Author Night at Montage

I'm finally getting back in the groove after a month away from writing and writing activities. I spent two weeks in Florida and two days after I got home, I got company for two weeks. My sister, Kay, and our friend, Becky, came to scrapbook. Becky stayed a week and Kay stayed on to be here for Easter with her great-grandchildren. More on the trip, their visit, and Easter later.

This Friday night, April 9, I'll be the guest speaker for the Friends of the Library Author Night at Montage in downtown Greenville. Doors open at 6:45 and the program starts at 7:30. Bill Westfall and J.R. Price will provide music and I'll talk about writing for children and my latest book, Heading West: Life with the Pioneers. The 38,000-word book is packed with information on the pioneer movement in the United States, especially during the second half of the 1800s. There are over 100 photos, many if which I took at our own Garst Museum and Shawnee Prairie. Also included are many old photos from the Library of Congress. The book has 21 activities for children to do that will help them learn more about what it was like to be a pioneer. The book is supposed to be for ages 8-12, but many adults have bought copies because they are interested in that era and it contains so much information. I'll talk about the book, from idea to publication, including research and the actual writing. Copies of the book will be for sale and I'll be happy to autograph them for anyone who wants me to.

While in Florida I spent an afternoon speaking to third, fourth and fifth-graders at Bayshore Elementary in Port St. Lucie. The Media Center Specialist, Jennifer Aldridge Bozone, was one of my third grade students here in Greenville and invited me to visit her. We had a great time and I enjoyed talking to the kids about how a book comes to fruition.

Coming up in May, I'll be part of the Author Fair for the Piqua Public Library on May 21 and 22. More about that later.