Lisa Dale Norton is the author of the upcoming “Shimmering Images: A Handy Little Guide to Writing Memoir “ (St. Martin’s Press, August 2008) and the critically-acclaimed memoir, “Hawk Flies Above: Journey to the Heart of the Sandhills.”

The popular teacher and speaker inspires audiences throughout the world with her passion for the power of personal stories to change lives, and she has taught thousands of students about writing. She founded the Santa Fe Writing Institute, teaches Creative Nonfiction and Memoir Writing for the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program and also works with private clients across the country who are writing Narrative Nonfiction books. She has appeared on television and radio discussing a number of topics related to storytelling and memoir and has recently begun blogging about writing.

“Literally millions of Americans want to be ‘writers,’” Lisa says, “and there have never been more outlets for their stories. In addition to traditional books, magazines, movies, television and even songs and poetry, we have millions of blogs, MySpace and Facebook pages, outlets for commentary, YouTube videos and other places where storytellers share and promote their creativity. ‘Shimmering Images’ was written for everyone from the beginning writer to those who write professionally to help them see their best stories are embedded in their memories and to help them get those stories on the page in a way that captivates readers.”

Her 1996 book Hawk Flies Above: Journey to the Heart of the Sandhills, a work of memoir and natural history writing (Picador/St. Martin’s Press), was dubbed comparable to the writing of Annie Dillard and Terry Tempest Williams. “’Shimmering Images’ came after I wrote my own memoir based on everything I learned before and since,” Lisa explains.

“The word ‘writer’ has never had such a broad definition. I work with so many writers around the country and overseas—London, Berlin, Majorca—spanning every generation, every background and professional and personal goal. They represent the millions of others who are all seeking a way to make their life experience into a narrative that will captivate readers. Whether they want to write the next great American memoir or text to their bff better, they all have stories to tell.

“These are women in their 80s finding ways to share life wisdom, young working professionals, veteran corporate executives,” Lisa explains. ”One student is a psychiatrist in his 60s, another is a math professor thinking about retirement, and there are stay-at-home moms in my workshops and classes, college students, business leaders, teachers, really people from all walks of life looking back on their lives and searching for meaning.”

Lisa teaches that crafting a story about the past can give people a way to live their future with integrity and understanding. The iconic memories Lisa Dale Norton calls “Shimmering Images” are the secret.

“Why haven't you written?” Lisa asks. Her conclusion based on traveling the country teaching thousands of people, is that it's a sheer lack of know-how.

“What I love about Shimmering Images is it’s a concept anybody can grasp. It’s the old light bulb above the head when people get it and see how easy it is to link memories to make a longer story,” Lisa says.

“It’s all about being the hero of your own story and when people write their own stories, using their Shimmering Images, they have a chance to rewrite their past. My new book makes this possible.

Lisa lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She earned degrees from Reed College and the University of Iowa.

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