MARGARET BLAIR
| Author: 2319 Pinneberg Ave., Rockville, MD 20851; 301-424-4452 E-mail: 4blairshere2@comcast.net |
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| Books: | Fiction, grades 5 and up, Brothers At War (Battle of Antietam), House of Spies (Civil War espionage),The Sand Castle (blockade running, Battle of Fort Fisher). Nonfiction, ages 10 and up: The Roaring 20: The First Cross-Country Air Race for Women (National Geographic), first women aviators' cross-country air race; Coming out in fall, 2008: a National Geographic book on the runaway slaves who fought for the British in the American Revolutionary War. |
| Fee: | $200 for a one-hour presentation in metropolitan Washington DC area; $300 for two back-to-back presentations. |
| Availability: | Grades 5-12; teacher, historical, and other adult groups. |
| Features: |
Lecturer and teacher specializing in Writing Historical Novels for: Smithsonian Associates, The Writer's Center of Bethesda; Writing the Memoir/Personal Essay for Evergreen Society at Johns Hopkins University. Former host and co-producer of cable TV/history interview program, Out of the Past; journalist; Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand; teacher of English in Osaka, Japan.
I can speak on the following subjects:
My talks involve lots of Q and A, and lively discussion. When I discuss my books, I bring in different versions of my cover art, and the Civil War photographs that inspired me. I emphasize the role my now-teenaged sons played in giving me ideas for children's books, and the importance of the pre-writing stage -- the ways in which I brainstorm, research, and outline my plots before I begin writing. |
