Date: March 13, 2008

Time: 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. ET

Target Grade Levels: 7-12

How to Participate:

  • Interactive Videoconference Site: Must be a MAGPI member and have H.323 videoconference capabilities. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED and space is limited.
  • Watch the webstream! See instructions on the right. Registration is not required for this option

Description:

Award-winning young adult novelist Lara M. Zeises has a secret: she's also Lola Douglas, author of True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet and its sequel, More Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet. Want to know how (or why!) Lara, a self-proclaimed dork and pop culture junkie, cooked up her mysterious alter-ego? In this presentation, Lara will explain it all to you: how she became a writer; why she sets the books published under her name in Delaware; how Lola came into existence; what's it's like to have one of your books turned into a Lifetime TV movie (True Confessions, which will air in 2008!); and why it's sometimes difficult when your alter-ego leads a more glamorous life than you do!

In addition, Lara will talk about her adventures in blogging, and how being a blogger has helped improve and inform her writing.

Schools will receive a complimentary copy of Contents Under Pressure, courtesy of Random House Children's Books.

Students participating in this event should be familiar with one or more novels by Lara M. Zeises and/or Lola Douglas - preferably Contents Under Pressure (Zeises) and True Confessions of Hollywood Starlet (Douglas). Students will have ample opportunity to ask questions during this fun, engaging and interactive learning experience!

Resources:

Lara Zeises' Website Ever wonder what happens to characters after a book ends? On Lara's web site, you'll find the archived blog of Lucy Doyle, the protagonist of Contents Under Pressure. You'll also find other fun goodies, like soundtracks to each of Lara's novels.

Live Journal One of the first teen novelists to regularly keep a blog, Lara still updates her LiveJournal regularly, writing about everything from her favorite TV shows to her hyperactive schnoodle, Scout.

Lola Douglas' Website Of course Lara's alter-ego, Lola, needs to have her own web site! And it's pink! And sparkly! And highlights the differences between this author's two heads!

Contents Under Pressure Teacher's Guide revised by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer (Word File)

Contents Under Pressure Discussion Guide created by Melissa Rabey (Word File)

Preparing Students:

Prepare your Site Introduction! During the videoconference, each site will have an opportunity to introduce themselves. Introductions must be less than 30 seconds and should include:

  • Your school's name
  • Your location
  • Introduction of the class (i.e. "This is Ms. Smith's 2nd Grade Class)
  • An interesting fact about your school or community

Prepare Questions: Have students come up with questions for Lara/Lolo about her work, her background, how she became a writer, etc. As a class, choose the top 5 questions. Make sure students are prepared to ask these questions as part of the videoconference event. Each school will have a chance to ask at least 2 questions - - but by preparing 5, we can make sure that questions aren't repeated.

Read. Students participating in this event should be familiar with one or more novels by Lara M. Zeises and/or Lola Douglas - preferably Contents Under Pressure (Zeises) and True Confessions of Hollywood Starlet (Douglas). Students will have ample opportunity to ask questions during this fun, engaging and interactive learning experience!

 

 
 

Follow-Up Activities (After the Videoconference!):

Class Reflection: After the videoconference, please craft a CLASS REFLECTION to the videoconference event and post it to the Creative Minds Blog under the blog entry titled: Ellen Dreyer. The reflection might include the following: What did you learn from the videoconference? What surprised you? What questions do you still have? What did you agree with and what did you disagree with? Visit the blog and comment on other classes' reflections!

Optional Follow Up Activities:

  • Have students create their own journaling prompts. Distribute a compiled list of the best ones to the class and give them time at the start of each session (or a set number of sessions) to choose a prompt to which they'll respond. Offer time for sharing at the end.
  • Ask students to create a blog for a character they've encountered this year. Then, as that character, have them craft a set number of blog entries in that character's voice. This can lead to an excellent discussion about style, tone, methods of characterization, etc.


About Contents Under Pressure :

From the author's website: A fresh, honest look at the difficult choices and unexpected joys in a girl's life under pressure.

Lucy Doyle is about to explode. She's sure her name might as well be Loser because she's fourteen and never, ever been kissed. To make matters worse, nearly all of her friends have left her behind for boys. Even Lucy's favorite brother doesn't seem to have time for her anymore. He's just moved home from college with a distant new attitude and a big-haired girlfriend Lucy can't stand. Freshman year is definitely not off to a good start.

So when Lucy attracts the attention of Tobin Scacheri, the junior everyone wants to date, she can barely believe her luck. Tobin's cute and funny, and he might like Lucy as much as she likes him. But Lucy's brother has a secret that will turn her already mixed-up world completely upside down. Now, Lucy must figure out how far she's willing to take her relationship with Tobin - and how to deal with a brother who's not as perfect as she thought.


About True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet :

From the author's website: Teen star Morgan Carter's mom is trying to kill her. At least, that's what Morgan thinks when she's sent to Ft. Wayne, Indiana after a near overdose outside LA's Viper Room.

Morgan's going to recover out of the spotlight. Way out. She's given a major make-under, a new name, and a completely different identity. Morgan's plan? To write a tell-all book about her experience and stage a comeback. But when this LA girl finds love and a new life in Middle America, will she abandon it for another shot at superstardom?



Program Partners:

Random House Children's Books
University of Delaware
Penguin Young Readers Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
     
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