It was my pleasure to have coffee this morning with a local author whom I really admire, N. J. Bennett, the author of the Norma Jean mysteries...and so much more! As N.J. was telling me about her latest projects over at bennett-projects.com/ and I was enchanted to learn more. Norma Jean is a whirlwind of ideas and creativity. I want to tell you about several of her books and projects, but then I want to really point you to a fun item that I think many homeschool families could use to help their budding writers hone the process of novel-writing.
First of all, if you have not seen the Norma Jean Mysteries...you need to take a look at them! Set on the prairies of Canada, the stories follow young Norma Jean and her younger brother Howard as they unravel mysteries - but these mysteries always have a foundation in our too-soon-forgotten history. In the first book, Norma Jean & Howard learn about the Danish resistance during WWII, in the second, they are plunged into the history of the Acadian emigrants to Canada, and in the third, they learn about the thousands of British Home children, sent to Canada to work on farms and in homes. Each of these episodes in history is an intrinsic part of the story of Canada and of our world's history. Each of the mysteries is full of fun, farm-life, and teachable moments. Recommended for grades 3-8, but better yet, for family read-aloud nights!
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BUT...N.J. Bennett is at work on far more. She is developing Reader's Theatre presentations that can be used to present - in an entertaining, fun, informative way - the lives of the Great Heroes of the Faith. I have always been intrigued by church history, and after getting a glimpse of these Reader's Theatre productions, I am even more intrigued! N.J. has provided both a SCRIPT...for a stand-alone event...or all the notes & directions to make a Dinner Theatre production. I think homeschool groups could have SO much fun with this idea! (Or church choirs, or private schools, or...you get the idea!) We all need to learn more of what the lives of Martin and Katie Luther, St. Augustine, John Knox, Gladys Alward, Gregory the Great, and Roger Youderian can teach us.
Finally, the item I want to introduce as a great writer's aid for young writers: Norma Jean has made her story-boarding technique available in a workbook format for young writers. Those oldest of elementary students or middle-school students who love to write, who think they have a novel inside, but aren't quite sure how to...well...get it all set down properly on paper? This workbook may be just the thing to help them take the leap! I love the idea of using this workbook as a resource for a semester - or, dare I say, a year? - of creative writing work. Assignment: Finish the workbook, and finish your novel. Honestly, I suspect there are many young writers who would absolutely jump at the chance to sit one-on-one with an author and learn her process - and this is that opportunity! Take a look!
I was thrilled to spend part of my morning catching up with N.J. Bennett. She is at work on so many great projects right now - always something in the works! I hope you take time to check out her novels, the storyboarding workbook, or her reader's theatre productions! You will be glad you did!
Noli Timere!
Noli Timere!
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