Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Australia--The Stolen Generation


HOOK KIDS on READING

NOW FOLLOWS a Revamped PATH.



BOOK. . . News

WRITING. . .Ideas

MARGOT'S. . . Thoughts

W-H-A-T-E-V-E-R  Grabs My Interest. 

Hold onto your hair, mates,
not even The SHADOW knows! 



**********
 
 
The Stolen Generation:
Australia’s Dark and Tragic Past.

Imagine your child playing in your front yard. As you watch through the window, a van of policemen pulls up. They take your screaming child away. You never see your child again.

And it was all legal. 
Children who were very dark skinned were allowed to stay with their parents, causing many indigenous people to dye their children’s skin dark using the sap of the milkwood tree. However, if a child looked as if he had any white ancestry, he was taken away. Some, if they looked white enough, were adopted by white families. READ MORE
 
As an Aussie myself (now living in the US), I was shocked and disgusted by the actions by my then government. I always knew that Aboriginals, like the American Indians, got a raw deal when the white settlers arrived and took over their land.

This is one reason I wrote Dreamtime Man. I wanted to show how the native Australian people struggled to survive, and how far they have eventually come in claiming their place, their cultural dignity, and their rights.

Final illo and verses from
'Dreamtime Man.'

 
Much time has slid past–many moons full and new,
Since the people of Dreamtime claimed old Uluru.
Tribes now are proud of their history and lore,
Some, willing and eager to claim  even MORE.

Today when they gather ‘round Corroboree fire,
Men dance old Legends while the Spirits inspire.
"Dreamtime" still leads them where white men can't follow,
Where the spirits of old offer hopes for tomorrow.




 The stars here are the Southern Cross--seen only
south of the equator


****************
 

Margot Finke
14x Books for Kids--Skype Author Visits
'Content' Manuscript Critiques



 

Thursday, August 13, 2015

REVAMPED--A SKYPE Challenge for Teachers.


HOOK KIDS on READING

NOW FOLLOWS a Revamped PATH.



BOOK. . . News

WRITING. . .Ideas

MARGOT'S. . . Thoughts

W-H-A-T-E-V-E-R  Grabs My Interest. 

Hold onto your hair, mates,

not even The SHADOW knows! 




**********

The school year is almost upon us.
GET YOUR CLASS READING
With a FREE Skype Author Visit

from ME!



My selection of 14 books were written with the idea of
HOOKING KIDS on READING
Picture books and young teen adventures. 
FUN--MULTICULTURAL--EDUCATIONAL

Here's the Scoop!


*First grade through mid-grade.
*Registered with Education Skype.

*Contact me through the FORM on the right 


As the author of 14 books,
I love gassing up my Magic Carpet of Books, 

and flying into classrooms anywhere there is a SKYPE connection.



I live in the US now, but I grew up in Australia, so some of my books have a Down Under flavor. I Skype globally, depending on how well the time zones mesh.



Many teachers have told me, that after my visit, their classes became much more enthusiastic about reading and writing. Meeting a real life author, and learning how their favorite book came to life, can work marvelous MAGIC!

THE DEAL

I begin by introducing myself, asking about their favorite books, and showing some Australian Aboriginal artifacts. Then a short question time. I then read a story, and chat about how to write stories that HOOK readers. More in-depth details about writing and how books are created, depending on the age of the class, and what the teacher wants me to include. The final Q and A is often the highlight of my visit!



Do email me, and we can chat further about your class needs.
.  CONTACT: mfinke@frontier.com







Margot Finke


Read SAMPLE Chapters and
verses from all my books