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Greetings!
Just got back from a two-week vacation in Hawaii. I'm already missing the cool sea breeze and the beautiful scenery! At the SCBWI social the other evening, a friend said, "You're positively glowing tonight." I guess that's what I look like when I'm relaxed. No one recently has seen me that way. J Following my own writing rule, I did not give work a second thought on the trip, except for one fun day when we visited Pearl Harbor so I could do a little research and a book signing at their awesome book store. While there, I bought about a dozen books and DVDs on wartime Hawaii in anticipation of Book Five in the Home-Front Heroes Series. I'm putting the finishing touches on Book Four over the next month and hope to have it out by Christmas.
In other big news, I was accepted into the National Speakers Association and am very excited to be attending their annual convention this weekend. To be in a room with many of the top speakers in the country should be extremely informative and inspiring. Taking my speaking to the next level is something I've wanted to do for a while, but the timing had to be right for me and my family. A lot of time and energy goes into moving in new directions, but a lot of excitement goes along with it. I'm immersing myself now in learning all about my new field, as well as keeping up on current projects. I seem to know several people who are transitioning to new stages of their lives right now or pursuing new dreams. If you are one of those people, remember what Christopher Reeve once said, "So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, but then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable."
Did You Know: They are still burying men at the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. They had to have been original crew members of the USS Arizona on Dec. 7, 1941 to qualify to have their cremated remains interned in the ship. There are only a handful of men left who meet that requirement. The ship is still leaking oil, 70 years after it was sunk. The legend says that when all of the original crew are buried with their long-dead crewmates, the ship will stop "crying" its oil tears.
Did You Know: The Pacific Historic Parks Pearl Harbor museum offers schools the chance to video conference with survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor! They also show artifacts to the students and are working on additional programs. To learn more, visit the Pacific Parks Website .
Did You Know: This year marks the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. In honor of the event, Pacific Historic Parks hopes to reach 7,000 members. Membership fees provide a donation to help support the amazing national parks associated with the Pacific region, including locations in Guam, Saipan and Pearl Harbor. Click here to join.
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Readers
and Writers
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Readers
My Books Are Now On E-Books!
All five of my books are now available on Kindle and Nook and for download on computers and other types of readers. I'm super excited to be part of the fastest growing book market in the country! Watch for some of my individual short stories soon.
New Merchandise
From TFC
Click Here to see our new t-shirts, posters, notecards and more!
Look Who I Met
Here's me with three of my good friends, Laura Resau, Todd Mitchell and Amy Ryan. All three were finalists for the Colorado Book Award this year in the Young Adult category. Todd's book, The Secret to Lying, won the award! Laura Resau's nominated book is The Ruby Notebook and Amy's is Zen and Xander Undone. Check them out! They are all great books. |
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Writers
That Book Inside You
My Most Popular Workshop
Saturday, Aug 6
It all starts with an idea--a middle-of-the-night brainstorm or a concept that's been building--and you know you've got a book inside you. But how do you begin?
Click here for more information on this popular, one-day workshop and to sign up.
Teresa's Quote of the Month
"Write for your reader, not for yourself"
This is something I tell my clients all the time. It's easy for us writers to become enamored of our own writing. We add in extra descriptions just because we enjoy stringing together poetic adjectives. We include lines of dialogue that don't move the story forward because we think they are witty or we've come to enjoy the sound of our characters' voices. We include plot devices that don't fit the story because we think they are clever. Click Here to read more. |
Send Me Your Writing Questions:
And I'll do my best to answer them in this column. Your questions can be on the craft of writing or the business of publishing or the challenges of marketing or anything in between. I'm eager to hear your questions!
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Educators
and Students
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Educators
Matching Funds for School Visits
My education director and I will be working hard this summer to bring new products and services to teachers. Watch for new curriculum that meets Colorado Standards and a new School Visit program that will benefit your whole school. We'll be sending information to teachers at the beginning of August. We have once again partnered with some amazing people to provide matching funds for my visits. The first schools to respond will benefit, so contact us soon! We look forward to working with you in the fall!! School Kit News 
Summer is a perfect time to get on our waiting list to receive a free classroom set of Home-Front Heroes books and curriculum. If you know of someone who would like to sponsor a kit for your classroom or you think your PTA might be interested in helping you out, direct them to this link for more information on this innovative program!
Play 1940s Today
Despite the limitations of rationing, some toys we know today were created in the 1940s! Games like Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land, Monopoly, Sorry, and Scrabble were all around at that time. People were looking for simple, inexpensive fun.
Teachers: a great way to introduce students to each other is to play a game. Using these 1940s games is a fun way to intorudce history. Another option is a multi-grade pair-up! Match up three, 4th to 5th grade students with three primary grade students to play one of these vintage games.
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Students
Back to School Challenge
People in the 1940s had to deal with rationing because of scarcity of materials and products. They took "recycling and repurposing" very seriously. Nothing went to waste; nothing useable was ever thrown out.
CHALLENGE: Recycle your school supplies.
With school just a few weeks away, school supplies are on our minds. Get out your supplies from last year and see what you have left that is still in good shape. Instead of buying new items, find clever ways to recylce the old ones! If it isn't on your school supply list, donate it to a sibling, friend or a neighborhood school. Don't throw it out! You'll be surprised how easy it is to make old things look new!
Potato Floddies
Potato floddies are 1940s junk food! Use them when only something quick, tasty, and a little greasy will fill the void. Click Here for the recipie. |
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News
and Events
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News
Book Signing in Paradise 
Okay, can you think of a prettier place to sign books than Hawaii? Here I am at the Pacific Historic Parks bookstore at Pearl Harbor meeting people from all over the world and looking out at the harbor itself. The morning light in Hawaii brings out the greens and blues of the palm trees and the ocean. If I were a morning person, which I most definitely am not, I'd get up early there every day.
Women of Vision Gala
I'm pictured here with Betty Aragon-Mitotes of the Museum de las Tres Colonias and Lori Heutzenroeder of North Beach Dental. I nominated each of them for the 2011 Women of Vision awards for the amazing work they do in the Northern Colorado Community. Turns out they were both chosen as winners, and Betty was given a special Woman of Inspiration Award as well. I was THRILLED for both of them! |
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Catch Me At:
The National Speakers Association Annual Convention
Anaheim, Calif.
July 30- Aug.3
That Book Inside You Workshop
Fort Collins, CO
Aug. 6
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Sponsor Opportunities
Contact me to find out how you can team with Teresa Funke & Company and our partner organizations to help improve literacy, education, and the arts in 2011. Our programs bring new solutions to old problems.
Programs like:
The Read A Hero Literacy Program
The Do Your Part School Kit Program
The Teresa Funke Author Visit Program
The Great Book Giveaway
The Teresa Funke & Company Arts Appreciation Program
And more . . .
If you are looking for ways to benefit your community and get good exposure for your group or business, I'd be happy to send you our Partnership Opportunities packet. Join us in making the things that matter, matter.
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Contact Us
Teresa Funke & Company
116 W Harvard, Suite 1
Fort Collins, Colorado 80525 |
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Teresa Funke & Company provides books, programs, and resources to Readers, Writers, Teachers, and Students. Teresa is a Speaker, Presenter, Writer's Coach and author of five books based on true stories from World War II. For more information please visit www.teresafunke.com
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