WRITING BACKGROUND:

Best-selling author of over 300 shorter pieces, 34 books, and 6 updated
editions targeted to four age levels:
2 picture books; 7 middle-reader
devotionals; 21 juvenile/teen novels; 4 adult nonfiction.

Series include: Young Readers (2 devotionals); Let’s-Talk-About-It Stories for Kids
(4 books, each with approximately 25 short stories about making choices); Adventures
of the Northwoods
(10 novels); Riverboat Adventures (6 novels); Viking Quest (5 novels).

Work translated into 12 languages. Reader mail from over 40 countries.

Other work soon to be announced.

                                   In the fifth Viking Quest novel I wrote about Leif Erikson's settlement at
                                   L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland.  When I thanked Dr. Birgitta 
                                   Linderoth Wallace, Senior Archaelogist (emeritus), for the enormous
                                   amount of help she gave me, Birgitta replied, "What good is it to know
                                   something unless we pass it on?" 

Shorter pieces include:
Narrative personal experience articles and how-to articles for wide variety of magazines
Christmas programs for adults and children, poetry, and lyrics for hymns.
I
INSPIRATIONAL AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKING:
Lois has spoken in a wide variety of church and community situations.  These include special events, workshops, adult classes, retreats, and national conferences in mainland U. S. and Hawaii.

Seasonal topics for special events
One-hour topics:
How to Hear the Voice of God
Healing from the Inside Out
How to Encourage Yourself in the Lord                        New topics
Exchange Your Wounds for God-Esteem                     continually
Using Books to Help Kids Grow                                  developed
A Day Apart
Rekindling Your First Love                     
     
                                "You talked about the things that mean a lot to us.
                               Yet you also concentrated on what is most important
                                             to everyone in the body of Christ."
TOPICS FOR MEDIA INTERVIEWS:   
        How to Help Your Child Love Books   
        Using Fiction to Inspire a World View
        One-liners That Can Help Your Child or Teenager Win               
        
        
        Others as needed


TEACHER OF WRITING: 
As an editorial associate for Writer's Digest School,
Lois taught courses in writing short stories
and novels.  A public school teacher in Wayzata, MN, she taught 8th, 9th, and 10th grade English.  

For student groups ranging in age from third to 12th grade Lois especially enjoys teaching them how to plot a story and/or develop characters.

Her teaching of writing at conferences includes keynoting, endnoting, comprehensive classes, plenary sessions, panels, and one-hour workshops.  For comprehensive classes, one-day workshops, and university short-term courses Lois teaches how to write fiction (short stories and novels), or beginning and advanced nonfiction (the most commonly published kinds of articles).  For many of the following groups she has spoken on more than one occasion.

PARTIAL LIST OF LOIS' TEACHING:
Christian schools or bookstores: 
Our Redeemer Christian School, Minot, ND
Plotting a Short Story Workshop for Teens & Adults,
        Northwestern Bookstore, Maple Grove, MN

Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis, MN
Delevan Christian School, Delevan, WI
North Heights Academy, St. Paul, MN
Young Writer’s Institute, Northwestern Bookstore, Burnsville, MN
High Point Christian School, Madison, WI
Tri-State Christian School, Galena, IL
Young Writer’s Fiction Event: Northwestern Bookstores,
        Burnsville and Maple Grove


Public schools:
Elementary and Middle Schools, Grantsburg, WI 
Elementary School, Hayward, WI
Poplar Ridge Elementary, Bloomington, MN
Middle School, Siren, WI 
Elementary School, St. Croix Falls, WI
Normandale Hills Elementary, Bloomington, MN
Middle School, Unity School District, Balsam Lake, WI
Cedar Island Elementary, Maple Grove, MN
Illinois School for the Deaf, Jacksonville, IL  (with an interpreter) 
      

Contact information: Send Lois an e-mail

Home educator groups:
MACHE (Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators)
     State Convention, 2004 and 2006
Area-wide groups:
Fargo, ND/Moorhead, MN
Roseville, MN
Chippewa Falls, WI
Richfield, MN
St. Paul, MN
Fergus Falls, MN
Grand Rapids, MN
Amery, WI
Alexandria, MN
Glenwood, MN
"We thoroughly enjoyed hosting you for this magnificent
seminar in Fargo/Moorhead.  I have heard on many occasions
how wonderful you were in working with our kids...and many
parents were touched when you prayed for our children.  You
were beyond a special speaker, and a teacher who cared for
our children from your very heart.  So, we wish to thank you
for the privilege of hosting you."
---Sherrie Frank, Coordinator, Day With An Author Seminar 
R.E.A.C.H. Home Educators Group
Fargo, ND/Moorhead, MN

Universities, colleges, and technical schools:
Minnesota High School Press Association Convention, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
Writer's Conference, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Midwest Writer's Conference, University of Wisconsin, River Falls (3 times)
Journalism and English classes, Itasca Community College, Grand Rapids, MN
Early Childhood Conference, Alexandria Technical School, Alexandria, MN
Comprehensive Fiction classes, University of the Nations: Tyler, TX (3 times);
     Orange, CA;  Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

                                                                                                 Return to Author and School Visits

Young Author Events:
Young Authors' Conference, Hiawatha Valley Education District, Winona, MN, 2006
Young Authors' Day, Burnett County area schools, Siren, WI
Conference for Young Authors, Southwest State University, Marshall, MN

Christian writers conferences, one-day/one-person workshops, and classes:
Decision Magazine’s School of Christian Writing, Minneapolis (9 times), 
     and Toronto, Canada
Greater Philadelphia Writer’s Conference, Philadelphia, PA (3 times)
Wartburg Seminary Writer’s Conference, Dubuque, IA
Green Lake Writer’s Conference, Green Lake, WI
Brite Christian Writer’s Conference, Omaha, NE
Warner Pacific College Writer’s Conference, Portland, OR
Christian Writer’s Seminar, Syracuse, NY
Timber-Lee Writer’s Conference, East Troy, WI
North Heights Lay Ministry Training Center, St. Paul, MN
Minnesota Christian Writer’s Guild, Minneapolis, MN: monthly meetings or one-day,
    one-person workshops several times

Public & Christian library groups:
National Church Library Association Conference, Bloomington, MN, 2006
Gustavus Adolphus College Library Associates annual Author Day, Minneapolis, MN
University of Wisconsin River Falls Library (professors sent their classes), River Falls
Lutheran Church Library Association National Conference, Minnetonka, MN
Baldwin Public Library, Baldwin, WI  
Amery Public Library, Amery, WI 
Lutheran Church Library Association area-wide gatherings: Mankato, MN;
    Milwaukee, WI;  Cushing/St.Croix, WI; Forest Lake, MN
St. Croix Falls Public Library, St. Croix Falls, WI 
Galaxie Public Library, Apple Valley, MN
Minot Public Library, Minot, ND

Other groups:
Northwest Children’s Book Conference (public librarians and public school teachers),
     Trego, WI, 2004
Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, Writing History Workshop (national
     audience), Walnut Grove, MN, 2000
Northwest WI Teacher-Librarian Conference, University of Wisconsin, River Falls, luncheon
     speaker, 1996
St. Croix Valley Reading Council (northwest WI public school teachers), dinner speaker,
     1994
Christian Booksellers’ Association regional convention, Duluth, MN, dinner speaker, 1992

Contact information: Send Lois an e-mail.

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