I grew up in Utah and Arizona and was the eldest of nine children. When I was six years old my parents had eight kids. Myself, age six, a twin boy and girl age four, twin boys, age two and triplet girls who were babies. And then my youngest sister came all by herself when I was eleven. I grew up changing diapers, feeding babies and playing with a lot of siblings. My mother had little time to read to us, but when she was ordered to stay in bed while pregnant with the triplets she read us the book HEIDI. I loved it and it is still about my favorite book. Over summer 2006 I was able to hike in the Swiss Alps and all the magic of the story I felt when I was a tiny child came back to me.
In high school I took a creative writing class and it was then I first learned that I enjoyed writing. I liked making things up. My daughters and siblings will tell you I have always embellished stories and as a writer I get paid for it. It’s fun!
I graduated from college with my first daughter in my arms. From there I went into full time mother mode, having two more children. The eldest had special needs and her life consumed my life. After she died, I continued to volunteer at my other daughters’ schools but I felt empty. A good friend suggested I write about my daughter. So I took a class at UCLA called writing for children and began writing. When we moved from Los Angeles to Virginia it was no longer convenient to take writing classes and I realized the picture book I had started really was a novel. So I applied to the Vermont College MFA program and was able to work with wonderful children’s authors, who taught me how to write novels. Writing has helped me find out who I am beyond a mother.
I think I write for kids and teens because I feel so much kid still left in me. Perhaps being a junior mom for so many years growing up didn’t allow me to explore all the things kid normally do. So now I do it through my writing and it’s very fun and rewarding. My first two novels deal with being the new kid, and since we have moved our children so many times, they have lived in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Iowa, California, Virginia and now New York I have had to see how hard it is for them to start over. This is my way of acknowledging that to them and letting them know how much I admire their courage.
When I am not writing, I love to spend time with my husband shopping at farmers markets, walking in the beautiful wooded park one block from our high rise in Queens, watching movies, and traveling to our favorite two ocean spots, South Beach, Florida in the winter, and the Mount Desert Island area of Maine in the summer. While there—we walk the beaches, kayak, swim in the ocean and watch for dolphins. When my girls come home we play card games, guessing games, and often re-watch our favorite family movies, which include the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice, the Back to the Futures, Ever After, White Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life and all the Charlie Brown holiday specials. My girls and I aren’t really into cooking that much, but we love to make sugar cookies for every holiday—green shamrocks, orange pumpkins, red white and blue flags, and valentine hearts. At Christmas time we get really fancy and have a big gingerbread house making party. Beyond that I read, and listen to books on my MP3 player and enjoy shopping. Oh yes, I like to clean. I know. That’s weird.
Selected Works:
Converting Kate Viking Books
*2008 ALA Best Books
*Kliatt:Editors' Choice
*Books of the Teen Age-NYPL
*CBC Notable Book
I'm willing to travel, have a car, or will take a train. If I have to leave the NYC metro I charge for travel (gas) expenses.
Blurbs:
"I attended Beckie's discussion of her novel Converting Kate at my town library and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Even though I am a published fiction writer, I learned from the follow-up writing exercise she assigned our group. She challenged us by making us write a first draft of a short story and then revise it using strong description for emotional impact. Afterwards, I invited Beckie to lecture to three English classes at Post University, where I teach. Again, she challenged students with an insightful give-and-take discussion of her novel. She also challenged us with another writing exercise--this time writing a paragraph for utmost descriptive impact. Beckie is certainly a seasoned writer and an effective teacher of fiction. She has dozens of writing lessons to impart, all of which have strengthened my own creative writing."
- Nancy Manning, English Professor and attendee of Beckie's discussion and workshops at Post University in Waterbury, Connecticut, in February 2009
"Beckie Weinheimer offered a fascinating author talk for teens and adults at our library, and her writing workshop made imaginative writing easy and fun. It was obvious that Beckie loves to write and would like to pass that passion on to others. She even stayed for a long time after the program to give attendees further writing advice!"
- Marissa Ciullo, Children’s Librarian, Oxford Public Library, CT, about author talk and writing workshop Beckie held in November 2008
"We were pleased to have Beckie Weinheimer conduct a writers’ workshop at the Algona Public Library in Algona, Iowa. The workshop participants appreciated Beckie’s expertise as well as her thoughtful and attentive critique of each individual's work."
- Jet Kofoot, former director, Algona Public Library in Algona, Iowa about a workshop Beckie held in October 2008
"I first met Beckie Weinheimer at a Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Conference in Arlington, VA, where she was a guest speaker. I had scheduled a manuscript critque, my first face to face, and was feeling a little nervous about my work. I quickly came to appreciate Beckie's impressive teaching style. She made me feel very comfortable right from the beginning. She has this wonderful ability to craft her comments in a positive, encouraging manner -- and communicate her ideas in a clear, reassuring voice. I came away refreshed and ready to get to work. It was no surprise later, as I read her YA novel, Converting Kate, that she is truly a gifted writer. Beckie continues to make herself accessible to answer questions - and share her expertise."
- Carol Larese Millward, Writer attending Mid-Atlantic SCBWI Conference in 2008
"Beckie's talk and writing workshop made a huge impact on the participants. She was so open in talking about her book, and the interactive writing workshop was very effective."
- Jane Babbitt, Youth Services Librarian at Rockport Public Library in Rockport, Maine, about a workshop Beckie held in October 2008
"I really enjoy Beckie's writer workshops because she manages to be completely encouraging to everyone. Her enthusiasm makes me think maybe I could write! She has done workshops for mixed ages, middle school to adult, with great success at our library in Southwest Harbor, Maine. I'm really glad I know her!"
- Susan Plimpton Children's Librarian at Southwest Harbor Library in Maine about workshops Beckie held there in July 2007 and October 2008
"The best and most useful writer workshop I have ever attended. Not only was the event itself packed with insightful information and probing activities, but an active, mutually enthusiastic correspondence with Beckie thereafter--including her painstaking and thorough review of my novel-length manuscript--has profoundly influenced my writing and my self image as a writer."
-Andy Golay, attendee at a workshop at Copper Queen Library in Bisbee Arizona, workshop in November 2007
Program Info
Program Descriptions:
Book signings
Radio/Television Interviews
Author Panels
Author Talk
Writer Workshop
Fun Quizzes
Prizes
Interactive
Flexible for small groups/ large groups
10 year olds to 99!
Program Pricing:
I only charge travel expenses for libraries, or for one session at a school. For a full day at a school I have a sliding scale and can negotiate. For writer conferences I will take what is offered.
Special Features:
MFA in Writing from Vermont College
I love the writer workshop experience and normally do a half hour author talk with fun quizzes and prizes followed by a writer's workshop where the participants learn the four S's of writing. Sensory detail, Specific detail, Similes or metaphors, and most important SHOW don't TELL. Each participant should come out of the workshop with a short piece of writing they can be proud of.
Audience Levels:
High School; Adult
Contact Info
Contact Email:
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Contact Address:
11624Grosvenor Lane #11C
Home City:
Richmond Hill
Home State:
New York
Contact Phone:
917 4357591
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