Welcome To JuliaEbel.com!

 

I did not grow up wanting to be a writer. In fact, I thought writing was hard work. I still think that, but I write anyway because the world is full of wonder to be noticed, people to be remembered, and stories to be heard.

My writing has been filled with serendipity. Family stories and nature provided my first inspirations, but each path I have taken has led me to others. After honing my writing skills for over 20 years, my seven books have come together in recent years. Each of these books is about keeping our stories—not just mine, but yours too. All invite sharing between generations.

My books have been honored with awards that have sometimes surprised me. Read about their awards and some state, national and international reviews here.

Writing poems is one of my loves. I enjoy playing with sounds and rhythms in free verse as I capture nature’s images in words. I often write poems as I walk my dog or explore the woods. Over 50 of my nature poems are published in children’s magazines, including Cricket and Pockets.

I conduct poetry and writing workshops in schools and libraries, and I present programs on keeping stories. Aside from writing, I tutor, and I have taught children’s literature and language classes at Guilford Technical Community College. My home is in Jamestown, North Carolina, with my husband, son, and golden retriever; but a part of my heart is in the North Carolina mountains, where I find inspiration for much of my writing.

  • Out and About with Books

    Creating Mama’s Wreaths with Joann Moretz was a joy as I witnessed family heritage and skill passed through generations. Likewise, sharing my newest book has been a exciting journey.

    I visited libraries, bookstores, and schools in North Carolina’s Piedmont and mountains. I talked alongside wreath-making with a Delta Kappa Gamma chapter in the heart of wreath-making country, and I made wreaths at the Burke County Library, Bethania Mill, and Tom’s Creek Nursery in Farmer. I enjoyed talking about ginseng and calves with knowledgeable 3rd graders at Riverbend Elementary in Clyde, and I was wowed by the poetry of students at Waynesville Middle School and Meadowbrook Academy. At Blue Ridge Books, I learned about “candy roasters.” For the uninitiated, candy roasters are large sweet pumpkins. Look it up on Google!

    Here are some images from a delightful visit with enthusiastic readers at Wilkesboro Elementary. Jack Tales and Mountain Yarns was their favorite of my books.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Check the Events page for dates, details, directions, and a list of events.

    With first efforts to introduce Mama’s Wreaths behind me, I will be focusing on presentations now. I am available for school and library visits and programs for community organizations. Click Programs for more information.

    I am interested in scheduling school-wide author visits with multiple sessions that draw from my writing experience in keeping North Carolina stories in a variety of ways. Also, I can offer a smaller scale visit. I am happy to work with a class or a grade level as well as an entire school.

    Smaller-group sessions have many possibilities:

    • A poetry workshop with a class or grade level
    • A look at NC stories with 4th graders
    • A session on NC mountain folklore (drawing from Jack Tales and Orville Hicks
    • A session on writing stories (and/or poems) from photographs (The Picture Man and Addie Clawson:  Appalachian Mail Carrier a starters)
    • A 4th grade talk on drawing from NC resources, paired with examples from Mama’s Wreaths and Dresses, Dreams and Beadwood Leaves.
    • A look at strong women.  March is Women’s History Month;  Addie Clawson features a noteworthy NC woman–not famous yet such a role model of courage and determination in the face of odds.
    • A discussion on stories that look at anchoring self esteem (Addie Clawson, Mama’s Wreaths, Dresses, Dreams and Beadwood Leaves)

    I can work with schools in providing classroom sets of books at a discount for quantity.  Blair Publishing can provide books as well–until June.  Jack Tales includes a section “For Further Discussion.”  All my books have Study Guides available under the Downloads button on my website. Teachers can incorporate literature, language, writing, social studies, and math–and even a little science–into discussion of my books.

    I’ll be happy to discuss a program interest.