Local author shares ideas with Washington-Monroe students

[May 27, 2011]  Susan Kirby, from McLean, was the guest speaker at Washington-Monroe Elementary School on Thursday. She shared her experiences and encouraged students to read more and write their own stories. Her grandson, Bryce Watkins, is a fifth-grader at the school.

"He asked me to come and speak to the students," Ms. Kirby explained, "and he knew I probably would because he knows I'm a soft touch. I enjoy talking about my books, and I want the children to know it can be a fun experience. You learn a lot of things as you research and write your stories." 

Kirby has written more than 40 books. Over half of her books were written for children, but she also enjoys writing women's fiction. She has received the Friends of American Writers Award, among others.

Ms. Kirby published her first book in 1982. She wrote in the evening after her children were in bed and during the day while they were in school. Now she tries to write several times weekly, if not daily.

While explaining the process of researching and writing stories, Ms. Kirby told the students of Jennie Wade, a woman from Atlanta, who joined the circus as a young girl. By researching Wade's personal story and using it for reference, Ms. Kirby was able to write an authentic story, "Ida Lou," about a girl who joined the circus.

Ms. Kirby encouraged the students to daydream and let their imaginations create stories they could write to share with their parents and friends. She told students to read a variety of books in order to learn about new things.

"What happens in your childhood will impact you for the rest of your life," Ms. Kirby told the students, "and if you write things down, keep a journal, you will have several story ideas already started." 

Susan Kirby grew up in the Funk family and was familiar with the maple syrup process at an early age. She used the maple sap harvest in one of her stories.   

Fifth-grade student Kevin Rhoades has been a faithful reader of Susan Kirby's books for a long time. One of his favorites was "Daniel's Story."

"It is about a boy who tries to get a job to save money in order to visit his dad," Kevin explained, "and he gets fired and has trouble with people. It has conflicts and struggles like Mrs. Kirby said we should use to make stories interesting."    

Students at Washington-Monroe had a chance to win one of Susan Kirby's books in a drawing. Winners of those books were Cassie Everson, Tony DiPasquale, Spencer Dinger, Aundrea York, Abi Steffens, Lyndsi Alley, Megan Siddens, Hillary Lucas, Jay Hanks and Kevin Rhoades. 

[By MARLA BLAIR]