Showing posts with label Johanna Harness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Johanna Harness. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Writing Workshop Tomorrow!

Writing with Kids!
June 25th, 10am-noon
Slocum Hall, 2nd floor
Weiser, Idaho

Tomorrow, June 25th, I'll be teaching a writing workshop in Weiser, during the National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest & Festival​.  The workshop will be one of a series of workshops held in Slocum Hall--a wonderful space being renovated for creative workshops and retreats.

We'll be workshopping in the 4-H tradition of learning by doing and the topic is writing with kids. Cost is $10/person or $20/family.  Half will go to Slocum Hall renovations and half will be donated to send 4-H kids to camp this summer.  

The full workshop description: 

Tell It Like You Mean It - Writing Stories with Kids

Techniques for growing a story through local characters, familiar settings and plots so unbelievable they must be true.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Spillworthy Featured in National Press Release!



==========================
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
==========================
Contact: Jim Barnes, Awards Director

Lifelong Reading, from the Womb Onward
MOONBEAM CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD WINNERS FOR ALL AGES

(Traverse City, MI - Oct. 7, 2014)  The Moonbeam Awards program is dedicated to reading at all levels and to children of all nationalities, races and faiths. Now in its eighth year, the contest is known for its diversity and inclusiveness, and this year's medalists range from a book for pregnant mothers to read to their unborn babies, to a young adult novel dealing with homelessness and human trafficking.

The Moonbeam Awards are designed to bring increased recognition to the year's best children's books. The winners are chosen for their commitment to children, literacy and lifelong reading. Judging panels of book reviewers, librarians, teachers, and students chose 166 medalists from over 1,300 entries, and medals will go to books representing 37 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, five Canadian provinces, and Australia, Brazil, Ireland, Japan, Singapore, Scotland and Spain.

See the complete 2014 Moonbeam Awards results here:
http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1862

This year's gold medalist in the Board Book category is Can't Wait to Show You (Preliteracy Partners), and this charming book is not only meant to be read to babies in utero, it's shaped to fit the curve of a mother's pregnant belly! Alas, not everyone receives the gift of reading: My Dad Couldn't Read (See a Book Take a Look) explains how a reading disorder turned into adult illiteracy -- but through tutoring and perseverance father and daughter learned together and earned their high school diplomas together.

Probably the ultimate example of courage and perseverance in this new millennium is the story of Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani girl who in 2012 survived an attempted assassination by the Taliban for speaking out about girls' rights to education. Out in Front (Morgan Reynolds) is author David Aretha's stirring biography of Yousafzai, the "girl who wouldn't be silenced," whose dream is for "every child to go to school," and who someday wants to become the prime minister of Pakistan.

The Religion category gold medalist is another example of girl-power, inspired when author David R. Weiss's daughter asked him to tell her a story about When God Was a Little Girl  (Beaver's Pond Press). He explained how Creation was like one of her art projects, done with joy and love, and even with all the different colors, shapes, and sizes, it looked "just right."

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.

* * * * *

The Moonbeam Awards were created in 2007 by northern Michigan-based book marketing firm Jenkins Group, and the winners represent the best books published for children and young adults during the previous year. Jenkins Group has been involved in book packaging, marketing and distribution since 1988, and the growing influence of their children's and grandchildren's love of books inspired them to launch the Moonbeam Awards and the Traverse City Children’s Book Festival.

Learn more about the Moonbeam Awards at http://www.MoonbeamAwards.com
Learn more about the book festival at http://www.TCChildrensBookFestival.com
For more information about the Moonbeam Awards and the winning books, or to interview their creators, contact Awards Director Jim Barnes at 1-800-644-0133 x 1011 or  jimb@bookpublishing.com.


Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Catch & Release

If you find a tagged book, please leave a comment!

If the book you find isn't here yet, please check back! It will be here soon. :)



In SPILLWORTHY, the main characters release words into the world to be read by others. In that spirit, we're having a Catch & Release Party to celebrate the release of this book into the world.

Starting May 1st, tagged copies of the book will be released into the wild at various places around the world.


Tagged Book #001, Released by Zehra, 

May 2, 2014, Horniman Gardens, London




Number #1 of @johannaharness 's book Spillworthy has been released 
& can be found near the Extreme exhibition in the @hornimanmuseumgardens ! Happy reading!


Tagged Book #002, Released by Linnie, May 11, 2014,

on the train from Groningen to The Hague.




Released on the train from Groningen to The Hague, wagon 9545, first class upstairs.



Tagged Book #003, Released by Mariam, May 2, 2014, Germany



"I gave my copy to my best friend's daughter Connie, 
who is a Middle Grade English teacher, because I think that 
Spillworthy belongs in every school library, and in classrooms."


Book Released by Johanna, May 5, 2014, Florence, Oregon




Copy of Spillworthy released at Periwinkle Station in Florence, Oregon. Ask for it at the counter! 


Tagged Book #005, Released by April, May 11, 2014, Kentucky


My thoughts for my releasable copy of Spillworthy were for a special neighbor.
As for the young neighbor, she is enjoying the novel, 
and looking forward to finishing it and sharing it with friends.


Tagged Book #006, Released by MaryBeth, May 6, 2014, Howell, New Jersey



Book 006 has been released at a Starbucks in Howell, NJ!



Book Released by Ezzie, May 4, 2014, Cambridge, Massachusetts



"SPILLWORTHY by @johannaharness instills hope.  
Released in front of Cambridge City Hall. #homeless #youth"  --Ezzie



Tagged Book #007, Released by James, May 4, 2014, Atlanta, GA



This Spillworthy was released in Atlanta, Georgia. This is at Pinckneyville Sports Park. 

From +James Huskins: "That would be #Spillworthy numbered release 007 :D 
Props to +Johanna Harness  for the spy grooviness !! My name is Worthy, Spillworthy." 

"Look for the MG'ers playing baseball near the flag pole. #Spillworthy007. It won't last long." 




Tagged Book #008, Released by Carla, May 2, 2014, Helena, Montana







Tagged Book #009, Released by Kristina, May 1, 2014, Jamaica


Tagged Book #009
"Your copy is in the possession of our lovely bartender, Amay. 

She started reading it but is giving it to her niece, Janeesa. 

It may never leave the island, but it will be passed to many, many Jamaicans."  ~Kristina



Tagged Book #010, Released by Kristina, May 2, 2014, Atlanta, Georgia



"Due to a change in itineraries, book 10 was released not in Brooklyn, NY, but the Atlanta, GA airport. 
So who knows exactly where Spillworthy #10 will land?"  --Kristina



Tagged Book #011, Released by John, May 5, 2014, Beaverton, Oregon


Spillworthy #11, released to the info kiosk inside Cedar Hills Crossing, in Beaverton, Oregon, near Powell's Bookstore.



Tagged Book #012, Released by Taylor, May 9, 2014, Texas




Spillworthy #12 released in Texas, to Taylor’s favorite teacher, Mrs. Elkins.  Awesome.



Tagged Book #14, Released by Elizabeth, May 5, 2014, Wilmington, North Carolina


Released along the Riverwalk in downtown Wilmington, NC--near the Best Western!



Tagged Book #016, Released by Sara, May 5, 2014, Ithaca, New York




"#16 released into the cultivated wilds of Ithaca, NY. 
After I took this photo, I tucked the book between Virginia Woolf and Annie Proulx."  --Sara 



Tagged Book #017, Released by Angie, May 10, 2014, Reading, PA



Spillworthy #17 has been released! It's at the Goggleworks community art center in Reading, PA.


Tagged Book #018, Released by Linda, May 7, 2014, Rochester, MI



As a participant in the "Catch and Release" project, I released my copy of SPILLWORTHY in the RARA recreational center in Rochester, MI. The Rochester Avon Recreational Authority is a hub of activity for adults, teens and children. The building is home to the main office and the dance studios, and has two rooms with tables for students (and their siblings) to do homework while waiting for dance classes. They are teeming with kids just about every day. While I was taking this photo, there was a young lady watching me with great curiosity, and I have a feeling that, the moment I walked away, she would be checking out the book I left behind. I hope that she, or whoever takes the book home, will log in to Spillworthy.com and report that it's been caught!



Tagged Book #019, Released by Marty, May 6, 2014, Snellville, Georgia



Emory Eastside Medical Center, Snellville, GA.


Tagged Book #21, Released on behalf of Shari, May 11, 2014, Stonehenge, U.K.

At Stonehedge. Spillworthy Released In coffee shop.


Tagged Book #22, Released by Johanna, May 1, 2014, Boise, Idaho





This copy was left by the statue I affectionately call, "The Big Lincoln."

We left it there around 7pm and I tweeted, sent a message on Facebook, and also posted on G+.  

When we returned two hours later, it was gone.

This is so much fun!  Happy reading!


Tagged Book #23, Released by Johanna, May 2, 2014, Bend, Oregon



Today is the first day of the Spillworthy road trip.  

I consulted my twitter followers and we decided Bend, Oregon was the right place.

Book Released by Johanna, May 4, 2014, Newport, Oregon




Book #25 Released by Johanna, May 5, 2014, Newport, Oregon




This book was released at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, Oregon.

The finder of this book checked in on g+.  She will re-release. Yay!


Book #26 Released by Johanna, May 7, 2014, Newport, Oregon



Released copy of #Spillworthy at Yaquina Head Visitor Center. It was gone before I could get this posted. Awesome because a middle grade kid took it to a ranger not even a minute after we'd left the room. I heard the ranger's explanation: "It's a way of sharing books! Kind of like a geocache." Parent and daughter were both happy. Me too.



Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Spillworthy Blog Hop!



During the first ten days of May, individuals will be releasing copies of Spillworthy into the world as part of our Catch and Release.  Look for photos and fun to follow on that page.

For the blog hop, I'll be giving away five Kindle copies of Spillworthy at the end of the week. One lucky winner will also receive a signed ARC and media package, just like the one sent to librarians and book reviewers.

To be entered into the drawing, just comment on any of the following blog posts.  If you'd like to be entered more than once, just comment on more than one blog post.  Winners will be announced on May 11th and we'll party. :)


The Blog Hop


Links will be updated as posts go live on that day.

April 24: 


*Note that I gave away a copy to celebrate my first interview, but anyone who comments before May 10 will still quality for the final drawing.

April 30: 

"Why Do You Think I Got The Chickens?"
Guest post with Buddhapuss Ink

May 1: 


JC Rosen's Girl Meets Words

May 2

May 3:


Angie Capozello's Techtigger's Soapbox

May 4:



May 5: 


May 6:




May 7: 






May 8: 






April Brown: Uncovered Myths
Spillworthy by Johanna Harness (contains spoilers)


May 9: 











Zehra Cranmer: A Life in Writing
"Sally Day"


May 10: 












Shari Risoff: Thinking Out Loud
"Spilling About Spillworthy"