The Rural Inspiration: Putting the Elements of Fiction into Context

Rural Children’s Author Faith Harkey, shares her passion for rural places and small-town stories with our Western Illinois Action Hub.

September 13, 2018 |
Share

"

Faith Harkey's Presentation to sixth grade students at Central Intermediate School, Monmouth, Illinois. <\/p>"

“My geek [(passion)] + my writing knowledge = story only I can tell” (Faith Harkey). Through her visit to our Western Illinois Action Hub and our partners at Monmouth College (MC), Rural Children’s Author and one of our advocates, Faith Harkey, continues to share her passion for rural places and small-town stories.



Our partners at the Educational Studies Department at Monmouth College (MC) in Western Illinois launched their TARTANS program this year to prepare future rural teachers. On Tuesday 9/11 and Wednesday 9/12, as part of their TARTANS program, the Educational Studies Department at MC in Western Illinois, hosted Faith Harkey, children’s author and a Rural Schools Collaborative Advocate.

Faith’s visit to MC included working with MC students and professors on a fiction workshop, a presentation at MC campus on how her rural experiences influenced and informed her writings, and a presentation to sixth grade students at Central Intermediate School, a school committed to the value of the Place-Based Education.

Faith believes that representation matters. While rural people are often portrayed as uneducated with no meaningful choices in popular books and media, the truth is that they are smart and powerful, and that’s how they should be portrayed. During her visit, Faith assured that everyone has passion and inspiration that influence the stories they tell. For her, the passion and inspiration come from the rural places she has lived in and experienced.

During the workshop and presentations at MC and Central Intermediate School, Faith read to the audiences from her books, showing how she meaningfully implemented her writing knowledge and her rural places and experiences to tell meaningful stories about the rural areas and people.

Faith believes that children need stories and that fiction can be effectively used to “create a story that rings the bell of truth”; when “taken together, the elements of fiction combine to make a sense of veracity” (Faith Harkey).

Click here to read more on Harkey's thoughts about the importance of small-town values and the rural narrative.

Learn more about Faith and her new book at: http://FaithHarkey.com or http://GenuineSweet.com, Follow her on Twitter @FaithHarkey . We truly appreciate Faith's support of the Rural Schools Collaborative.


Previous ALL STORIES Next

Full Steam Ahead: Fair Play JAG Program Embraces GRAD Partnership

April 23, 2025

Fair Play School District (MO), one of ten Missouri schools to join the GRAD Partnership in 2024, has found success building student agency through the school’s JAG Program

Regional Hubs, Power of Partnerships, Missouri, GRAD Partnership

Cassville (MO) Administration, the Rural Schools Collaborative team, Missouri State University facility, and Community Foundation of the Ozarks convened at Cassville to learn about their first year participating in the GRAD Partnership.

Building Belonging: How a Rural Missouri Middle School Is Using Beta Club to Boost Connection, Confidence, and Community

April 23, 2025

Cassville (MO) Schools are focusing on their National Beta club to boost attendance and connection.

Regional Hubs, Power of Partnerships, Missouri, GRAD Partnership

Group of students and teacher sitting on rocks in front of water.

Incubating Aspirations Across Maine

April 22, 2025

The Rural Youth Institute is supporting students throughout rural Maine by supporting youth-serving organizations.

Regional Hubs, Power of Partnerships, New England, Rural Resilience