Writers

and Contributors

Rebecca Locklear

This is the space where people try to sum up their lives in three sentences.

    1. I’m interested in everything and need another life to accomplish all the things I want to do.
    2. My motto is Dum vivimus, vivamus, which in Latin means “Let us LIVE while we live.”
    3. I’m a writer, preschool through grade 12 multiple-subject teacher, professional pianist and choral director, and outdoor enthusiast…who also enjoys sharing teaching ideas.
    4. My teaching style? Here’s a comment from a public school 3rd grader when he introduced me to his parents: “This is Ms. Locklear. Her class isn’t school.”

I better explain #4. Starting with my first teaching job, I’ve written productions, units, and curricula every year, creating experiences that were predominantly hands-on. Luckily, testing data…if testing is important to you…has documented that my students have excelled with my rather unusual instructional techniques. More importantly, they remained interested, enthusiastic, focused, and always seemed to rise above my high expectations.

I have a bit of writing backup from my former Principal, P. VanDenBrink: “Her intelligence and organization in curriculum writing and planning is outstanding.”

NOTE: Rebecca…

  • Holds degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and Stephen F. Austin State University
  • Was Founder and Director of the 80-student Central Oregon History Performers – celebrating history through music, art, dance, and drama  (1996-2017)

Her writing has appeared in Al Akhawayn University Bridge (Morocco), As You Were: The Military Review, The Berwick Advertiser (England), The Choral Journal, The Mayflower Quarterly Magazine, Randall House Museum (Canada), and Wreck & Rescue Journal among others and she has served as Assistant Editor for the Journal of Media Discourse.

Ven Locklear

Ven Locklear is a concept artist and illustrator whose imaginative work involves bizarre creatures, epic fantasy scenes, menacing monsters, and surreal characters.

Ven draws the cover and interior illustrations for my books. (These illustrations are pretty far from “menacing monsters” but are really great, nonetheless!) He also edits my drama skits.

Currently, he works for Liquid Development on projects for WB Games, Zynga, Disney Interactive, 343 Industries, and Bethesda. Previously, he worked at Triptych Games, where he was lead concept artist on Borderlands 2: Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt.

Ven also writes articles, gives workshops, and takes on projects in the music industry. He developed creative projects and clothing for DJ/Producer Excision’s Lost Lands and Bass Canyon 2018-2020 events. He has a BFA in Illustration from Pacific Northwest College of Art.

Deborah Halston

Deborah Halston is the teacher you always wished you had! As a history, civics, and American Government instructor, she passes on her deep passion for history by engaging students in creative ways. A highlight each year is involving students in role playing doing historical impersonations for the Living History Museum school events.

I’ve not only worked with Deborah on history-based music-drama productions, but have used many of her humorous and entertaining plays in productions put on by Central Oregon History Performers. My favorite monologue is “Napoleon, Man of Destiny.” (Find it under Individual Drama Skits and Plays on the home page.)

Deborah’s breadth of knowledge and musicianship has led her to also teach Music Appreciation, Technology, and Earth Science. In any area, her enthusiasm and energy inspires students to question and to want to learn more. She develops thinkers.

Chris Green

Chris Green (d.2017), actor, playwright, and historian, collaborated with me on writing drama skits in “Give me a sword!” History Skits 1000-1500s and “Give me a lime!” History Skits 1700s. Basically, he wrote the skits and I adapted them for students

Chris had a way of relating history to modern audiences. As curator of the Berwick Borough Museum in Berwick-upon-Tweed, England (1990-2009), he emphasized doing historic scenes in the theatrical style appropriate to the period, and then involved the museum in major town festivals.

For example, in 2006, when Berwick commemorated the 150th anniversary of the end of the Crimean War, “the highlight of the programme was an action-packed performance, scripted and directed by Chris in which the gallant British soldiers and Royal marines fought off a surprise attack by a band of escaped Russian prisoners-of-war (Time to Explore…).” Chris had a passion for presenting history in a fresh form.

Chris not only wrote many drama scripts but also books of history. He also gave entertaining lectures on various topics. He was an amazing person with an exceptional mind and is truly missed.

Grady Locklear

When Grady Locklear was in college, he wrote two skits for Central Oregon History Performers that became hugely popular.

      • “The Legend of the Whydah,” an award winner (from the book “Give me a lime!” History Skits 1700s), has been performed by high school students all over the world.
      • “St. George and the DragonS: The Doctor’s Revenge” (from the book St. George and the DragonS) is a great deal of fun for performers and audiences.

Today Grady is a marketing manager, having earned a master’s degree in marketing communication, as well as a writer and editor. An avid traveler, he has lived in England, Spain, and S. Korea, and has visited over 20 countries.