A successful author event!

Last week, the Deschutes Public Library hosted author Roland Smith.  He visited middle schools throughout Central Oregon and I loved spending the day with him, traveling to different schools and hearing about his writing experiences, his popular books and his amazing animal adventures!

“Writing is revision”  —Roland Smith

Smith was inspiring as he shared his history and expertise with animals, how he became a writer and then highlighted his twenty-five books. They asked curious and a few silly questions.  One of the most popular questions asked was, what is your favorite book?  Smith’s favorite book is To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee.  He’s read and listened to it over and over.

Another favorite question was, “Do you write in first or third person?”  He said it depends on the story.  “First person is more personal.  Beneath is written in first person but not really.  It’s an epistolary story so it has newspaper articles, tape recorder conversations, emails,” replied Smith.  He wrote one of my favorite books, Tentacles, on a cruise ship, working through the rough draft from Rome to the United States.  He said, “A cruise ship is the perfect place for writing.”

A question I always ask authors and illustrators is, what odd or unusual object is in your office?  Smith’s answer was an Elephant Bell. What’s an Elephant Bell?

“The bell is made out of teak by the Burmese oozies (mahouts) deep in the Burmese jungle. The timber elephants are let go in the afternoon after work to wander freely. Early the next morning the oozies go out to find their elephants for another day of work. They find their elephants by the sound of the bell. Each bell has its own unique tone. The rope attached to the bell is made by the oozies out of tree bark. There’s no hardware store where they live. I spent several weeks in elephant camps doing research for Elephant Run,” said Smith.

School librarians and teachers were so involved in getting their students excited about the author visit.  (Thank you teachers and librarians!) By reading his books aloud in class, creating displays in the halls, and painting and drawing his book covers for a welcome sign, it all made for a successful visit! I visited each school with book talks and asked them what kinds of questions they would ask Smith.  I even brought my typewriter! (Roland Smith collects and writes with typewriters.)

After one of his visits, Becky, a sixth grade teacher at Sisters Middle School said, “The kids raved about him… if I had 100 copies of Beneath, they’d all be checked out!”

What is your favorite Roland Smith book?  Have you read Beneath?

For more information about Roland Smith, his writing adventures, and his latest books please explore his website. www.rolandsmith.com
Follow him on twitter @RolandCSmith or hang out with him on facebook.com/Roland.Smith

Paige Bentley-Flannery is a Community Librarian at Deschutes Public Library. For over fifteen years–from Seattle Art Museum to the New York Public Library to the Deschutes Public Library-Paige’s passion and creative style for art, poetry and literature have been combined with instructing, planning, and providing information. Paige is currently serving on the ALSC Notable Children’s Book Committee, 2015 – 2017. She is a former Chair of the ALSC Digital Content Task Force and member of the ALSC Great Websites Committee.