Spillworthy: Media Kit

SPILLWORTHY Media Kit

About the book:

A Spillworthy is an idea so good, it has to be shared and ten-year-old Ulysses Finch doesn’t let being homeless get in his way. He scrawls his best thoughts on pizza boxes, releases them into the wild, and relishes every response. After moving to Idaho, Ulysses finds Gem Rost’s journal and dives into reading it. She must be a kindred spirit! Or is she?

"There are great messages in this book, the characters are so lovable, it's an entertaining and captivating read, and the twist that happens ... Blew. My. Mind. I really wasn't expecting that." --The Idaho Statesman

"Spillworthy, the self-published gold medalist in the Mature Issues fiction category, not only deals with homelessness and human trafficking, but gives voice to the young victims who rise above their trials through the powerful magic of words. Idaho-based author Johanna Harness proves that reading, writing and communication truly does heal and can save souls -- and books like hers, along with the rest of this year's Moonbeam winners -- can change the world." --Moonbeam Childrens' Book Awards

"Ulysses Finch is a homeless ten year old boy and creator of the "Spillworthy" concept, which is the act of writing one's thoughts and releasing them into the world to be shared by anyone who is willing to read, even if it is left unread, it is the act of release that is of importance here. In this "middle-grade" novel, that's ages 12 upwards to us Brits, Harness not only provides a voice for the usually ignored youth, but she allows the reader to see how beautiful and deeply thought they can be." --The Avrupa Times

Social Media:

Amazon Paperback ISBN: 978-0-9913810-2-9
Ebook ISBN: 978-0-9913810-3-6
Audio Book ASIN: B00RKOATC8
Hardcover ISBN: 978-0-9913810-0-5
Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-0-9913810-1-2

About the Author:

Johanna Harness

B.A., English

B.A., Psychology

M.A., Literature

M.Ed., Education

Ten years experience teaching college English. Fifteen years experience homeschooling, writing, teaching workshops, and puttering around her big, red barn.

Johanna Harness loves exploring the natural world and enjoys trees in particular. She was born and raised in Idaho, where she and her husband went to kindergarten together. She now shares her love of books, science, and history with her kids, sheep, goats, cats, chickens, and guinea pigs (but mostly with her kids).

Workshops:

In Johanna Harness’ middle grade book, SPILLWORTHY, the main characters capture their best thoughts, transfer them to pizza boxes, and tack them up for others to read. In one of her workshops, kids follow a similar path, writing poems and short narratives that capture the essence of their youthful lives and perspectives. Those short pieces are transferred to event-appropriate labels or drawings and the kids decorate the event grounds with their public work. These short writings are called spillworthies. The workshops last one hour, but the experience resonates long after.

In another workshop, students create trading cards for events, including short bits of poetry. The trading cards are signed by event celebrities (anyone from authors to musicians to food truck vendors) and are then traded for festival merchandise or stickers.