TM: Dr. Gloria Houston (Students)

Transcript: Charlotte Crew: I would like to welcome Dr. Gloria Houston. She is the author of: But no candy, Littlejim, Littlejim's Gift: an Appalachian Christmas Story, Littlejim's Dreams, Mountain Valor, My Great-aunt Arizona, The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree, and Bright Freedom's Song: a Story of the Underground Railroad. What a list of books... Welcome to the Teachers Connect Town Meeting... Did I leave any books out? Gloria Houston@WCU: Only my first book is missing. It was written to help my adopted daughters to deal with their birthmother's death. It is called My Brother Joey Died. Charlotte Crew: You can also see we love reading! Beach Bunch: And we read Arizona again at breakfast this morning. It goes well with scrambled eggs and cheese :-) Gloria Houston@WCU: BB. I think Arizona would have loved to have you read the book about her with your scrambled eggs. She was real, or I assume you knew that.
	Gloria Houston@WCU: Hi, everybody! Are there questions you would like to ask me? Creech: Gloria, when did you begin writing and was there someone that influenced you to write? Gloria Houston@WCU: When I was in second grade, my favorite aunt gave me Little Women. It is too difficult for a second grader, but I plowed through it. Then I read it until the covers fell off. Jo was my role model until after my first book was published. I never knew another author until I was published. Charlotte Crew: My daughters LOVE Little Women at the back of this room we have the four dolls... they also have read the book and watched the movie. Gloria Houston@WCU: Charlotte Crew, how neat! You have all the Alcott dolls. Yes, I can see them. Thanks for sharing. Creech: Gloria, of the books that you have written, do you have a favorite one? Gloria Houston@WCU: Creech, I have two favorites. My favorite picture book is My Great Aunt Arizona. My favorite novel is Mountain Valor, a book about Arizona's aunt, who saved her family from starvation during the Civil War by tracking a band of outlaws across the mountains into Tennessee through the snow and taking her family
rjben: I've read most of the information on your homepage...... GREAT job...S... Have you ever done any seminars at NCCAT? Gloria Houston@WCU: Thank you, rjben. I wish I could take credit for my web page, but one of my very talented students did it. I don't have time to master a new set of skills, so I hired her to do it. rjben: Gloria...I read on a page that you do not care for the stereotypes presented about mountain folk... do you feel this is changing any in today's world? Gloria Houston@WCU: rjben, No, I fear they are being perpetuated by the media. Although I am a professor, I am often asked if I live in a log cabin and make quilts!!!
	NCCU: Dr. Houston, at NCCU we also have a class about children's literature as part of our curriculum. Do you have a lot of Education students in your class or more literature students? Gloria Houston@WCU: I teach the children's lit and the adolescent lit on this campus. I have more ed majors in the class, but many literature majors join us each semester. NCCU, are you lit students? NCCU: No, we are mostly ed students. Dr. Houston, what makes you a successful children storybook writer? Gloria Houston@WCU: NCCU. Part of my success is luck, part of it is hard work, and part of it is that I have been blessed with a marvelous heritage from which I draw. NCCU: How would one go about establishing oneself with a publisher? Gloria Houston@WCU: Today's publishing industry is in disarray. The first step is to establish one's self as a writer in periodicals, so a writing record is established. Then get the Writer's Market from the library, find an editor whose company publishes what you are writing, and mail it out. Prepare for rejection. Then mail it out again. You can't get an agent in children's publishing until you are published.
Beach II: How do you play William Matrimmatoe? Gloria Houston@WCU: Beach II, the instructions for William Matrimmatoe are on my web page: http://www.ceap.wcu.edu/Houston/folkgame.html is the web page address, I think. Charlotte Crew: We found the game instructions for the Green Family Folk Game - William Matrimmatoe - thanks providing the information!
	NCCU: What college did you attend? Gloria Houston@WCU: My bachelor’s degree is from Appalachian State. My Master's and my Ph. D. are both from the University of South Florida, Tampa. Suzy Q: The bio said you'd be a grandmother twice over...has this happened yet? Gloria Houston@WCU: Suzy Q, My two beautiful granddaughters were born in September. Tampa on 2 September and Atlanta on 7 September. I was frantic! But they are wonderful, beautiful, all the things granddaughters should be!
Creech: Gloria, which one of your stories took the longest to write? Gloria Houston@WCU: I spent ten years working on the research and writing Mountain Valor. However, I taught full time, got a Master's and a Ph. D. during that time as well. Charlotte Crew: We love your book My Great-Aunt Arizona! When we checked it out of the Coulwood Library we found that you had signed the book, "To my Reading Friends at Coulwood Public Library ~ With love, Gloria Houston 1993"... you must have visited. Gloria Houston@WCU: CCrew, I have been in many of your schools through Novello and in individual school visits. I love it that you have Arizona with you there. Creech: Gloria, with your busy schedule at WCU, how often are you able to visit schools and share your books? Gloria Houston@WCU: WCU is very good to me. I teach on Mondays and Tuesdays. Then I am free to write, research, travel and speak. My life is very compartmentalized, but all of it fits together like the pieces of one big puzzle. I have an assistant who runs my calendar and my life. Beach II: We have an autographed copy of My Great Aunt Arizona from the library here in Morehead City. Have you ever been down here? We would love to entertain you and have you present to our school some time. Gloria Houston@WCU: Beach II, I was in Morehead City at a school earlier this year. I would love to return. I enjoyed the place enormously. I want to do a book about Betsy Drowdy, so I would love to return to do some more research too.
	Beach II: Where is Henson Creek? Is it a real place? Gloria Houston@WCU: Henson Creek is a real place. My father grew up there, and Arizona lived there. She is buried in the Houston family cemetery there. If you drive on I 40 West to Marion, take Hwy 221 to 184 to 19E, then turn north, you will find it about four miles north of the intersection. rjben: Gloria..... I saw your home in a pic with the places you write... Do you write some everyday? And what places do you like the most? Gloria Houston@WCU: rjben, no, I don't write on paper every day. I write in my head when I am too busy to put it on paper. Then some days, I write for 20 hours. I probably like my reclining chair in my own living room with a stack of books on each side more than any other place on earth. Other than, anywhere in the mountains of North Carolina. Outside of this place, I love Norway and Salzberg, Austria. When I die, if my soul goes to either place, I will be in heaven. rjben: Gloria.....most tarheels feel as you do about their state....S Beach Bunch: Dr. Houston, I like the idea of writing in your head. Kind of like visiting places through literature. How do you think technology is impacting student writing? Gloria Houston@WCU: I think students are writing more because of technology. Technology also allows them to learn more about the books they read. I think technology only enhances all parts of literature and writing. Beach Bunch: Bravo
Suzy Q: Gloria, Is Ruthie in Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree your mother, and how true is this story? Matt, Jamie & Brend: My favorite book is the Christmas tree story because the character's name is Ruthie - my mother's name. I always have the students read the last page for me every Christmas.
	Shaw Univ.: Do you write to a deadline? Gloria Houston@WCU: Shaw Univ. As the book is nearing a print date, a deadline appears. However, a book is finished before a contract is written. The revisions following that time are the changes demanded by the editor. Matt, Jamie & Brend: Do you always work with the same illustrator? Gloria Houston@WCU: M, J, & B: My editor selects my illustrator. I have done several books with Tom Allen, who has become a good friend. He is the dean of the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Fl Matt, Jamie & Brend: Do you have any input about the pictures after the story has been illustrated? Gloria Houston@WCU: M. J. & B: I often supply photos of real people, places or artifacts from the past because many of my books are historical fiction. NCCU: How long have you been an author? Gloria Houston@WCU: NCCU; I have been an author since I was in third grade. I have been a published author since 1982. There is a difference.
rjben: Gloria... Since I'm a fourth grade teacher... What do you remember most about Arizona's teaching style? Gloria Houston@WCU: rjben, I remember Arizona's student centered classroom, her respect for her students, her love of her students, and her passion for learning, especially geography. I still have my text from her class. I bought it. I have visited every place she told me to visit except Baghdad and Carlsbad Caverns. Matt, Jamie & Brend: Why didn't Arizona choose to travel? I always cry when I read the last paragraph that says she only "goes" in our minds... Gloria Houston@WCU: M, J, & B: Arizona did not have the opportunity nor the funds to travel. For most of her career, she was paid from $5.oo per month to $100. per month as a teacher. She helped others in her family to travel out of those funds, and left me a small amount to help me with college expenses. I have a letter she wrote to me to be read after she died. Matt, Jamie & Brend: I can see why she loved to talk to those of you that traveled then...it was like getting double for her money :-) Charlotte Crew: What year was Arizona born? Gloria Houston@WCU: Charlotte: Arizona was born in 1876. Charlotte Crew: How old was Arizona when her mom died? Gloria Houston@WCU: Charlotte Crew: Arizona was nine years old when her mother died. rjben: Gloria.... could you add the letter to your website...or is it too personal? Gloria Houston@WCU: rjben: It had never occurred to me to publish Arizona's letter. I will give it some thought. Thanks.
	Shaw Univ.: Could you say a word about the importance or value of regional dialect in fiction and in everyday dialogue? Gloria Houston@WCU: Shaw: What a good question! Dialect is devilishly difficult to write without being insulting to the speakers. I try to capture it in the rhythm of speech and in dialectical phrases such as "the old woman was picking her geese" to refer to snow. I think dialects are wonderful. Walt Wolram at NC State is my hero. He writes that dialect is not a disease to be stamped out. It is a treasure to be loved and studied to learn about the histories of the speakers. rjben: Gloria ....I saw a page where you will be involved in a seminar soon.... Is that for students at Western Carolina? Gloria Houston@WCU: rjben: Thanks for asking. I am teaching a two week intensive graduate level course, Teaching Writing and Literature in Culturally Diverse Classrooms, with a cadre of my own students who are teachers. We are broadly defining "cultural diversity to include socioeconomic levels, family organizations, and family activities as well as the usual divisions.
rjben: Gloria... Will you allow online publication of some of your books so students with web access can either read or hear your stories? Gloria Houston@WCU: rjben: I am thinking of putting some of my non-App works that publishers don't seem to want on line. rjben: Gloria.... Your students are very lucky to have you as an instructor.... I'll be looking for your books online for my students... S Creech: Gloria, A website sponsored by the San Diego County Schools called CyberGuides has supplementary, web-delivered units of instruction centered on core works of literature. A CyberGuide has been developed on your book My Great Aunt Arizona. It contains pictures of the mountains and lots of links to websites. http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/aunt/aunttg.html Gloria Houston@WCU: Creech: Yes, I have seen the site. California has been good to my work. The San Diego site is terrific.
	NCCU: I saw that you went to Appalachian State some. That's where my boyfriend goes. He loves it up there. I take it that you love the mountains. He does too as well as my mom. Gloria Houston@WCU: NCCU: I have traveled extensively. In one of my careers, I was a flight attendant. NC is one of the most beautiful places on earth. NCCU: I have to agree with you on that one! I've moved A LOT and this is my favorite place that I've lived so far! Hopefully I won't move any more-at least not out of state. rjben: Gloria... I saw the Delta Photo with you as an attendant... how old were you then? Gloria Houston@WCU: rjben: I was in my 20's and MUCH thinner! Matt, Jamie & Brend: I'll bet your winning smile was the same in your 20's though :-) rjben: Gloria .... Well... I'm no spring chicken.... G...birthday next week...:(
Charlotte Crew: Is But No Candy a true story? How long did take to write this story? Gloria Houston@WCU: Charlotte Crew: You have But No Candy. I love that book, but the art is not very child friendly. My agent is trying to get it re-published with new art. Kids often mention it as their favorite. My mom at 85 years runs the store in it as a bookstore. I am the best selling author there. Of course! Ha. Many schools take field trips there to see the projects and letters, as well as my toys, etc, stored there. Matt, Jamie & Brend: Did you really tap maple trees for syrup in the Mountains of NC? Snow cream is familiar (but not to my nephews in Michigan) but I think of maple syrup with VT. Gloria Houston@WCU: M, J, & B: I have never tapped maple trees, but my father did. Those activities had disappeared by the time I was born. My life in my parents' store was pretty much like life in most places during my childhood. I write about the time of my parents' childhoods and earlier times as in Mountain Valor and Bright Freedom's Song. Charlotte Crew: Do you plan to write any more books? Gloria Houston@WCU: Charlotte: I will spend tomorrow afternoon putting the final touches on a book about Deborah Samson, the first female member of the Armed Forces in the American Revolution. I am working on several at any one time.
	Charlotte Crew: Who are some of your favorite authors? Gloria Houston@WCU: I have many favorites. My big favorite is an adult author from western North Carolina, Sharyn McCrumb! rjben: Gloria... have you ever met Clyde Edgerton? Gloria Houston@WCU: rjben: I have met Edgerton only informally at a gathering of authors. I love his work! rjben: Gloria... I love Edgerton's books... S... Creech: Gloria, Have you had the opportunity to influence someone the way Aunt Arizona obviously influenced you? Gloria Houston@WCU: Creech: I HOPE that I can influence my students, but I will probably never know. We usually don't realize those influences for many years. Creech: I was able to meet a NC author who said that one of her secrets to writing good books was to talk with children and watch what they were picking up to read. Do you have any little secrets? Gloria Houston@WCU: Creech: I really don't have any secrets, except my willingness to revise a picture book 500 times! I draw on my many years of teaching to examine what a kid might like to read.
Beach Bunch: A philosophical question: Why does it seem young children love to read and be read to? But, especially in school, that enthusiasm seems to fade as they get older? What can be done to keep the fire burning? Gloria Houston@WCU: Beach Bunch: Come to my lit class and find out! We teach books to death. We have lost the concept of reading for pleasure, for the experience. Dr. Louise Rosenblatt at NYU says we do not teach students to read aesthetically, for pleasure. The questions at the end of books or chapters, the analyses we subject children to in the classroom is creating a world of little word processors, not readers! This is one of my soapbox issues. Beach Bunch: I am on that same soapbox, Dr. -- Have been for years. Gloria Houston@WCU: Beach Bunch: Keep it up! Someday, we will change attitudes if we keep on presenting the concept of pleasure. IF…we can get away from testing. rjben: Testing pressure is unreal in today's classroom....:( Gloria Houston@WCU: RJBEN: Want to make money in the stock market? Invest in Educational Testing Service!
	Gloria Houston@WCU: All: Would you like a drink of water with me? Beach Bunch: We're about to head to the beach for the rest of the day. We'll need a gallon or two of H2O. Wish it were that good mountain water! Gloria Houston@WCU: Beach Bunch: That is what I am drinking. Cheers! Beach Bunch: Cheers to you and all participants. Glenn, another top-shelf Town Meeting! Charlotte Crew: This has been a wonderful Town Meeting. I thank you Dr. Houston for sharing with us today!
Creech: Gloria, I want to thank you for taking out time to let us learn a little about you. I think that it is important for children to learn more about the authors of their favorite books. Where will be the next place that you will be out signing books? Gloria Houston@WCU: Creech: I am visiting schools for the next few weeks in Tennessee, Florida, New York and Virginia. I will sign in late June in Boone, and I will be at Novello in Charlotte in October.
	rjben: It's been a pleasure to at last meet you.... Thanks, Gloria...S Charlotte Crew: Dr. Houston, any last comments? Gloria Houston@WCU: Thank you so much for visiting with me today. I loved being able to see you as well as to communicate through the screen! Hope to meet you in real time soon. Charlotte Crew: A true pleasure to work with you and Ed. Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to share with folks around the state.