Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Author Ann Snizek and Literacy!




Hi all!
Today, I’d like to do something a little different for my author post of the day. One of my favorite new Authors is Ann Snizek. She has written such wonderful books as:

Tunuftol's Fortress of Light (Tunuftol Book 1)

Secret of the Shielded (Tunuftol Book 2) 

Jewel of the Nirel (Tunuftol Book 3-new)
Cover coming soon!

To Eris - Human (Payton Chronicles Book 1)

My Rambling Anthology of Teasers 

Realynn Dreams


I’m going to give you a quick author profile, the important information she’s trying to get out to people, and then how to contact her and her books.

Here’s the profile:



I grew up in Vermont mostly and now live in Virginia with my family (those still at home).  My husband and I have a blended family of seven kids.  My childhood was spent moving around a lot. (non-military)  About five years ago, we started home-schooling our youngest children.  Now there are only two remaining in home-school.  I have tried to nurture the love of books in our children and now our grandchildren -- always nurturing their imaginations.  Recently, I have become active in our community with literacy, starting a local (and online) creative writing club and volunteer tutoring at the Adult Learning Center.

I struggle with disabilities.  So, have to be careful not to overdo things... I don't always listen to my own advice.  I have a dry, sarcastic and corny sense of humor and always try to look at things optimistically.  (again not always successful)  However, I feel that if I don't give up -- for long -- then things will work out for the best eventually.


Community Literacy Challenge
Most people take literacy for granted.  Words are everywhere. 

Imagine that you wake up one day in a world similar to the one you live in now.  You understand what the people around you are saying, but all the words (the store signs, road signs, magazines, newspapers, advertising posters, etc).  Everywhere around you are strange squiggly marks that you feel like you should understand, but you don't.
A woman comes up to you and asks if you would like to enter a drawing for a new car.  Of course you do! 
“All you have to do is fill out this form,” the woman says as she hands you a clipboard and pen.
When you look down, the paper is covered with more of the strange squiggly marks.  The only one you can identify is: Name.
The woman looks at you and hovers with increasing impatience.  You start to write your name, but for some reason the letters don't look quite right. 
The woman turns to talk to another person that walked over and the two of them whisper between themselves and glance your way with pity on their faces.  All you can do is stand there.

******

This may seem like a scene from the Twilight Zone, but for many American adults it is a nightmare that they live in every day.  You probably don't even notice it.  Most have learned ways to get around it.  They learn how to hide the truth.
Can you blame them.  Would you want to go to a doctor's office and pull out a teething ring to play with while you wait?  Would you want to grab the magazine with the hot new actor on the cover and flip through the pictures only because you have no way of knowing what it says?  Or if you are able to read some, would you want to grab the Cat In The Hat to “proudly read” as you wait?
Everyone learns in their own way.  The majority of the people that can't read or write have never been taught in a manner that they are able to learn.  This doesn't mean that the people are stupid.  I'm sure every one of them could teach you some amazing things that you never knew. 
How many of you writers want to learn how to improve your writing skills?  Don't you wish you could sit down and write a best seller?  I know I do!  That would be amazing. 
Well, I know several ways you can do it.  One of those ways is to volunteer at an adult learning center because when you go back to the basics and have to communicate the process to someone who has never known... it is life changing.  And I don't mean the incredible impact you can have on a student's life, I mean the change in your own. 
Another way you can help is by using your skills to help raise awareness and provide adults with low reading levels with material that they can be proud about reading openly.  You can do this by joining our Creative Writing Club and sending in submissions for one of two books to be published annually by Snow Flower Publishing, Editing & Reviews. 
Don't worry about how well you can write.  If you can read and write at this level - and understand - then you can write better than many of them.  What we need is content.  Everyone has a story.  If you have the desire, you only need to make the choice. 

Write for adults and make a difference one word at a time... 



LINKS:
Snow Flower Publishing, Editing & Reviews: http://annsnizek_indiewriter.wordpress.com/
Snow Flower Publishing: https://www.facebook.com/SnowFlowerPublishing
Creative Writing Club: http://www.facebook.com/groups/383408198406266/
Charlotte Adult Learning Center: http://www.charlotte-learning.org/
And more links:
The Rambling Voices In My Head www.annsnizekauthor.blogspot.com
Snow Flower Publishing, Editing & Reviews: http://annsnizekoftunuftol.wordpress.com/
Charlotte Adult Learning Center: http://www.facebook.com/CharlotteLearning?fref=ts

Thanks all for joining us today and please thank Ann. She’s become a wonderful friend, I’ve read most of her books as she’s a great Author, and she’s a wonderful person. Please check out her literacy information and help out someone who is waiting for you to walk into their lives!

Keep Writing!
Jodie Pierce
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