School and Library Presentations

I really enjoy visiting schools and Libraries. I love the opportunity to discuss my novels with students.

I do presentations for Senior Kindergarten students - Grade 9 students.

In kindergarten my presentation involves poetry and a short story. We will create a poem together, using a simple pattern. If time is available we will do some Dutch Folk Art.

In the primary grades we will start with ''The Paper Wagon'. We will discuss friendship, co-operation, perseverance, determination and forgiveness. The students will have the opportunity to fold the paper wagon. 'Hero' and 'Daughter of Light' are both historical novels. We will discuss war and the true events that inspired these stories.

In the Junior Grades, I'll do a short reading 'A Light in the Dunes'. I'll show a video about the island of Ameland (the Netherlands), where the story takes place. I will share some of the techniques that have helped me with my writing. How and where I get ideas. How the ideas develop. The editing stages. There will be time for group discussion and questions and Dutch folk Art.

In grades 7-9, I will read from 'A Time to Choose' and 'When the War is Over', the story about the 'Couriers'. For the historical novels I will discuss the Second World War, how I do the research and how the research has influenced my writing. A short video about the war years in Friesland will give the readers some idea of that era in history. I will share with the readers how the ideas develop from scenes and events into a full length novel.

As a teacher, I feel comfortable speaking to groups up to 50 students. The smaller the groups the more the students will gain from the presentation.

I would like four weeks notice in advance to organize times and days and would prefer more than one presentation per day in the same town or school. I am flexible and my fee is negotiable and would have to include travel.

For information and bookings

please e-mail me at: martatte@vianet.on.ca

You can e-mail me directly from the contact page.