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Additional Information
Prize-winning historian and novelist James Haley provides informative and engaging talks that will leave your audience enthralled. Haley has over 40 years of experience providing presentations to historical organizations, libraries, schools, civic clubs and writers' groups.
Presentations for Civic Groups
New Life for An Old Ranch: The Pines Ranch has been welcoming guests since 1880s, making it one of the oldest guest ranches in the West. Learn about the story of the history of this unique place and its on-going mission to provide rest for those who dedicate their lives to serving others.
Is History Really Important? People have no idea why they actually need to know all that stuff. Historical literacy, however, is crucial to informed civic participation and living a life of educated confidence. How does the United States measure up? You won’t believe the statistics.
Presentations For Writers' Groups
The Art of Biography: Haley is the only writer ever to win the coveted Spur Award of the Western Writers of America twice in the category of biography. SAM HOUSTON (University of Oklahoma Press 2002) was large and scholarly; WOLF: THE LIVES OF JACK LONDON (Perseus 2010) was shorter and “trady,” and the two approaches require different skills. Workshop topics include selecting a subject, finding the best approach (book or article, fiction or nonfiction, scholarly or popular) and placing your subject in social context.
Mastering Historical Research Jim was 19 when American Heritage Magazine bought his biography of Jumbo, the circus elephant, and his research skills (sometimes tricks) amassed over the succeeding fifty years have gone far beyond Google and the card catalog. This workshop explores learning where to look (both expected and unexpected), how to get the most out of it, and most importantly, how to forge raw research data into a compelling story.
Fact vs. Fiction in the Historical Novel As the author of six historical novels in addition to a dozen nonfiction histories, Haley’s workshop will explore using history to more deeply conceive the story (editors love homework); the differences in approach from straight history; mastering the culture and language of your period; how to make history integral to the story without taking time out for a history lesson; the elevation of minor, but fascinating, historical participants into significant characters, and other techniques to turn a period story into a compelling window into its time.
Lost Legacy Discover past American authors of blazing imagination and insight—but who have disappeared from modern awareness: Lydia Maria Child, who in 1822 caused an uproar with her debut novel of a Puritan woman who had a child with a Native American man; Charles Brockden Brown (b. 1771), the first writer brave enough to breathe a hint of same-sex attraction; Emma Southworth (b. 1819) pregnant with her second child when her husband left her, she got even by becoming one of the highest paid writers in America—and her second novel was The Deserted Wife. Learn about this brilliant constellation of dozens of writers who deserve to be remembered.
Fees
Programs for civic groups are given gratis, but donations to the Pines Ranch are gratefully accepted. Workshops for writers' groups require a fee. Cost and and length of program by agreement between organization and James Haley. Click below, email jim@jameslhaley.com or call 719.289.1046 to schedule.
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