October 9, 2007

Author! Author!

Campbell Union School District honors Rising Young Authors

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Editor

Every writer’s dream is to publish a book. And for a group of Campbell Union School District children, that wish came true.

Paparazzi swarmed the “Rising Young Authors” book signing at Barnes and Noble on Oct. 3.

“Writing is such a great thing for our kids to do,” said Campbell Union School District [CUSD] Superintendent Johanna Vander-Molen at the fifth annual Rising Young Author recognition event held at Barnes and Noble in Campbell. “It is so clear that as your kids write more and write better they can read more and read better. As they read more they truly become better writers.”

CUSD’s Rising Young Authors are a select group of students whose short stories and poems were chosen as the best among hundreds of qualifying entries at the May 2007 Writing Faire. Only one student author is chosen per school in third to seventh grades. On the evening of the Rising Young Authors event on Oct. 3, the students spoke of their short stories and poems at the award ceremony with a book signing afterwards.

In attendance at the event were Campbell Mayor Dan Furtado, Friends of the Campbell Public Library, edPal, the Assistance League, Barnes and Noble Bookstore Customer Relations Manager Mike Welch, teachers and family. Assemblyman Jim Beall sent commendations for each of the young authors.

It Takes a Village
The event was sponsored by the CUSD. Superintendent VanderMolen thanked Barnes and Noble’s Welch for holding the event at the Pruneridge store. The Rising Young Authors books were for sale with proceeds donated to the CUSD. A portion of the proceeds for any other book purchased in the store that evening was contributed as well.

Proud Blackford School Principal Matthew Nagle, left, congratulates student Zack Miles at the book signing of his first book “Goalie Zach—My Childhood Dream.” Photos by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

Thanks were also given to edPal, which created a CUSD store Web site to purchase the books. The Assistance League purchased gifts for the young authors: a journal and $20 gift certificate.

A special thank you was expressed to the Friends of Campbell Public Library, teachers and families who supported the Rising Young Authors.

Mouths of babes
Excitement filled the air at the standing-room-only event as each student shared the inspiration for his or her books. The subjects varied from dragons, turtles, witches, a new pet, a shaved eyebrow and even magic walnuts.

Lynhaven School fourth grader Erik Cuellar wrote of a bully that he experienced in real life. In “Jack and the Bully,” the main character discovers the bully is angry because he has no friends and so he becomes a best buddy to him. He dedicated his book to his mother, father, little brother because “they have given me a better life.”

Castlemont fifth grader Nora Kirsch’s story starts with “A Mysterious Dragon” in the front yard of the main character’s house. “But I’m not going to tell you the end,” Kirsh said.

After the Rising Young Authors speeches and before their book signing, there was a round of applause for the talented authors. Photos by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

Capri Elementary School’s Leslie Mavrakis, who is 10, titled her book, “We Finally Meet” sharing her recollections of meeting her cousin Ryan. “When I got to hold him it was the best day of my life,” said Mavrakis. “I want to be a teacher and maybe an author.”

Zachary Miles from Blackford Elementary School authored “Goalie Zach—My Childhood Dream” and had the audience in laughter with his speech.

“The book is about my childhood,” said Miles, who is in the fifth grade. “Thank you to my mom for helping with my project. In my free time, I goof off with my younger brother—we doodle, watch TV or bug my dad.”

Emma Miles was as excited as her son, Zachary. “This is a great experience for him and all the kids,” she said. “He even had his outfit picked out a week ago.”

Monroe Middle School fourth grader Kylah Wright presented “The Walnut and the Prince.” She thanked her family and teachers for support as did all the erudite authors. But Wright had a special objective in completion of her book.

“It was my goal to publish a book before I was 15,” said Wright. “Here I am!”

Campbell Mayor Dan Furtado congratulated the Rising Young Authors event held at Barnes and Noble in Campbell Oct. 3. Furtado, left is shown here with CUSD Superintendent Johanna VanderMolen.	Rolling Hills Middle School eighth grader Eva Dunn was surprised with flowers at the Rising Young Authors book signing. Dunn’s winning novel was “Alexis Lowe and Her Mysterious New School” where a coven of witches are discovered.