Pamela Represents ELA at University of Washington

Puget Sound Writing Project (PSWP) commissioned Pamela Sackett to return again this year (2015) for PSWP summer writing workshop for teens at the University of Washington. Pamela was given open license to perform from any portion of her body of work, according to the course instructor Christina Roux’s objectives of demonstrating diversity in writing forms, the drawing from one’s own self as resource and inspiring students in building their creative composition and public presentation skills. Pamela’s two-part performance prompted students to think and talk about the characters in their written stories as well to think about themselves, central characters in their own life stories. A feeling-full time was had by all.

Update: Pamela was invited to return for the July 2016, 2018 and 2019 sessions at UW, as well. Sessions in 2018 and 2019 were led by course instructor Julie Olsen.

Booing Death Inspires Young Writers

Seattle public school language arts teacher Christina Roux invited Pamela Sackett into her classroom again (see November 2013 below), this time for her 2014 University of Washington Summer Youth Program High School Course under the auspices of Puget Sound Writing Project (PSWP).

Pamela performed excerpts from Booing Death. Some excerpts included performance with Ms. Roux’s talented teacher’s assistant, Julie Olsen, who has an impressive background in theatre and opera. Pamela provided musical interludes between each reading and revisited the classroom a second time to conduct a specially-designed exercise to inspire the students to delve deeper and more courageously into their writing and reflecting process.

The writing program description, in part: “Improve your opportunities in life by learning to write well. Study strategies, habits, and fundamentals of great writers that lead to effective writing.” Sackett’s Booing Death excerpts were a substantial part of the class reader, keeping company with the likes of Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Theodore Roethke, Willaim Faulkner, Mark Twain and Charlotte Bronte, among other notables.

Booing Death Events Go Swimmingly

The first two events promoting Booing Death were blossoming successes. Both were well attended with diverse groups, favoring the presentation with rapt focus and thoughtful questions. Over half those attending purchased books. Here are a few pictures from the first event.

EbayBillboard
Elliott Bay Books Billboard
The crowd gathers at Elliott Bay Books
The crowd gathers at Elliott Bay Books

 

 
Booing Death
The author, Pamela Sackett
The author