News & Events
- Panorama to be a “highly recommended source” for National Mythology Exam
July 2010 -
Author Carrie Kennedy was recently informed that her book, Panorama: An Introduction to Classical Mythology, would be listed as a “highly recommended” source for teachers who administer the National Mythology Exam to their students. The test, which was first offered in 1989, is now taken each year by over 10,000 students across the country in third through ninth grade courses related to the classics. The test is offered by Excellence Through Classics, a standing committee of the American Classical League, and students are given national rankings based on their scores.
The exam is administered each January, and teachers may begin registering the prior fall. Please visit the Excellence Through Classics website to learn more.
- Panorama earns an IPPY Medal in national Independent Publisher Book Awards program
June 2010 -
Carrie and her husband, Kevin, were thrilled to learn their book was chosen as a medalist in this year’s IPPY Awards, the largest indie press awards in the country. Nearly 4,000 books were submitted by university presses, small presses, and independent publishers, and only 8% received recognition. Books were evaluated on the quality of their content and design, their cultural relevance, and their overall message, and Panorama was among the top six books chosen in the competitive category of Juvenile/Young Adult Non-Fiction.
Other imprints that received recognition included Yale University Press, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, University of Chicago Press, Harvard University Press, Abbeville Books, and Syracuse University.
Carrie attended the awards ceremony at the Providence Club in New York City on Tuesday, May 25, and had a chance to meet authors, illustrators, and photographers, as well as Jerry Jenkins, CEO of the Jenkins Group and the founder of the awards program. She received a certificate and medal (which her two young daughters now clamor to wear), along with awards labels that she can place on the cover of Panorama to announce the win.
"Panorama stood out in our Young Adult Non-Fiction category this year because it provided thought-provoking and complex material but was still a thoroughly enjoyable read." Jerry Jenkins, Founder of the IPPY Awards
Carrie poses here with Jerry (right) and Jim Barnes, the Awards Director.
- Carrie Kennedy’s appearances this summer
June 2010 -
Carrie is pleased to have been invited to speak at numerous area libraries and bookstores this summer. The Carnegie Libraries have a theme of "Make a Splash" for their Summer Reading Programs, and Carrie will be will be telling stories from mythology that are related to water, and—for older tweens and teens—will be incorporating elements from Rick Riordan’s series of books about Percy Jackson (who just so happens to be the half-blood son of the sea god Poseidon).
Dates and Times:
July 10, 12 pm – 3 pm at the Joseph-Beth Booksellers in the Southside Works for a family-friendly Mythology Day Event. Free and open to the public.
July 14, 7 pm – 8 pm at Penguin Bookshop in Sewickley, speaking on Joseph Campbell’s concept of the Hero’s Journey and how it relates to mythology, movies, Percy Jackson, and so many of our most popular stories. There is a $5 fee for this workshop, so please register with Penguin in advance.
July 19, 11:30 am—1:00 pm at the Sewickley Library for their lunch programs, for students entering grade K through 2. Free to the public; please register through the library.
July 22, 11:30 am—1:00 pm at the Sewickley Library for their lunch programs, for students entering grade 3 through 5. Free to the public; please register through the library.
July 24, 1:30 pm — 3:00 pm at the South Park Township Library for students entering grades 4 and older. Free to the public; please register through the library.
August 4, 1 pm – 2 pm at Penguin Bookshop in Sewickley, speaking on Egyptian mythology with references to Rick Riordan’s newest series, The Kane Chronicles. Please check back soon for a link that will offer more information.
For Pittsburgh-area librarians who would like Carrie to offer a program, please visit the Allegheny County Library Association's program page.
- Carrie attends Book Expo America in New York City
June 2010 -
While Carrie was in New York to receive an IPPY Award for her book, she also spent two days at Book Expo America, the largest book show of the year. In an atmosphere not unlike Times Square on New Year’s Eve, she met fellow self-publishers, learned about marketing strategies, perused soon-to-be-released books, and browsed through the exhibitis of every major publisher in the country.
She was proud to see Panorama on display at the Combined Book Exhibit for independently published new releases (in the photo, the book is in the center on the third shelf down) and was able to promote her book to teachers, librarians, and independent bookstore owners. She also happily waited in line for an hour and a half to meet Rick Riordan (pictured below), author of the mythology-based Percy Jackson series of books published by Hyperion. He autographed a copy of his latest work, The Red Pyramid, and then accepted a copy of Panorama as a gift. Riordan’s work has successfully engaged countless young students with its witty heroes and well-told stories, and Carrie was truly honored to be able to put her book into his hands.
- Carrie Kennedy’s article chosen as online feature for Independent School magazine
May 2010 -
In the fall of 2009, Carrie had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing Dan Pink, author of two New York Times bestselling books, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us and A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future. She then wrote an article for Independent School’s themed issue on the importance of encouraging generative thinking.
“I know it sounds strange,” says Daniel Pink, taking a bite of his nut roll, “but when I was 10 years old, I was absolutely fascinated with work. I loved finding out about what adults did all day. When I went into stores and restaurants, I wanted to get behind the counter to understand the process, to see what was going on back there.”
I am sitting at a small table in the basement coffee shop of Politics and Prose Bookstore in Washington, D.C., having a conversation with the best-selling author, and I had just asked him what motivated him to write his four books.
- Carrie Kennedy to be member of author panel at Penguin Bookstore
May 2010 -
Carrie was honored to be asked to sit on an author panel as part of Quaker Valley School District’s Career Education Program. On May 18, she will join several other area authors at Penguins Bookshop in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, to answer students’ questions about the field of writing. Her most sage piece of advice will likely be a quote by Richard Bach that she has hanging above the computer in her home office: “A professional writer is an amateur writer who didn’t quit.”
- Carrie Kennedy teaches Osher Course at University of Pittsburgh
March 2010 -
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute offers continuing education opportunities for those aged 55 and older at over 120 American colleges and universities. On Wednesday, March 17, Carrie began teaching a five-week course on mythology on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus. Her course, titled “The Truth About Myths: Recognizing the Relevance of Classical Mythology,” revealed how the timeless myths still impact science, vocabulary, art, literature, movies, and popular culture.
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is part of the University's College of General Studies
"Carrie is an exceptional instructor. Her educational background and training shone through in this course. She was knowledgeable and organized, she communicated clearly, and she demonstrated both humor and respect."
"Carrie was a joy to have as an instructor, and I'd take another course from her in a heartbeat."
-- comments from Osher students' course evaluations
- Panorama receives recognition from American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA)
March 2010 -
Panorama was recently selected for a juried design show sponsored by the Pittsburgh chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). Hundreds of communications pieces were submitted, and Panorama was one of only a handful of books accepted. A reception was held at Pittsburgh’s SPACE Gallery on March 11, and Carrie was thrilled to attend with her husband, Kevin Kennedy, the book’s designer. Kevin is Vice President and Creative Director of Mizrahi, a marketing communications firm in Pittsburgh.
The AIGA show, titled Context, is open to the public through March 21.
- Carrie Kennedy to present at Carnegie Science Center's Astronomy Weekend
March 2010 -
Carrie has begun working with the team at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Science Center’s Buhl Digital Dome to develop a program, “Astronomy and Mythology: The Stories in the Stars.” The program, which features Carrie talking about classical deities and retelling myths while planets and constellations are projected onto the dome, will be debuted as part of the Science Center’s Astronomy Weekend on March 27 and 28.
Carrie is scheduled to speak at 3:00 on Saturday, March 27 and will also be signing copies of Panorama before and after her program.
- Carrie Kennedy made mythology modern at the Green Tree Library
March 2010 -
Children in grades 4 through 8, along with their interested parents, packed a room to hear Carrie Kennedy speak at Pittsburgh’s Greentree Library on Tuesday, March 9. Her presentation, “Everyday Mythology,” revealed just how relevant mythology is in modern times: from cereal to Nike shoes to hit song lyrics, the subject remains a key component of our cultural literacy. Carrie also drew connections to the Percy Jackson series of books and the recent release of the first movie, The Lightning Thief, helping her audience better understand the mythological references in the works.
- Carrie Kennedy to be published in national magazines
January 2010 -
During the first few months of 2010, Carrie Kennedy has been invited to speak in classrooms and at homeschooling and Montessori events about the subject of classical mythology, as well as the timely topic of the Olympic Games. Events could actually have been held in her own backyard because of the record-setting snowfalls in Pittsburgh for the month of February!
Carrie also completed two articles that will be published within the next few weeks. The first, a piece on the importance of generative thinking, will be the online feature for the spring issue of Independent School, the award-winning magazine published by the National Association of Independent Schools. The article centers on Carrie’s personal interview with New York Times bestselling author Dan Pink and his new book, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.
Carrie’s second article will be a feature in Hamilton College’s Winter 2010 alumni magazine. For this piece, Carrie wrote about her experience of choosing to leave a traditional workplace to be at home with her children, and she enjoyed interviewing several other alums that made this same choice.
- Carrie Kennedy signing books at three Pittsburgh venues
December 2009 -
On Saturday, December 5, Carrie will appear at the Heinz History Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, for their annual History Center Book Fair. The event is free and open to the public, and runs between 10:00 and 2:00.
On Monday, December 7, Carrie will be one of three authors at Pittsburgh’s Joseph-Beth Booksellers’ “Home for the Holidays Local Author Night.” Please stop in to see her, along with novelist Lianne Norman and children’s author Dave Crawley, between 7:00 and 8:00 in Pittsburgh’s South Side Works. Learn more at Joseph-Beth Booksellers.
Carrie enjoyed a successful signing event at Sewickley’s Penguins Bookstore in November, and has been invited back for another event on Saturday, December 12, from 11:00 to 1:00.
- Carrie Kennedy featured in Sewickley Herald article
December 2009 -
Carrie Zuberbuhler Kennedy wants people to know that Greek mythology doesn't have to be "all Greek" to them.
In her new book, "Panorama: An Introduction to Classical Mythology," readers can find out how some of the stories have carried over to current society.
The 1986 graduate of Sewickley Academy and former academy eighth-grade English teacher last week was among five local authors signing books at Penguin Bookshop.
- Panorama now available at Pittsburgh, Washington, DC, and Denver area bookstores
November 2009 -
Borders - North Hills
8000 McKnight Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
(888) 812-6657Borders - Eastside
5986 Penn Circle South
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
(412) 441-1080Joseph-Beth Booksellers
2705 E. Carson Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15206-4499
(412) 381-3600Penguin Bookshop
420 Beaver Street
Sewickley, PA 15143
(412) 741-3838Politics and Prose Bookstore
5015 Connecticut Avenue
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 364-1919Bookies
4315 E. Mississippi Avenue
Denver, CO 80246
(303) 759-1117
- Carrie Kennedy profiled in Pine Creek Journal
October 2009 -
Local author offers new take on classical mythology
By Kristy Locklin, Staff WriterCarrie Kennedy thinks about classical mythology all the time, even at the breakfast table. The word cereal, she explains, is derived from the name Ceres, the Roman goddess of the harvest.
As an eighth-grade English teacher at Sewickley Academy, Kennedy tried to relay her passion for myths to her students, but she felt the standard textbooks were dry and overly complicated. Instead of embracing the epic stories of Homer and Virgil, the kids got bogged down in boring details and tongue-twisting names.
- Carrie Kennedy presents at annual PAISTA Conference
October 2009 -
Carrie traveled to the Kiski School in Saltsburg, PA, the location of the annual conference for the Pennsylvania Area Independent School Teachers' Association. Her workshop, titled “More than Story: The Limitless Possibilities of a Well-Designed Mythology Course,” was filled to capacity and drew teachers from all disciplines. Carrie discussed the current works of both Howard Gardner and Daniel Pink and lead a discussion on how subjects such as mythology can encourage students to become more creative thinkers and more compassionate learners. After the talk, Carrie headed over to the vendor’s hall, where she was delighted to meet and greet teachers and administrators and sell copies of Panorama and its teachers’ guide. For more information about PAISTA, please visit www.paista.org.
- Clew Publishing represented at 2009 CAAS Convention
October 2009 -
Carrie Kennedy traveled to Wilmington, DE, to attend the 2009 Annual Meeting of the Classical Association of the Atlantic States. Carrie felt fortunate to meet so many interesting teachers and to have the opportunity to dine next to Mary Brown, current Executive Director of CAAS. Click here to visit CAAS' website.
- Carrie Kennedy sells her first books at the Bridgewater Book Fest
September 2009 -
The Book Fest, attended by nearly 40 authors, ended up being a perfect venue for Carrie’s first official book signing. She and her husband, Kevin, had a successful day and enjoyed meeting and sharing ideas with other writers and publishers. Kudos to Book Fest co-ordinators Cassie and Val Brkich, who did an outstanding job organizing and promoting the event.
- Norma Goldman "wraps" with Carrie Kennedy at Excellence Through Classics event in Pittsburgh, PA
July 2009 -
After meeting classicist, author, and costume expert Norma Goldman at the ACL Institute in June, Carrie was thrilled to have the chance to see her again when Norma came to Pittsburgh as part of an ETC 20th anniversary event. And this time, Carrie was lucky enough to be wrapped up in an original Goldman creation as part of a Roman fashion show, held in the Carnegie Museum's stunning Hall of Architecture. Carrie, along with Minimus Latin series author Barbara Bell and a dozen other models, were the envy of all the museum patrons who saw the show.
The day after the Carnegie event, Carrie gave a presentation at one of Pittsburgh's Barnes & Noble bookstores to a gathering of great teachers. Her talk focused on Howard Gardner's multiple intelligence theories and how well they can be incorporated into the study of classical mythology. Carrie also spoke about Panorama and received enthusiastic comments on her book.
The photo below shows Norma Goldman, center, with Carrie and Pittsburgh-based teacher Zee Ann Poerio, who did an outstanding job organizing the events to celebrate ETC's anniversary. Click here to learn more about ETC and its National Mythology Exam.
- Carrie Kennedy presents to the American Classics League Institute in Los Angeles, CA
June 2009 -
In June, Carrie attended the ACL’s Institute, where she shared preview copies of Panorama and made a presentation on the ease of teaching mythology through differentiated instruction. She enjoyed the experience and was thrilled with the warm reception she received from so many passionate and dedicated teachers. In the photo below, Carrie is standing in front of the gorgeous Getty Villa, where many of the Institute’s attendees spent a Saturday afternoon. Visit the American Classical League’s website at www.aclclassics.org.
- PRIMA newsletter features article, “Kennedy Promotes Classical Mythology, Multiple Intelligence”
May 2009 -
An article on page 4 of the Excellence Through Classics Spring ‘09 newsletter describes how Carrie was inspired by Joseph Campbell’s comment that it’s “the teacher’s job to help you find your Ariadne thread.” And the piece goes on to describe that her book, Panorama, was a chance to weave together her love of stories, her passion for clear writing, and her appreciation of individual learning styles. Download a PDF of the newsletter here.
Carrie would like to thank ETC Chair Micheal Posey for all the effort he put into PRIMA, and she really enjoyed meeting him in Los Angeles.
- Carrie Kennedy speaks at Pennsylvania Classics Association’s meeting in Easton, PA
March 2009 -
Carrie debuted her mythology book to the classics community at the PCA event in eastern Pennsylvania. After an outstanding presentation by renowned classics professor Terence Tunberg of the University of Kentucky, Carrie gave a talk on various approaches to teaching mythology, and she enjoyed getting to know classics teachers from her home state. Click here to visit the Pennsylvania Classical Association’s website.
