An Evening with Norman Jorgensen
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Mon 24 Apr 2017
Award winning author
Norman Jorgensen is in high demand talking to school groups about everything from pirates to Vikings, bullying and life on war-time Rottnest.
He'll often be found sitting cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by primary school children, telling mildly inappropriate jokes which have them in stitches, with teachers raising their eyebrows in the background.
Norman, now in his sixties, confesses that he has never really grown up and delights in his audience of young fans.
He says a talk, on Monday April 24 at the Boya Library about Anzac Day is something a little new for him.
Aimed primarily at adults, the talk will be based on his book
In Flanders Fields, which is particularly relevant to this time of year with Anzac Day approaching.
The Shire of Mundaring Libraries is presenting the talk which will feature Norman discussing
In Flanders Fields, which is based on a true story.
Beautifully illustrated by Brian Harrison-Lever, the picture book highlights the senselessness and the inhumanity of war, telling the story of a homesick World War I soldier who risks his life to cross no-man's land to rescue a robin caught in the barbed wire that separates the opposing forces.
In Flanders Fields has won numerous awards since being published in 2002, including Children's Book Council Picture of the Year in 2003."Although the evening will feature my work about World War I, I don't plan for it to be a somber and sad evening. I'll spend some time talking about my research and the fun of creating my adventure stories," Norman said."Most of my stories seem to be based on historical themes and sometimes events from family history."My grandmother, who was in her 90s at the time, encouraged me to write
In Flanders Fields as her young uncle had served and died on the Western Front."
Norman's writing journey began in primary school when he had a story of his read on ABC Radio's Argonaut's Club.
His first taste in print came in 1992 when
Ashe of the Outback, the first in a series of comic books illustrated by cartoonist Allan Langoulant and co-written by Norman and David Turton was published.
In Flanders Fields was Norman's first picture book.
He has since gone on to publish a dozen books for children and young people.
Norman, who was born in Broome, has loved books all his life and has worked for most of his adult life in the book trade.
Historical novels and old Hollywood movies and the somewhat politically incorrect comedy of old TV shows like Benny Hill, are often reflected in his own work.
The eldest of four brothers, Norman and his family lived in several country towns throughout the state until his family moved to Kalamunda, in the hills above Perth.
In 2011 Norman teamed with talented debut illustrator, James Foley, to produce his latest picture books,
The Last Viking, and
The Last Viking Returns.
The stories focus on a boy who outwits local bullies by channelling his inner Viking, blending the real-life issues of dealing with bullying, with a lot of laughter and a dose of Norse history and mythology.
His latest novel,
The Smugglers' Curse, was published late in 2016.
Its young hero, Red Read, gets caught up in a rollicking, action-packed adventure that sweeps from Broome to South-East Asia and Fremantle to Albany.
It is set in the final years of the nineteenth century and is proving a big hit with young readers.
Norman's books will be available for sale on the evening at Boya.
The event is free, but bookings are essential at
njatboya.eventbrite.com.au
Light refreshments will be served from 5.45pm to 6pm with the talk getting under way at 6pm.
The brand new Boya Library is part of a new community hub, at 119 to 135 Scott Street, Boya. Their phone number is 08 9290 6755.
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#april
!date 24/04/2017 -- 24/04/2017
%wnperth
207316 - 2023-06-16 05:58:13