Elsa Marston
children's author

Some upcoming and recent appearances...


Canterbury School Book Fair and Ivy Tech, Fort Wayne, April 18-19, 2012

Indy Author Fair, Central Library, Indianapolis, October 29, 2011

Presentation, Abdelkader Project Festival, Elkader, Iowa, May 14, 2011

"Writers Rock the Boat" panel, Indiana Library Federation annual conference, Indianapolis, November 16, 2010

Author-in-residence, Tamer Institute for Children's Literature, Ramallah, Palestine, October 28 - November 12, 2010

Talk on children's literature about the Middle East, Indiana Council on Foreign Affairs, October 25, 2010

Workshop on writing for young people, Arab-American Writers conference, Ann Arbor, MI, June 5, 2010

Fiction, young adult
poetry
SONGS OF ANCIENT JOURNEYS: ANIMALS IN ROCK ART
poems inspired by animals depicted in Southwestern rock art
fiction, young-adult
THE UGLY GODDESS
a tale from ancient Egypt
nonfiction
WOMEN IN THE MIDDLE EAST: TRADITION AND CHANGE co-authored with Ramsay M. Harik
a look at the variety of women's lives in the Middle East and North Africa
history
stories in Y-A collections
"Lines of Scrimmage"
in FIRST CROSSING AND OTHER STORIES OF IMMIGRANT TEENS
"Scenes in a Roman Theatre"
in MEMORIES OF SUN: STORIES OF AFRICA AND AMERICA (2004)
"The Olive Grove"
in SOUL SEARCHING: THIRTEEN STORIES ABOUT FAITH AND BELIEF

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What about visits to schools and libraries?


I love to meet young people and to look for ways we can connect. I hope my books and stories will entertain young readers, open their eyes to "something new," and maybe help them understand both themselves and the world a little better. If I can also help them have an idea of what goes into the creation of a book--not just "how you get it published," but the patience and determination needed--that's great!

Since I write for all ages except the very young, I can give presentations from first grade through high school, as well as talks and instructional workshops about writing, for adults. Wherever possible, I tailor my topics to fit curriculum or other special interests. For instance, I can speak on many topics about ancient Egypt, a perennial favorite with kids; and for social studies units about the Middle East or gender studies, I can discuss the status of women in the Arab/​Muslim world. Another subject I like to talk about is American archaeology--such as the Moundbuilders, Mesa Verde, and southwestern rock art.

I have spoken to schools and libraries in several states--Indiana, Massachusetts, California, Minnesota, Illinois, Texas, Iowa, Louisiana, Rhode Island--and overseas: Germany, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, and Palestine.

Interested in a possible visit to your school or library? I am now represented by Jean Dayton of Dayton Bookings. Contact information (also on the Links page) is: www.daytonbookings.com, phone 812-824-5017.

My new publicist is Kirsten Cappy, who is imaginative and experienced in promoting multicultural literature, including books about the Middle East. Her website is www.curiouscity.net, and she can be reached at kirsten@​curiouscity.net, or 207-699-2755.

Some suggestions for talks I can give...


What's it like to be a writer?
--How I got started, and why I write for children
--Where my ideas come from
--Highlights and low points

Hatching a Plot (can be done interactively)
--What makes a story sparkle
--Targets and pitfalls
--How to get it right the first time (!)

Imagination: what it really means
--Monsters and mermaids, and...
--Every child's right
--How it can change you--and the world

Mummies and More!
--Life and death in ancient Egypt
--What the ancient Egyptians believed
--Strange tales from the search for ancient Egypt

Veils and Hi-Tech: Women in the Middle East today
--Survey of what women's lives are really like
--Why women "veil"
--What the rise of religious fervor means for women

Writing nonfiction
--How it can be as exciting as a story
--Twists and turns of research
--Where my books have taken me

Children's literature about the Middle East
--A lot more than The Arabian Nights!
--What do we need to know?
--How stories can open windows on the world