Teaching "Mood in Writing" at Premier Charter High School in Phoenix

I'm thrilled to present workshops for schools that incorporate my novels into their curriculum. So when I was asked to speak at Premier Charter High School in Phoenix, I immediately chose to offer a session on teaching mood. Why? Because the novel they are reading, Ripple Rider: An Anguillan Adventure in Time, blends the dark overtones of island slavery with a modern day perspective, oscillating between two distinct moods. As the characters are forced to deal with the harsh realities of 18th century slavery in the Caribbean, they compensate with sarcasm, wit, and wry humor.

Students in this class were quick to pick up on the changing mood and demonstrated a solid understanding of how authors use words, setting and dialogue to elicit an emotional response from readers. Kudos to teacher Amy Connor Fierros for providing her students with the background to appreciate literary techniques.

It was certainly a pleasure spending time with these amazing students! And thank you for adding "Time Travel Mysteries" to your reading lists!