CHERRYVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

AUTHOR VISIT

Sept. 15/03

I never thought that I would look forward to another school year. I suppose I wouldn’t if I was going to be a student again. But now, things are different and I visit the schools as an author.

I can’t express the joy I feel when I watch children’s faces who are being read my stories. As Sally Field might say, “They like them! They really like them!”

Since the first book was released last April and not much of the school year remained, we were only able to visit four schools. But this year, we started early!

It was during the Cherryville Festival of the Arts in August that I met a grade two teacher from Vernon, who asked if they had my books in their library. When I said, ”No, which school are you from and when should I call?”

She suggested that I begin calling “as soon as someone is there to answer the phone.”

Not wanting to be too pushy I waited two days. Then I called her school and was immediately met with a warm response and before I hung up the phone, I had my first author visit booked. However it wouldn’t be the first visit of the year.

It seems appropriate that our first visit should be in Cherryville, as that is where I was encouraged to continue my author visits.

I spoke with Principal/Librarian of Cherryville Elementary, Mr. Brian Stevens a couple of times before the visit. He assured me that he and the teachers were very excited about my visit. Some of the teachers remembered me from the previous year, as well as the school already having the first episode of my series. Some mentioned seeing me on the news too.

As we walked to the front door of the school none other met us than Mr. Stevens. With mom being loaded down with all our things, (she never lets me carry anything) Mr. Stevens kindly offered her a hand. Once in the library we discussed the set up.

Being well organized it was in short order three girls from I believe, grades 5 and 6 came in to help clear away some books and tables. After asking if he could be of any help Mr. Stevens left us to set up our things. It’s at this point I tend to get a little nervous. I have never in my life, pictured myself as a speaker. But here I am speaking to kids in many different schools. I should have known from past schools how great the kids are and that I had no reason to be nervous.

And once the children started filing into the library in an orderly manner and I saw the smiles on their faces, all nerves vanished! As I waited for all the classes to arrive, I started thinking about my school years. I couldn’t remember having any special guests come and speak to us. Now that isn’t to say we didn’t, it just means that I don’t remember any. I also couldn’t remember that we even had a library. I remember all the halls in the school and where every class was, but I just can’t remember a library.

After all the children were settled in place Mr. Stevens gave a very warm introduction for me and Mom, saying in part, how pleased he was to receive my call asking if they’d like me to come and visit his school.

Then I spoke to the children for a few minutes explaining how I started writing books. I asked if any of them had read the first episode, a few had. Then I turned things over once again to Mr. Stevens and he read Lost and Found.

This story is a bit longer than The Rocking Chair Rescue and I wondered if it would be too long. It seemed that it was for the kindergarteners anyway. As we got past the middle of the story they all, one by one started to lie down on their cushions. It was a very cute sight, and Mom must have thought so too, as the next thing I know she was taking a picture of them.

I don’t know about other authors but I was wondering if this story was going to go over as well as the first one did. It’s funny when I was writing it, I thought it was a great story. Then by the time it was finally published, I somehow didn’t think it was as good as it once was. I wonder if that could be because I have not only written it, but I’ve read it at least a million times.

I read it as I wrote it. Then I read it, as I re-wrote parts. Then I read it, as I did a rough edit. Then I read it again when I was out lining the illustrations for Fawn. Then, after that, I still changed some parts and read it again. Then, I went over it one more time before finally giving it to Mom to proof read. Then before sending it to my editor, I read it again.

Once we send it to the printers I receive a “proof copy.” This is the entire book printed out in book form; all the pictures are included in black and white. We need to make sure that the pictures match the page, before sending it to press, after that, there is no turning back.

Once I have it in the “proof” form I read it over very carefully to make sure that every word and punctuation is correct. Then Mom usually goes over it as well. Once that is done we send it back to the printers and a few days later we receive another copy with all corrections made.

Then I get to read it yet again. Sometimes we still catch a few things that slipped by the first time. And finally, when I get the final product in my hand, what do you think I do? That’s right, I read it one last time.

I always enjoy hearing someone else read my stories because each time I hear it, it sounds different to me. I think the children at Cherryville Elementary enjoyed it as well; there were a few giggles here and there. Even Mr. Stevens nodded at me with approval at one point. I can’t tell you at what point because that would give away part of the story.

After many great questions from students and teachers alike, and I hope good answers, it was time to say good-bye. The children gave me a warm round of applause and then it was over.

I’d like to thank Mr. Brian Stevens for making my visit a memorable one. I’d also like to thank the teachers, Cindy Gatzke for Kindergarten and Grade 1, Renee Clarke from Grades 2 and 3 and Megan Lee from Grades 4 through 6. And of course I’d like to thank all the students for making me feel at home! I had a great time. J