Ursula, Potawatomi, Battle Creek, reluctant blogger, India, and awards: author Catherine Bieberich
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Me in my Chunni at Gurudwara: |
"Pretty Little Easter Bunny" was your first
poem at age 5. You said it’s never been published, but has been recited. If
you’ll include it here, it’ll be published, too. What was life like for young
writer Catherine?
Life was difficult and confusing for young Catherine. I had stories in my head all of the time. I found school quite boring, so I invented “Ursula, the dancing flower”.
She went on several adventures while I was supposed to be taking notes
in school. Story ideas would wake me up in the middle of the night. “Pretty
Little Easter Bunny” was the first thing I wrote out – because I finally knew
how to write:
“Pretty
little Easter Bunny
In his
little Easter hat
Doesn’t
he look very funny
Tell me
what you think of that.”
It’s
important to remember that creativity can be frightening before you understand
that it’s a gift. I always remember that, as a mom and a teacher.
(From a blog post)I have to figure out how to get the amazing history of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi into the story without having it sound like a history lesson.
Were you able to do it? Why that
particular Potawatomi band?
While doing research for a book about Battle Creek’s first school teacher, I discovered the amazing history of the Nottawaseppi Huron Potawatomi.
I also discovered the “Trail of Death”, which was to the “Trail of Tears” for the Potawatomi in the Midwest. During that forced removal, two chiefs of the Battle Creek band snuck away from the US soldiers in the middle of the night.
They
returned to Athens, MI and worked on retrieving the rest of their tribe from
the reservation. We now have the descendants of those courageous heroes living
in Athens and working at the Firekeepers Casino.
No, I have not been able to do it. I have written the story as a picture book; however, my critique group feels it needs to be expanded into something more.
Sadly, until I retire, I am owned by my job as a teacher of Multilingual
Learners.
At some point you announced on your blog that you had
stopped writing for a while. How long
did you stop? What got you started again?
I stopped writing after the agent who signed me turned out to be a bit on the shady side. I was heartbroken and writing felt like a waste of time.
However, writers know
that the stories don’t stop coming. I eventually had to sit down at the
computer and begin listening to the insistent voices in my head.
On your Instagram account you’ve written this: I teach,
write and read young adult novels. My daughters no longer live at home, but
they are still my world. My life is too big for pictures. What do you mean,
My life is too big for pictures? Do you write YA?
I began
exclusively writing YA. I have since written MG, as well as two different
picture books.
You’ve taught in Battle Creek schools for how long? You are
now teaching high school. What school, and what grade levels were your
wheelhouse, previously?
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| Teacher Cathy with Tony |
I have taught for Battle Creek Public Schools for eight years. I am currently an instructor for Multilingual Learners at Battle Creek Central High School (Go Bearcats!).
I have taught for 42 years, so I have taught every subject and every grade level at some point in my career.
I received my second Master’s Degree in TESOL after seeing the way that immigrants were treated in our
country. It ignited a passion in me to show these students that they are a part
of our country and to help them access all of its resources.
On Pinterest, your tag line is If I don't love it, I don't do it. How long did it take you to figure out what you love, and what you don’t. What are some of the things you love?
I love so
many things that it has taken forever to really understand which things are
truly passions, as opposed to the things that I ‘enjoy’. My passions are learning about different cultures, traveling to different countries, learning
new languages and writing! My teaching life is bigger than I am. It is
something that fills me in a way I cannot describe.
I am a
reluctant blogger. I continuously forget that I have a blog. I started blogging
for my students. I was in charge of an accelerated learners program, and many
of my students suffered from anxiety. I found that posting information, as well
as my own struggles helped them to feel less alone. I would like to blog more
consistently on my writing account.
You’re involved with a local Indian group. You and your
husband traveled to India last year. How was your trip? What is it you find
fascinating about the Indian culture?
When I was very young, I knew that I was in love with different cultures. At four I colored my skin brown with a permanent marker – head to toe.
Thanks to the wonderful Punjabi students I had in my classroom about 15 years ago, I settled on an obsession with all things Punjab, Indian. I started going to the Gurdwara, practicing Sikhism (in addition to Christianity) and learning Punjabi.
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| Visiting with Friends in India |
I have found that Sikhi, as well as the Punjabi people, match my energy and my core values. They like to dance and socialize. They are kind and forgiving.
One person who has inspired me tremendously is Valerie Kaur and her Revolutionary Love movement. She practices the
philosophy of Ik Onkar - It is to look upon the face of all humans and say: You
are a part of me I do not yet know.
Our trip to India was fantastic! I ventured beyond the Punjab area and visited Jaipur, Rajasthan and Agra.
I absolutely adore the chaos that is inherent in India. The
people are amazing to visitors. They have a saying, “Guest is God”. I have
found that to be very true.
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| Twin Day |
Tell us about some of these blogs.
The only
one I still keep up with is “Building Castles” – and that one is spotty. Thanks
for reminding me!!!
In 2014 you wrote a piece about author Candace Fleming: Candace
Fleming was not only brilliant and informative, she was easily one of the most
charming presenters I’ve ever had the pleasure of shadowing.
“Shadowing” a presenter at a conference is a lost art. What did shadowing
Candace Fleming involve?
I loved the “shadowing” program. I set it up so that every presenter had a shadow. This person prepared the room for the presenter, made sure they knew the event schedule, got them water and was the point person for one of the presenters.
I definitely noticed the lack of shadows at my last SCBWI event (no offense). One of the presenters had trouble with the technology in the room and was floundering looking for help. The person who had introduced that presenter was no longer around.
It struck me that, setting up all aspects of ONE presenter’s
space was an invaluable service. Pete Hauptman was the funniest person I ever
shadowed. He came up with a list of needs – turn down service, caviar. Of
course, he was only joking.
For that 2014 conference on Mackinac Island, you were dubbed
the “Karaoke Queen.” Do you remember any songs that you belted out?
I have an
endless repertoire…
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| My crew |
You received an educator appreciation award. This is what they said about you:
Catherine Bieberich is extremely passionate
about helping English learners and their families and goes above and beyond to
make them feel welcome at school events and conferences. She spent her whole
summer renovating the school library to make it functional. She also partnered
with the local public library to get book donations and train staff to check
out books.
What foreign languages did you encounter? How did you make
your school library more functional? Is that library still operating?
The most
common languages we encounter at Battle Creek Public schools are: Spanish,
Arabic, Swahili, Burmese and French. Of course, I speak: German, Hindi, Punjabi
and a smattering of Spanish. No help at all!!! We have a large Indian
population in Battle Creek, MI, but the students attend a different school.
Sadly,
that library is no longer functioning. The entire school was remodeled to
create the amazing: Northwestern Academy for Visual and Performing Arts!!!
You were recognized for your work at the Springfield Middle School first annual culture fair? Please describe the event. Were there other
culture fairs in the following years?
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| Culture fair |
We have had community representatives come and share their resources with our
families at the event. My favorite thing is the fact that, even though they
have no students in our schools, the Gurudwara shows up every year with an
entire array of free Indian food for the students to try.
This year
we will be hosting the fair again, but at Battle Creek Central High School.
Your X account has the tagline I'm a mother, a writer,
and a teacher. Being a mother completes me, being a writer defines and calms
me, and being a teacher feeds me. Does being a mother, writer, and teacher
still affect you in the same way?
I need to
update that! Those things are still true. However, I am now also a grandmother
of 4 beautiful babies. I need to find a way to describe that…
What are you currently working on?
TEACHING
– lol. I am currently designing curriculum, identifying ML students, setting up
my classroom, writing learning plans for all 100 students on my caseload…
However,
when I can take a breath again I will finish revising my current project on the
Shephard House in Battle Creek. It is a mystery involving the ghost of a former
Nottowaseppi Huron Potawatomi.
And then
I will work on my Punjabi love story. When I don’t have time to write, I get
almost frantic – wishing I could sit down and work on my pieces.
Please share any social media:
https://bieberichwoman.weebly.com/
https://bieberichwoman.blogspot.com/
Cathy, what an interesting interview. It was lovely to read about you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for an interesting interview and for sharing.
ReplyDelete