Lonette

"I was a high school English and composition teacher for 15 years, but in May I decided to make a career switch and work toward my dream of opening a stand-alone writing center for kids in grades 7-12. There isn't time in the school day to teach writing the way it really needs to be done, so the center would operate after school hours, on weekends, and in the summer. I especially want to work with students in underserved areas. Instead of writing to get a grade or to fulfill a homework assignment or to practice for a standardized test, kids would learn to write for self-expression. I'd love to see students really discover their voices through creative non-fiction, poetry, and prose. Even though they're young, these kids have something to say, and they deserve to be heard.  

"My uncle was in opera and sang all over the world. Seeing him do that created a road map for me and helped me to learn that things were possible. I want to bring in well-known writers who will do the same for students, who will help them see the possibilities. Martin Luther King's writings have influenced a lot of people, but he was influenced by Ghandi, who was influenced by Thoreau's essay 'Civil Disobedience.' I want kids to realize how powerful the pen can be."

Lonette Robertson Stayton holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Memphis.  She recently completed a dystopian novel in which rising sea levels destroy coastal areas and force residents to flee to inland cities. Memphis is one of the refugee destinations.  The novel explores what happens when society breaks down and residents refuse to work together.  

Samples of Lonette's work:

• Like Momma 
  
• Ghosts
  

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