ShortHand Publishing - South Rutland Author Visit

SOUTH RUTLAND ELEMENTARY

AUTHOR VISIT

NOVEMBER 27/03

Today was not our first author visit but the day would hold a few firsts. The first being, a visit to a Kelowna school, however technically the school is in Rutland. Many years ago Rutland was totally separate from Kelowna but as the years past more and more orchards were taken out and, the two became one. Having lived in Rutland, not far from the school, for just over twelve years I came to understand that people there will always call it Rutland, even though it is now considered Kelowna.

Another first was that today we would have an older group, a grade four class. We have had grade four’s before but they were mixed in with grades three so it a little different today. I felt for a moment a tiny hint of nerves, but they didn’t last long.

Upon our arrival to the school we were shown to the library where we met librarian/teacher, Betty Sigurdsen. We were also introduced to Betty’s assistant, Nancy Weninger who helped Mom carry in the rocking chair. Although we have been warmly welcomed at every school we have visited we have never had a “Welcome” sign displayed for us.

During the first week of November, the schools celebrate Canadian authors and apparently they keep the theme going all month. My visit came at a good time. They had a display on the bulletin board where they now posted a welcoming sign for me. Also pointed out to us, was a short review of both my children’s books that had appeared in the local paper the day before. So we now had an extra stop to make on the way home, picking up a few copies for ourselves.

Space in the library had been prepared for us ahead of time so setting up was done in short order. After a chat with Betty she went to Kathy Hefferman’s grade four class and informed them we were ready.

I found it interesting how the children, as they came into the room, found a spot on the floor in front of me and made themselves comfortable. Then, I found it rather amusing once everyone was settled, how the children turn themselves and their attention towards Betty Sigurdsen, who was on the opposite side of our allotted space as she began her introduction. At least they were going to be getting their exercise today.

After my warm introduction I began my opening remarks, starting with what has become a required greeting, “How is everyone today?”

“Fine,” was the answer.

And you know what comes next, right? Yes, I ask a second time. However today I asked three times before I got the response I was looking for. I really like that part!

Also different today, because these were older children, I went into more detail explaining why and how I started to write. After a longer than normal opening Betty began to read The Rocking Chair Rescue, and I wondered whether the story would be too juvenile. Great applause after the story told me it hadn’t been.

Now, my favorite part of the visit, the questions and answers. There were the usual questions about why the rocking chair was no longer white and if this was a true story.

We went into great detail about the illustrations and how I had to learn to express myself better, “Having first lived the story I had a picture in my head of how everything was and it wasn’t always easy to convey that to someone else.” I told the children. “I learned a lot from working with my first illustrator so when it was time for the second episode and a new illustrator, I was ahead of the game.”

We also covered in more detail the writing aspect of the story and the publishing of it. Having my Mom as my publisher is great but that leaves us to do all the promoting, which is a learning experience in itself. (Be sure to check out the December Memo for more on this.)

At one point Betty paged through the second episode, Lost & Found, when she was done one boy asked, “Why isn’t Davey in the second story?”

I was amazed at how observant this young man had been. My answer to him with a chuckle was, “Well, he’s on the first and last page.” Then I explained that the story mostly centers around Kathy. “However, the third episode is more about Davey and a lesson that he learned, the hard way,”

One young man asked if the chair had been in a dumpster. It has been asked before where the story took place and today was no different. I explained that the story happened while my family lived in Saskatoon and that we had alleys behind our property and that is where we would put out trash. I mentioned that I didn’t ever remember having alleys in Ontario, this lead to questions about where I was born.

I might have confused my audience because another question was, “How many times have you moved?”

That wasn’t going to be an easy one to answer. I listed all the places I remembered living and then I asked if anyone had kept track. To my amazement several children had, although there was some discrepancies in the total number of moves. “Well, it was a rough account,” I told them.

Then after a warm round of applause for myself and then one for Mom it was time to say good bye, this is not the part I like. But as a wise man once told me, “Always leave them wanting more.”

As the children were lining up, Kathy Hefferman made a comment about the chair being happy that we rescued it and whether we had given it a good life. This lead to a suggestion for a story from the chair’s perspective, which I had never thought of doing but am now considering the possibilities.

So another successful author visit comes to an end. I’d like to thank Betty Sigurdsen for inviting us and to Nancy Weninger for carrying the chair for us and to Kathy Hefferman and her wonderful grade four class. This was an experience that I will not soon forget. Thank-you all! Until next time, be well! J

Note: After each and every visit I am left with such a great feeling that it’s hard to describe. This feeling carried on and what happened to Mom and I a little later in the day was just the icing on the cake so to speak. Actually because this was the day after my birthday, I suppose you could say it was the icing on my cake. Be sure to check out the December memo for the details.