I’ve created as companion pieces to This is not a Werewolf Story. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me! I love to exchange messages with readers and I love to see their art. If you are a teacher and are interested in arranging a Zoom meeting with me and your class, I’d love to hear from you.

In the meantime, let’s just remember that we are all the descendants of survivors. It’s hardwired into us. We know what to do. Show up. Do our best. Find the joy...

Are you teaching from home? Resources.

March 31, 2020

If you are a parent teaching from home or a teacher teaching online, here is a one-stop post where you can find links to all of the resources I’ve created as companion pieces to This is not a Werewolf Story. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me! I love to exchange messages with readers and I love to see their art. If you are a teacher and are interested in arranging a Zoom meeting with me and your class, I’d love to hear from you.

In the meantime, let’s just remember that we are all the descendants of survivors. It’s hardwired into us. We know what to do. Show up. Do our best. Find the joy...

If you are a parent teaching from home or a teacher teaching online, here is a one-stop post where you can find links to all of the resources I’ve created as companion pieces to This is not a Werewolf Story. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me! I love to exchange messages with readers and I love to see their art. If you are a teacher and are interested in arranging a Zoom meeting with me and your class, I’d love to hear from you.

In the meantime, let’s just remember that we are all the descendants of survivors. It’s hardwired into us. We know what to do. Show up. Do our best. Find the joy...

Fan Art from the very talented Jane Andrews

September 10, 2018

Isn’t this beautiful? I really can’t get over it. Ms. Jane Andrews was so kind and so generous and took the time to send me a copy of her interpretation of Raul and White Wolf. I love it.

Isn’t this beautiful? I really can’t get over it. Ms. Jane Andrews was so kind and so generous and took the time to send me a copy of her interpretation of Raul and White Wolf. I love it.

$7.99 paperback out next week

July 20, 2017

This is Not a Bad Price. And it comes with a guide for readers. In case you want to ponder a little after you read. Or if you are a teacher and you are tired and would like someone else to think of a question every once in a while that will get more than a yes or a no or a sigh.

Out on 7.25.

Why not pre-order? You can get it at amazon, sure, or you could also get it at my favorite local bookstore, King’s Books. They will ship it to you, wherever you live. And you can feel good about supporting real people (and real cats) just trying to make a dime...

This is Not a Bad Price. And it comes with a guide for readers. In case you want to ponder a little after you read. Or if you are a teacher and you are tired and would like someone else to think of a question every once in a while that will get more than a yes or a no or a sigh.

Out on 7.25.

Why not pre-order? You can get it at amazon, sure, or you could also get it at my favorite local bookstore, King’s Books. They will ship it to you, wherever you live. And you can feel good about supporting real people (and real cats) just trying to make a dime...

$7.99 paperback out next week

July 20, 2017

This is Not a Bad Price. And it comes with a guide for readers. In case you want to ponder a little after you read. Or if you are a teacher and you are tired and would like someone else to think of a question every once in a while that will get more than a yes or a no or a sigh.

Out on 7.25.

Why not pre-order? You can get it at amazon, sure, or you could also get it at my favorite local bookstore, King’s Books. They will ship it to you, wherever you live. And you can feel good about supporting real people (and real cats) just trying to make a dime...

This is Not a Bad Price. And it comes with a guide for readers. In case you want to ponder a little after you read. Or if you are a teacher and you are tired and would like someone else to think of a question every once in a while that will get more than a yes or a no or a sigh.

Out on 7.25.

Why not pre-order? You can get it at amazon, sure, or you could also get it at my favorite local bookstore, King’s Books. They will ship it to you, wherever you live. And you can feel good about supporting real people (and real cats) just trying to make a dime...