For those of you who don't have a copy of the The Magic of A.C. Gilbert you're welcome to download the Readers' Theater script I wrote, based on the book. It is located under the Workshops tab on the home page of this website. I'll be taking it down soon, so don't wait if you'd like it. Of course, books are still available, too. Print copies can be purchased on this site (see Books tab) and e-copes can be purchased online at Amazon or Barnes and Noble sites.

What approach do you like for primary grades? I love the Kid Writing concept for kindergarten (see Kid Writing by Felgus and Cardonick) and Interactive Writing for first grade (see Interactive Writing by McCarrier, Pinnell, and Fountas; and Interactive Writing Strategies by Calabrese). I also like the Great Source materials (traits related), and Vicki Spandel's book: Creating Young Writers.

Where can I get copies of The Magic of A.C. Gilbert? Print copies are available on this website under the Books tab. An electronic version is available at Amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com.

Will you come to our school to work with our staff? Absolutely! I do professional development presentations for staff and author visits (free class set of A.C. included) for students. See the Real Writing flyer in the handouts for more information.

If you have comments and/or questions, please use the comment tab here, or e-mail me directly at realwriting@comcast.net.

Any writing ideas while traveling? Of course! Spending time in the southwest always inspires my interest in Native American history and the plight of the tribes that lived there. It's a history that disturbs me, and I find myself angry over the wrongs that were committed in the name of expansion and nation-building. I know every story has more than one side to it, but the way the tribes were treated by the U.S. government may be the exception to the rule.

Winter visits the Grand Canyon

First, I'd like to offer one of mine that I shared with the students as we created together. This poem was inspired by a recent trip on an airplane.

Perfume

Silently, it sneaks
into my nose,
hides there
then tiptoes
down to my mouth,
where it ties my tongue tightly
and robs my breath.

Despite being highly focused on house-building matters, the writing life continues. Currently, I'm creating a display for the Eugene Public Library that will highlight the A.C. book. Hope to have it set up sometime this week. A Ferris wheel made from a 1960 Erector Set will be part of the display. If you live in the area, drop by the children's section of the library and check it out.

The fear, of course, is that you will somehow "lose" the composing skill if you are not actually composing regularly. Since most of my efforts right now involve selling books as well as doing the final prep work for getting books published, I have not started a new book. To keep composing, though, I have been working on anecdotal narrative about growing up. While I have no plans for these "shorts" there's nothing to say that they won't become something, sometime. In the meantime, doing this work helps to keep me practicing and helping to improve my skills.

A high priority lately has been the construction of a new home. This began in September, and while I am not actually building it myself, I am helping attend to the many, many details that involve such an undertaking. There are many stories involved in this process and, who knows, there's book possibilities as well.

Bottom line: Everything has book possibilities.

Walls on the rise

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

- John Masefield

Off to "the sea" today, well really the bay - Coos Bay - which is adjacent to the sea (Pacific Ocean). I'm headed there to work with the fine teachers of Coos and Curry counties (southwest Oregon). The topic? You guessed it: Nonfiction. Real writing. I'm looking forward to sharing with them and learning from them. And, of course, visiting the sea, which I don't get to often enough.