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Bestselling Author, Ventriloquist, & Humorist

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U of I Hosts Ambrose Storytelling Workshop

April 24, 2019 By Elaine Ambrose

Elaine Ambrose speaks at the U of I Storytelling Workshop

MOSCOW, Idaho — April 24, 2019 — Storytelling through film is the focus of the University of Idaho’s second annual Ambrose Storytelling Workshop, to be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, in the Idaho Commons Whitewater Room.

The free community workshop will introduce participants to visual storytelling and demonstrate how filmmakers can use tools at their disposal to make high-quality films.

“This year’s Ambrose Storytelling Workshop will be a fun event highlighting the power of story through film. Participants will learn directly from award-winning filmmakers and go home with usable skills,” said Benjamin James, a clinical assistant professor who teaches screenwriting in U of I’s Department of English. James is the recipient of the inaugural Ambrose Storytelling Endowment faculty research award.

James will be joined at the workshop by Palouse filmmakers Martin McGreevy and Jace Wrigley.

Following the workshop, participants will have 48 hours to submit their own short film utilizing the skills and techniques taught in the workshop. U of I seniors taking part in the workshop will compete for the Ambrose Senior Award and $1,500 prize.

The Ambrose Storytelling Workshop was started in 2018 thanks to a donation by bestselling author and U of I College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences alumna Elaine Ambrose. She created the Ambrose Storytelling Endowment to share her gift of storytelling and to honor her late brother George, a U of I alumnus.

“My entire career has been writing and telling stories,” Ambrose said. “I wanted to give back to the university to encourage more storytelling. We live in an age of sentences through Twitter and instant messaging that don’t quite communicate a story the same way a rich paragraph or dialogue does.”

More information on the workshop, including registration information, is available at uidaho.edu/ambrose.

—

Media Contact
Benjamin James
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of English
[email protected]

Filed Under: blog, Uncategorized Tagged With: #filmakers, #Idaho, #UIalumni, #universityofidaho, Ambrose, Storytelling

Free Workshop: How to Write a Children’s Book

April 18, 2019 By Elaine Ambrose

The Hungry Giant stars in one story in “Gators & Taters”

Free Workshop Thursday, April 18

Do you have a splendid idea for a children’s book but don’t know how to write and publish a book? Bestselling author Elaine Ambrose will present a free workshop Thursday, April 18 at Collister Library from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. She will discuss the tools you need to create the book. Topics will include story, characters, illustrations, cover design, and publication. Free Workshop Thursday, April 18

Ambrose has written ten books, including two award-winning children’s books featuring her home state of Idaho. Gators & Taters – A Week of Bedtime Stories won a writing award from the Independent Press Award Program. The stories are designed to be read aloud to children. Illustrations for both books were created by Boise artist Patrick Bochnak.

The Magic Potato – La Papa Mágica is a storybook written in English and Spanish and features a fun story of children flying around Idaho of a potato. The text includes key words, phrases, colors, numbers, days of the week, and locations in English and Spanish. The book has won several awards, including the 2018 Moonbeam Children’s Book Award for children’s literature. The State Board of Education adopted the book for the Idaho statewide curriculum.

Read more about Ambrose’s books, blogs, and events at www.ElaineAmbrose.com.

Sample page in “The Magic Potato” written in English and Spanish.

Filed Under: blog Tagged With: #childrensbooks, #CollisterLibrary, #Idaho, #IndependentPressBookAward, #Moonbeam Children's Book Award

Writers as Instruments of Peace

April 7, 2019 By Elaine Ambrose

Can a group of Idaho writers help bring respect and civility to a country polluted by vitriol and criticism? Yes, they can. We proved it over the weekend.

During the past 12 years, I have organized more than 20 writer’s retreats and workshops. Our recent workshop focused on “Your Journey is Your Story,” and the participants were prompted to share personal experiences that could shape a future blog or memoir. The workshop included a “Music as Muse” exercise as I played different songs and gave writing prompts.

The last music played was Peacemaker by Irish singer Máire (Moya) Brennan. The song included the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi with the singer’s young son providing words in Irish Gaelic. The words in the original prayer include the phrase “make me an instrument of your peace.” After the music exercise, participants read their works aloud to the group.


The first writer read her story about being thrilled to take her daughters to an event to hear former First Lady Michelle Obama. The writer is scheduled to travel to Seattle in May to hear Hillary Clinton.

Another writer spoke about praying and seeing the face of Jesus.

Other writers included a former Republican state representative who read about patriotism, a mother who spoke and sang about her love for her children, a woman escaping sexual abuse, a student who wrote about surviving after World War III, a humorous memory of a departed relative, and a kind grandmother who shared the pain of being estranged by an adult son. Every speaker was respected and appreciated. There was no drama, no criticism, and no insults.

If ten people from various backgrounds and from ages 12 to 72 can come together to a writing workshop in Meridian, Idaho and value opposite opinions, others can do it, too.

Over the past two years, I’ve winced at the hateful, bitter comments written by associates on social media. These continuing assaults have changed nothing nor have they improved the public discourse. I appreciate spirited debate and have posted several satirical memes about politics, but I’ve never personally attacked anyone. In my opinion, the atmosphere is more polluted with hostile verbal garbage than with plastic bags.

I’m traveling to Las Vegas soon to present a similar writing workshop using music as motivation and inspiration. It’s my goal to inspire attendees, ten people at a time, to use their words, laptops, and pens as instruments of peace.

Filed Under: blog

“Frozen Dinners” Sells 873 eBooks During March

April 1, 2019 By Elaine Ambrose

Ambrose Trucking, 1952
873 eBooks Sold in March

Frozen Dinners – A Memoir of a Fractured Family sold more than 28 eBooks every day during the month of March for a delightful total of 873. The memoir was published in November 2018 by Brown Books Publishing . Hardback books are selling well across the country, and the eBooks started to gain traction in February. The 873 eBooks sold were on Amazon Kindle, and additional eBooks were sold on Barnes & Noble Nook, KOBO, and Apple iTunes. During March, the eBook sold well in several foreign countries, including the United Kingdom, India, Canada, and Australia.

The eBook ranked #7 in a memoir category on Amazon. According to Just Publishing Advice, there are more than 4.8 million eBooks on Amazon Kindle.

Ambrose Trucking, 1954

The memoir describes the author’s childhood in the Idaho village of Wendell, Idaho, and explains how her father rose from poverty to build a multi-million-dollar trucking empire hauling frozen food throughout the Northwest. After his untimely death, his survivors implode in a maelstrom of brutal courtroom drama, illness, and dementia. The author spends half a century searching for love and warmth beyond the contaminated legacy of her fractured family. Now the author’s parents and brothers have died, and the family and the fortune are all gone.

The author discussed her memoir in a podcast for “Magnificent Midlife Woman” with Sheree Clark. Listen to the interview here.

Books are available from local bookstores and online. EBooks are on Amazon Kindle, KOBO, iTunes, and Nook. The audio version will be available in the summer.

Filed Under: blog, books Tagged With: #amwriting, #Apple iTunes, #booksales, #eBook, #FrozenDinners, #Idaho, #memoir, #trucking, Kobo, Nook

Upcoming Speeches and Workshops

March 14, 2019 By Elaine Ambrose

Elaine Ambrose

Review my Speaker’s Page for signature speeches, videos, and testimonials.
https://elaineambrose.com/speaker/

Recent and Upcoming Speeches
January 5-6 – Sun Valley – Private Writer’s Workshop
January 7 – Boise – Richelle Silagy White’s Book Club
March 14 – Meridian – Paramount Elementary – Read and Donate Books
March 16 – Boise – Speak to Delta Gamma Alumni Luncheon – Hillcrest Country Club
March 20 – Boise – 4-Author Book Signing – The Local, 5616 State
March 30 – Meridian – Speak at LPGA Luncheon – Spurwing Country Club
April 5-6 – Spurwing Country Club – Facilitate Writer’s Workshop
April 13 – Las Vegas – Facilitate Writer’s Workshop
April 17 – Meridian Library, 1326 W Cherry Lane, Speak about “Music as Muse”
April 18 – Collister Library – Boise – Speak about Publishing Children’s Books
April 26 – Boise – Sponsor Idaho Writer’s Guild Reception
June 28 – Wendell – Speak at High School Reunion

Filed Under: blog Tagged With: #speaking, Hillcrest Country Club, Idaho, Idaho Writers Guild, Las Vegas, Spurwing, writers

“Your Journey is Your Story” Writing Workshop in April

January 30, 2019 By Elaine Ambrose

Are you ready to explore and write about your journey? Cl.ick on this link for registration details:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/your-journey-is-your-story-writing-workshop-with-elaine-ambrose-tickets-55620139334

Facilitated by bestselling author Elaine Ambrose, this workshop is designed for intermediate writers who want to expand their work in the areas of non-fiction, personal essay, and memoir. Using creative techniques, musical prompts, and targeted anecdotes, Ambrose will guide participants through a review of their own experiences to enhance their ability to “Write what you know.” The workshop includes the empowering experience of reading aloud to a group. Registration is limited to 20 people.

Saturday’s events will be in the Board Room at The Club at Spurwing in Meridian, Idaho. http://www.theclubatspurwing.com/the-club-house

The $150 fee covers Friday’s reception, Saturday’s workshops, all materials, refreshments, and lunch.

Writers at the 2017 workshop at Spurwing.

Elaine Ambrose is an award-winning, bestselling author of 10 books. Four of her recent books won six national writing awards, and her memoir Frozen Dinners ranked #23 out of 60,000 memoirs available on Amazon. Ambrose presents writing workshops at conferences across the country, including the prestigious Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop. Read about her books, blogs, and events at ElaineAmbrose.com.

Guest speaker AK Turner will present her fail-proof formula for how to establish a writing routine. She is the New York Times bestselling author of the Vagabonding with Kids series (Brown Books) as well as This Little Piggy Went to the Liquor Store, Mommy Had a Little Flask, and Hair of the Corn Dog (Fever Streak Press). Her works have received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, IPPY Awards in Humor and Travel, a Foreword Indies Award, an Independent Press Distinguished Favorite, and listing in BookLife’s Top 5 Indie Books of 2014. http://vagabondingwithkids.com/

Agenda

Friday, April 5, 7:00 – 9:00 pm – Private reception at the home of Elaine Ambrose at Spurwing. Details provided upon paid registration.

Saturday, April 6, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

9:00 am – Board Room at Spurwing Country Club

Coffee, Tea, and Introductions

Writing Workshop: The Delicious Art of Word Stew

Writing Workshop: Your Journey is Your Story

Writing Workshop: Music as Muse

Writing Workshop: Fail-Proof Formula to Establish a Writing Routine – presented by AK Turner

Assignments

Lunch – Meals will be ordered from the Spurwing Menu.

Workshop: Reading and Speaking

Participants Read Their Work

2:00 pm – Assignments and Adjourn

Participants can remain on site until 4:00 pm to write and socialize.

Bring samples of your writing, paper, pen, and/or computer for writing and reading assignments.

No refunds after April 1.

Elaine Ambrose
Spurwing Golf Course
AK Turner

Filed Under: blog, books, events Tagged With: #amwriting, #Elaine Ambrose, #memoir, Meridian Idaho, Spurwing Golf Course, The Club at Spurwing, writers workshop

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