4. Index
Part One page 5
How To Travel Through Time page 6
Reflection page 7
Disappear page 8
Reflection page 9
Green Eyes page 10
Reflection page 11
Scene from a Short Story page 12-13
Reflection page 14
Not a Girl page 15
Reflection page 16
Part Two page 17
Comments to Classmates page 18
Comments from Classmates page 19-20
Philosophy of Children‟s Literature page 21
Part Three page 22
Author‟s Note page 23
Biography page 24
Blurbs page 25
6. How to Travel Through Time
Bubble gum scented Bonne Bell lip gloss
Travel back to grade school
Passing notes with my BFF
Giggle and caffeine fueled sleepovers.
Embrace the ambiguous scent of CK One
Back in high school
Kissing in the back seat of a car
Planning for prom night.
Spritz the fragrance of Estee Lauder Beautiful
Transported to your wedding day
Relive his first look
Your first moment as a wife.
Enveloped in the scent of lavender
Hear the first cry of your daughter
See her angelic newborn face for the first time
Breathe in motherhood.
7. „How To‟ Poem Reflection:
I find that scent is the most primal of the senses. If I smell a scent I have not smelled in
years it will take me back to the last time I experienced it. I recently did smell Calvin
Klein‟s Obsession again after many years and it was like time travel taking me back to
middle school, when I wore the fragrance. The memories come pouring in, and it is all
triggered by a smell. It got me thinking about the important moments in a woman‟s life
and the fragrances that might accompany those moments. It is the closest thing to time
travel we have.
8. Disappear
I throw myself down on the bed in my tiny prison cell of a room
It is dark and I have disappeared
Except that the pain is always there
I want to run away
Cease to be
Where could I go where I would no longer have to be me?
9. Character Poem Reflection:
This poem was inspired by my teenage years and the depression that I fell into during that
time. As writers we need to be authentic and access the truth of the human experience;
some of the most raw, emotional times of my life were during my depression. I have
some journals that I kept from that time period and reading them is unnerving to this day
because the desperation is so close to the surface. I accessed these feelings and memories
for this poem.
10. Green Eyes
Hypnotic green eyes gaze at me
Wet pink nose rubs my arm
Whiskers tickle my face
Silky fur cradle against me
Little paws knead against my tummy
Mysterious engine rumbles to life
Little head rubs against my face
My shoulders loosen
The crease in my forehead smooth‟s out
I sigh
11. Cat Poem Reflection:
I was feeling a complete lack of inspiration when I wrote this poem. I was reflecting on
the advice to write about the everyday; the experiences that we take for granted. I had
my cat on my lap so I took the time to really observe and soak in the moment. It got me
thinking about what a miracle something as simple as a snuggle with a cat is and the
soothing effect it had on my body. Poetry is around us all the time but the secret is taking
the time to appreciate it.
12. Katie watched the raindrops slide down the window pane one by one. It was a gray,
miserable day, the air felt heavy with moisture. Katie had no idea how long she had been
sitting at the window staring into the distance; it could have been minutes or hours. She
was waiting, waiting for something, anything, to happen.
Her Mom and Dad were driving her sister, Ainsley to college for the semester. She had
been left at her Aunt Morgan‟s house to stay out of trouble and not interfere with her
perfect sister‟s first day at her new school. Aunt Morgan‟s house was an enormous
Victorian with three stories of innumerable rooms and hideaways. The doors were always
shut and locked; the house seemed to hold many ominous secrets. The house had a sense
of foreboding about it; it smelled of must and peppermint. Katie could never see into the
corners of the rooms as her Aunt always had the curtains pulled closed. The lights were
dim. Katie did not enjoy visiting her Aunt because there was nothing to do and her Aunt
was always busy.
Today, Aunt Morgan had gone out on one of her many mysterious errands and left Katie
to fend for herself. Before she left she had told Katie to stay in the parlour and not go
wandering; the rest of the rooms were off limits and she was to behave herself. Katie had
meant to obey, but she was bored and there were three floors of house to explore. Her
Aunt would never know.
Katie was familiar with the first floor of the house from her many visits with her Aunt, so
she decided to venture to the second floor. She slowly crept towards the staircase and,
with trepidation, ascended the staircase. The second floor hallway was dark, dusty, dimly
lit and absolutely silent. The floor boards creaked as she made her way slowly down the
hallway. She went to the first door that she came to across from the landing, she reached
out her hand to open the large ornate door—it was locked! She went from door to door
and soon discovered that they were all locked. A feeling of frustration and
disappointment rushed through Katie; so much for some exploration and
discovery. Maybe the third floor would be better.
She made her way up to the third floor. It looked identical to the second. She tried the
first door she came across only to discover it was locked as well. She saw some light
coming through the key hole and bent down to look through. The room was filled with
lavish furniture that would look fitting at a museum, a chandelier hanging from the
ceiling, antique collectables on every surface and tapestries on the walls. Clearly there is
more to her Aunt than what appeared. Katie longed to go in this room and touch all of the
beautiful objects she could barely see through the keyhole.
13. Katie was about to head back downstairs to wait for her family to return, when she heard
a faint scratching sound coming from the last door at the end of the hall. Nervously, she
walks down the dingy hallway to the door and places her hand on the crystal door
knob. Not expecting success, she turns the knob, and the door opened.
The room on the other side of the door was quite unlike the room she viewed through the
key hole. It was very plain and basic; it had a cot, a night stand, a dresser and a bare bulb
light hanging from the ceiling. The walls were painted dull beige gray in contrast to the
lavish wall hangings in the other room. Katie sighed and was about to dismiss the room
when she noticed a movement out of the corner of her eye on the dresser. Aunt Morgan
did not have any pets, so what could it be? Katie walked to the dresser to investigate and
saw the movement again behind the dresser, this time she also catches a hint of
shimmer. Clearly it is not a mouse or a rat. She sees a glimpse of the mysterious
movement disappearing behind a hole in the baseboard. Katie is astounded: what had she
just witnessed? This day was proving to be interesting after all. Katie put her fingers into
the hole in the baseboard and began to pull; the wood was dry and rotting so she was able
to it back completely. She had torn off a nice section when suddenly from behind her, her
Aunt Morgan said, “And what exactly do you think you‟re doing?”
14. Scene from a Fictional Story Reflection:
The story about Katie was one that had been sitting with me for a while, kind of floating
around in my consciousness. I had been freewriting some ideas about her character and
her story. I see this story being an easy reader but it has to fester in my brain for a while
longer yet. I don‟t know where it is going, the ideas are still brewing. Katie is a character
who talks to me and tells me her story but it is not yet developed enough to work into a
full novel.
15. Not a Girl
Dreams of secret sharing fade
There will be no best friend across the hall
You are not a girl
Hopes of sisterhood are dashed
No days of girlhood bonding
You are not a girl
So sure my parents would not disappoint me
One brother too many and it's clear
You are not a girl.
16. Not a Girl Poem:
This poem was inspired by the assignment to write about a childhood disappointment. I
truly had a happy childhood but I was disappointed not to have a sister. At a certain age,
I was convinced that they key to my happiness was a sister. When my Mom was
pregnant with my younger brother, we did not find out the gender of the baby until he
was born, so I had a lot of time to stew… Scott or Sarah? As an adult, I can certainly see
the perks of being the only girl but at the time having two brothers seemed like the
cruelest blow fate could through my way.
18. Comment to: Kelly White Lesson: 5Workshop: 3
Your poem evoked the images of going back to school. I think the fourth stanza was
particularly effective because of the use of the senses and the sense of urgency that the
first day of school creates. Due to the fact that there are so many emotions on the first
day of school I would enjoy the use of more the senses in the poem: How are they
feeling? Are there sweaty palms? Are they excited or dreading the first day? It is a
universal experience so it is a great topic for a story or poem.
Reflection:
My observations were helpful because they encouraged the author to make her poem
more visual, to use more verbs in her piece and to play up the drama in her poem. The
poem is written for children so the piece should play on emotions and experiences that
they can relate to. The very things that I recommend to a classmate are considerations for
my own work. I have to remember to include nouns and verbs in my own work instead
of the extraneous adjectives, adverbs and qualifiers. As I reflect on my peers work, I pick
up tips for my own work.
Comment to: Linda Neville Lesson: 4 Workshop: 3
You are writing about making the perfect donut that takes years to perfect. I found your
piece really interesting because it is so descriptive and takes the reader on a journey
through the process; from waking up in the morning despite wanting to sleep in, to
opening the door to the familiarity of the shop you have visited your whole life to the
satisfaction of creating the perfect donut. I could have used even more description
because I was trying to go step by step along with you and some of the terms were
foreign and I was unable to get a visual. I am not familiar with a proof-box and I am not
sure what 'little square openings' you were referring to. I have to say that I could almost
smell the donuts!
Reflection:
This critique was helpful because it showed the author where someone unfamiliar with
her work would not be able to follow her piece. The author knows what they are talking
about but it takes a peer to read through your draft and point out holes or areas where
further explanations are required for your reader. This was beneficial to me because it
made me realize how important a second, or third, opinion is for your draft. Peers can
tighten your plot, suggest character improvements, point out areas that are lacking or
don‟t make sense; it is invaluable.
19. Comment from: Linda Neville Class: 5Workshop: 3
I can see your character in "the tiny prison cell of a room". It is a moment of deep internal
conflict. this person doesn't wish to be him/her anymore. There is a feeling of being
trapped with no way out, no escape. They cannot resolve their problem because they have
to be who they are. We don't know what has caused this self-loathing but it is painful.
The idea of running away and ceasing to be suggests ending a life. Looking in a mirror
and facing our true selves and what we are capable of is difficult.
I don't get a sense of how old this person is perhaps some specific object could steer us or
give us a clue.
I really like the last line, it ties everything together well.
Reflection:
I found this critique helpful because it gave me the viewpoint of the reader. The author
can never really know how the reader will interpret their work unless she asks so it was
interesting to discover how a reader interprets this poem. It was helpful to learn that the
reader did not have a sense of the age of the character in the poem. I was pleased to see
that the overall theme and tone of the poem got across to the reader.
Comment from: Cheyenna Eversoll Duggan Lesson: 7 Workshop: 3
How mysterious! This story of a girl, bored and lonely at her Aunt's house, seems like it
will be a fantasy story? Very nice start. Your setting is strong and Katie seems well
developed. You did say "Katie" a lot though. Could you find other ways to refer to her in
the story. Also, this paragraph:
Her Mom and Dad were driving her sister, Ainsley to college for the semester. She had
been left at her Aunt Morgan’s house to stay out of trouble and not interfere with her
perfect sister’s first day at her new school. Aunt Morgan’s house was an enormous
Victorian with three stories of innumerable rooms and hideaways. The doors were
always shut and locked; the house held many secrets and was dark and creepy. The house
had a sense of foreboding about it; it smelled of must and peppermint. Katie could never
see into the corners of the rooms as her Aunt always had the curtains pulled closed. The
lights were dim. Katie did not enjoy visiting her Aunt because there was nothing to do
and her Aunt was always busy.
20. seemed like a lot of exposition to me. Could some of this be revealed later so it doesn't
interrupt the flow? I enjoyed reading this! Will it be a short story or a novel?
Reflection:
This critique was beneficial to me because it made an observation that is true; I should
have saved some of this information for later. I revealed too much too soon. It is
important to remember to show and not tell; I think I have a tendency to tell and not
show. I have to slow done and enjoy the ride as a writer. If I were to develop this story
into any easy reader I would need to map it out and decide when to reveal what. I was at
the „get it down on paper‟ stage and it was flowing like crazy. That is what the second,
third, fourth, etc. edit are for, I guess.
21. Philosophy of Children‟s Literature
My philosophy on children‟s literature has not changed a great deal during the course, but
it has evolved. I still believe that a good book is a good book and will be enjoyed by all,
regardless of age. I believe that literature should not be „dumbed down‟ for a younger
audience. I believe that young adult and adult titles are inseparable, and that children‟s
literature is a genre on its own. Young adult titles are read by adults and vice versa. It
goes back to the idea that if it is a good book it will be enjoyed by all.
I think that I could see myself writing for an older audience now. I had envisioned
myself writing picture books, yet now I see myself writing easy readers or chapter books.
This change has come about because illustrations are so crucial to the picture book that I
do not believe that the words and pictures can be separated in the authoring process. The
words do not seem to be enough. Picture books are my favourite form of children‟s
literature but the art is integral to the form; I find I cannot write a picture book
independent of illustrations, and the author has no input in the art. The author who does
not illustrate has more control of their world in a novel. This reflects in my work because
my stories and poems tend to geared towards an older audience, and I use a vocabulary
that is not aimed at the preschool set.
Writing children‟s literature has impacted my philosophy of the form, because it gives me
a new appreciation of the complexity and work that goes into each piece. There is an
idea that children‟s literature is not at the level of adult literature. If I ever believed that, I
don‟t anymore. Children‟s literature requires the same amount of thought, dedication and
commitment as adult‟s literature. The quality must be the same; children are intelligent
and know when they are being patronized. The experiences in children‟s stories must be
authentic and children must be able to relate to them. Author‟s must go into their own
experiences and find the inner pain and anguish and paint it on the page for children to
laugh at or commiserate with. It is so much more than I had imagined.
Books give us a slice of humanity that makes living more bearable, funny and emphatic.
Writers have to take all of the possible life experiences and condense them into a few
pages of enlightenment. Quite a task! I think what always motivated me to write is my
passion for reading. If we can create books that make children want to read then we have
been successful. My philosophy of children‟s literature is that books are meant to be read
and a love of literature is the most important gift you can pass on to a child.
23. Author‟s Note
Writing has always been something I have had a love/hate relationship with; I love the
finished result but I hate getting there. Every time I have a writing assignment or a
sudden inspiration to write I have a feeling of dread, a need to escape. The process is
painful and unpleasant. When I have finished a piece I feel accomplished and I am
impressed with myself; it is always worth the strife. Why does writing have to be so
difficult? This course was encouraging because it taught me that other writers experience
the same feelings of incompetence, frustration and, even, depression when going through
the process. I always tell myself that J.K. Rowling was turned down repeatedly before a
publisher accepted Harry Potter. If J. K. Rowling had to deal with rejection, then I guess
so can I.
24. Biography
Kristina Weingartner was born in Hamilton, Ontario where she currently resides with her
fiancé and their three cats. She is an Occasional Teacher for the Halton District School
Board and is finishing up her Master‟s degree in Children‟s Literature. Kristina loves to
travel and take photographs of the scenery. She is an avid reader with a vast collection of
picture books. Kristina will be married during the Spring of 2012 in Santorini, Greece.
25. Blurbs
Kristina Weingartner charms with her endearing tales inspired by her love and passion for
children’s literature. – Casey Scholl, Hamilton, ON.
A writer with a voice that will resonate with children and young adults alike, Kristina
Weingartner’s fun and whimsical tales will be enjoyed for years to come. – Margaret Brown,
Hamilton, ON.
Inspiration comes in the simplest of forms for Ms. Weingartner, from a simple stoke of her cat’s
back to the smell of CK One, her words inspire us to appreciate the uncomplicated. – Scott
Weingartner, Hamilton, ON.
Wow!!! I’m blown away by Kristina’s wonderful poetry. – Janet Conway, Stoney Creek, ON
Kristina takes us on a journey of artistic growth, one I surely hope I will have the privilege of
being a part of in the future. – Stewart Currie, North York, ON
