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Julie Hartley

Julie Hartley

Julie Hartley is the author of three books. Her first novel for middle grade readers, The Finding Place, was published in September 2016 by Red Deer Press. The novel features as its protagonist an international adoptee, and deals with questions relating to identity, family and cultural dislocation. In 2019 Julie published two further books - a guide for teachers on how to introduce Shakespeare to students, and a collection of poetry entitled Deboning a Dragon. Julie is also a short story writer and playwright. She was the recipient of the Peace Poetry Prize (UK) and her work has been published in literary magazines such as CV2, Event Magazine, Taddle Creek and the Toronto Quarterly.

Julie has had 2 decades of experience as a teacher and as the director of an overnight camp for the arts. She has taught creative writing and drama in schools, colleges, universities and for international conferences and is director of her own creative writing school in Toronto, the Centauri Arts Academy. She has a current police check, which includes vulnerable sector screening, and loves nothing more than meeting with readers in schools.

Julie loves travel, nature and all topics relating to youth development and parenting. She is mom to a teenager adopted from China as a baby, and shares her writing room with a feisty parrot who (tragically) likes to eat books.

City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario

Publications

The Finding Place. Red Deer Press, 2016
Deboning a Dragon. Mansfield Press, 2019
Shakespeare in the Drama Classroon. Theatrefolk, 2019
Links:
Author's Website
http://www.juliehartley.ca
Eligible for National Public Readings Program:
Yes

WITS

Presentation Description

I have many years' experience as a teacher of creative writing, and can probably create a writing workshop to meet the needs of any teacher and class, combining drama and creative writing, too. Here are some possible workshops: please email me to discuss your specific needs.

Reading: The Finding Place
A one-hour session which combines a couple of short readings from my novel, with a brief talk on the process of writing and publishing a novel, and a question-and-answer session. Depending on the size of the group, I can include a writing exercise or something more active - such as a storytelling activity in groups, based on a theme in the novel.

Creative Writing & Drama: Writing a Play!
This one or two hour workshop for groups of up to 30 students includes drama and writing exercises, and collaborative writing/acting projects resulting in short scenes which students can present to one another.

Creative Writing & Drama: Let's Get Inspired!
Where do creative ideas come from? How can you inspire yourself to have great ideas, and what do you do with those terrific ideas once you have them? We'll explore different sources of inspiration such as music, art and poetry, then create written and performance pieces from the ideas we have.

Creative Writing Workshop: Learning to LOVE words!
This 1-2 hour writing workshop for all levels and abilities, we'll write individually, in pairs and in small groups, creating collaborative poetry and learning to respectfully share and critique our ideas. This workshop is all about the power of words!

Please email me for workshop and presentation fees which I always try to keep as affordable as I can.

Presentation Length:
50 minutes-2 hours
Genre:
Fiction, Playwriting, Poetry
Grades:
5-8
Audience Size:
10-100
Workshop Description:

I have many years' experience as a teacher of creative writing, and can probably create a writing workshop to meet the needs of any teacher and class, combining drama and creative writing, too. Here are some possible workshops: please email me to discuss your specific needs.

Reading: The Finding Place
A one-hour session which combines a couple of short readings from my novel, with a brief talk on the process of writing and publishing a novel, and a question-and-answer session. Depending on the size of the group, I can include a writing exercise or something more active - such as a storytelling activity in groups, based on a theme in the novel.

Creative Writing & Drama: Writing a Play!
This one or two hour workshop for groups of up to 30 students includes drama and writing exercises, and collaborative writing/acting projects resulting in short scenes which students can present to one another.

Creative Writing & Drama: Let's Get Inspired!
Where do creative ideas come from? How can you inspire yourself to have great ideas, and what do you do with those terrific ideas once you have them? We'll explore different sources of inspiration such as music, art and poetry, then create written and performance pieces from the ideas we have.

Creative Writing Workshop: Learning to LOVE words!
This 1-2 hour writing workshop for all levels and abilities, we'll write individually, in pairs and in small groups, creating collaborative poetry and learning to respectfully share and critique our ideas. This workshop is all about the power of words!

Please email me for workshop and presentation fees which I always try to keep as affordable as I can.