MEA's Potpourri of Presentations & More

Presenting Family History Writing Workshops

2011-01-13T19:20:00.000-08:00

What fun I've had recently, teaching family history workshops at Mansfield's Books & More. People need to save their family stories for future generations. I enjoy reading about my ancestors and their lives in letters and story.

"Mom, you must write down the stories of your life," my daughter said.

This got me thinking about teaching others how to do it, whether they want to be publicly published or write simply for family reading. I'm also planning on doing some online classes. I'd like to develop a workshop I can teach to groups via Skype or ooVoo.

Any suggestions? Or interest?

Should I Give a Living History Presentation?

2010-04-19T09:43:00.001-07:00

"You should do something like that, Mary." "I can see you doing that."

Two people immediately told me this, after we'd watched a living history presention of poet Emily Dickinson at the Pease Public Library.

They didn't say who my character should be...whether someone from my writing or a person from NH history, a topic I write and blog about.

I had attended the presentation because the idea of a living history program intrigued me. Also, a friend is considering doing this with a little known NH historical personage she's discovered. I met her at this program, and we enjoyed it together.

So...I'm contemplating how I might incorporate living history or living character presentations into my writing activities. This would be fun to do at schools, especially those who are studying NH history, since one of my popular stories concerns Sarah Jane, a pioneer girl living in this state.

Also, I give presentations about my great, great uncle - William "Buffalo Bill" Mathewson of Kansas and Oklahoma Territories in the 1800s. Perhaps I could be his wife, Aunt Lizzie, who accompanied him on some of his adventures and helped him run a trading post on the Santa Fe Trail.

Ah! The many possibilities!

Developing Poetry Writing & Appreciation Workshops

2010-01-17T07:48:00.000-08:00

Do it now! Do it now! Don't delay!

These words ran through my mind after reading Shai Coggins' description of her new blogging network, Kidoosh, for which I write two blogs (Family Foods and Writing for Children) as well as co-author another, Reading Children's Books. Shai said she didn't consider her network as complete as she'd like, and it needed some design changes.

However, if she kept putting off the launch until everything was perfect, she might never introduce it and her bloggers to the world.

So....I decided I'd better start putting together my book of poetry and my workshops. I've been teaching poetry in many of the classes when substitute teaching and enjoying it as much as the youngsters. I've developed lesson plans that children and adults can use.

Today, I began writing the outline for my workshops, which can be adjusted for each audience.
Onward I go!

(Image: sxc.hu)

Mary Emma Allen's Children's Anthology Reviewed

2009-12-30T17:30:00.000-08:00

It's so exciting when an author discovers a glowing review to a book, a review they hadn't known about. This morning, while searching the Internet for other material, I discovered the review of my children's anthology, Tales of Adventure & Discovery at BookReview.com.

The reviewer seemed to grasp what I was trying to accomplish with my book and "hit the nail on its head:"

The stories are from the heart and home, reflecting an understanding of children and childhood in a way that reaches out to children and lets them feel connected to the stories.

I also discovered that the book is available on Amazon. A friend said she'd carry it on her site, too.

A Potpourri of Presentations

2009-04-12T19:18:00.000-07:00

I've begun a blog about my work and what I can offer the world.

MEA's Potpourri provides insight into various workshops, classes, and inspirational talks for children and adults I present.

These include:

Writing workshops on various topics
Family history research
Writing your family stories
Scrapbooking your family history
New Hampshire history
Traveling into history