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Author Presentations

    

 
 
The Story Behind the Two Books
Grades 6-12 and Adults
1-2 hours
Fern presents the making of Is It Night Or Day? and Motherland. She tells of how her mother's experience was transferred to her, how she and her mother were received by the Germans during their three trips in 1990, 1995, and 2000, and ultimately, how these experiences transformed their mother/daughter relationship. This presentation can include slides from the trips.
 
 

 
 
The Legacy of the Holocaust
Grades 6-12
Fern presents a discussion on the aftershocks of genocide. While genocide is a political act, it is transferred through families as the losses reverberate in those relationships. This discussion fulfills the state requirement of teaching the Holocaust in the classroom. Genocide and the Holocaust become real to students as she tells her own story of legacy.
 
 

 
 
Finding Story in Your Life
Grades 6-12 and Adults, 1 hour
By recounting her own experience writing Motherland, author Fern Schumer Chapman inspires students to mine their own lives for stories. She teaches the art of storytelling, from construction to character building. Her goal is to help students develop their own sense of identity through story.
 
 

 
 
Writers Workshop
Students and Adults, 1-2 hours
Designed specifically for aspiring writers, Fern Schumer Chapman will help participants develop methods and techniques to help bring stories to life. She will discuss the process of writing and publishing a book and the importance of narrative and storytelling in processing memory and forming identity.
 
 

 
 

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Positive Feedback on Fern's Presentations

"Thank you for telling the two stories that frame your life - your mother's departure from Germany and the void that her experience left you. Thank you for relating the return to Germany with its multifaceted nuances. Thank you for bringing your mother's tea set and projecting us back to the past...As we move away from the period that framed the Holocaust, new carriers must tell the stories of their family and friends so that the next generation will know and learn. You are the next generation. From you, we will know and grow."
— Rachel Koch, Program Associate, Phredd Matthewswall, Assistant National Director for Staff Development, Chuck Meyers, Senior Program Associate, Facing History and Ourselves, Chicago, Illinois


"I deeply appreciated your presentation. It seemed to me perfect."
— James Olney, Henry J. Voorhies Professor of English, Co-Editor, Southern Review, Louisiana State University and organizer of the Conference on Memory and Narrative, Baton Rouge, Louisiana


"The feedback from your lecture has been outstanding! I continue to receive phone calls and positive comments even now."
— Margaret Plaskas, Arts and Ideas Program Coordinator, Waubonsee College, Sugar Loaf, Illinois


"Ragdale has sponsored many readings over the years and I am happy to say that yours is a standout...Thank you for such a magical morning. May there be many more."
— Sylvia Brown, Director of Marketing and Programming, The Ragdale Foundation, Lake Forest, Illinois


"The response to your talk was rapt silence, the audience hanging on every word. I even saw several people wiping a tear as they listened to your story of dislocation, discovery and reclamation."
— Judy Levin, Congregation B'nai Tikvah, Deerfield, Illinois


"Your story touches on many levels - as a journey for truth and understanding and as an exploration of mother-daughter issues. We are honored to have you with us and to share your thoughts with us."
— Madonna Lee Edmunds, Principal, Woodlands Academy (parochial high school for girls), Lake Forest, Illinois


"People are still talking about how much they enjoyed your speech...Motherland touched my life in a deeply profound way and I thank you for finding the courage within to share your family story."
— Barbara Pinny, The Haverford School (high school for boys), Haverford, Pennsylvania


"We all entered the experiences you describe more deeply and with greater understanding as a result of your talk."
— Barbara Monsor, The Mother's Trust, Lake Forest, Illinois


"You were fabulous! Everyone loved meeting you and listening to your story. Your slides were great, but most of all your earnestness and sincerity shines through."
— Ellen Gussin, National Council for Jewish Women, North Shore Chapter, Highland Park, Illinois


"I have received nothing but rave reviews from those attending your program. Everyone was captivated by the book."
— Shari Lipp-Levine, Special Projects Coordinator, Congregation Beth-El Zedeck, Indianapolis, Indiana