Blog

  1. Update on Northwoods Monsters Student Writing & Art Project

    June 19, 2016

    As I mentioned in my March 16th post, the middle school students in Sara Breeze’s English classes at the Schoolcraft Learning Community in Bemidji, Minnesota, wrote tall tales based on the Northwood’s Monsters that I included in my lumberjack novel, BLACKWATER BEN. Not only did the students produce some creative tales, but they also illustrated their writing with original art work.

    Here are some samples:

    Copy of River - The Bog WormJPG

     

     

    Copy of Addie - H'loover Begoni(7th)

     

     

     

    Copy of Colter - The NightMare (7th)

     

     

     

     

     

    Schoolcraft Learning Community

    Northwood’s Tall Tales, Art and Writing Project

    http://online.fliphtml5.com/rufb/ywze/#p=1


  2. Young Author’s Conferences

    May 24, 2016

    Though I enjoy visiting schools, and I appear at 50+ middle and elementary schools annually, I have to admit that working with students at Young Author’s Conferences is my favorite thing to do.  It’s a privilege to work with students who have declared an interest in writing and the arts.  In each and every session I can see the excitement in the young author’s thfaces and sense how eager they are to get started.  As a bonus, I often get personal feedback from the kids, who share what a great experience it is for them.

    I was recently at St. Ben’s  College for a YA conference sponsored by Resource Training & Solutions and managed by Sandy Cordie.   A student, who I’ll just call B to maintain his privacy, left a touching note on my desk:

    Dear Mr. Durbin

    Hi, My name is B. I’m from UK. I never really liked reading. When I read THE BROKEN BLADE I got inspired (instantly!). I never thought you would be my teacher!  You inspired me to start writing and drawing. Thank you for being such an inspiration.

    Now your student, B


  3. Northwood’s Monsters, Tall Tales, Art & Writing Project

    March 4, 2016

    The middle school students in Sara Breeze’s English classes at the Schoolcraft Learning Community in Bemidji, Minnesota, wrote tall tales of their own invention based on the Northwood’s Monsters that I included in my lumberjack novel, BLACKWATER BEN. Not only did the students produce some exceptionally creative tales, but they also illustrated their writing with original art work. Follow the link below to view the entire project:

    Schoolcraft Learning Community

    Northwood’s Tall Tales, Art and Writing Project

    http://online.fliphtml5.com/rufb/ywze/#p=1


 
The Broken Blade Wintering The Journal of Sean Sullivan The Journal of Otto Peltonen The Journal of C.J. Jackson Song of Sampo Lake Blackwater Ben The Darkest Evening El Lector The Winter War