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Health & Fitness

New York Times Best Selling Author Visits Kopachuck Middle School

Kopachuck Middle School and KPTSA successfully inspired students, promoted a local artist, and engaged a Gig Harbor book seller in an exciting event on June 10.

Kopachuck Middle School (KMS) welcomed Tacoma author Marissa Meyer to a gathering in the school library. Ms. Meyer's first published novel, Cinder, is a New York Times Best Seller; she recently published the sequel, Scarlet, and will publish two more novels in this young adult fiction quartet, The Lunar Chronicles

KMS librarian Hoa Weale arranged for Ms. Meyer to come to the school. Ms. Meyer spoke to a group of enthusiastic students, parents, and staff. A lively and engaging speaker, she captivated the audience. She began by asking aspiring writers or book illustrators to raise hands. Ms. Meyer spoke about her life-long fascination with fairy tales, and her particular interest in the grim original versions of fairy tales. She described how her career progressed from writing stories as a young child, to fanfiction as a middle-schooler, to attempts at novel writing during high school, then becoming a published novelist soon after college. She joked about her goal of publishing a novel before high school graduation: "How hard could it be, right?" she laughed, and shared that writing about an epic journey was a bit more challenging than she anticipated.

It was her entry in a fanfiction contest with the character of Cinder that garnered the attention of a publisher, while Ms. Meyer was working as a proofreader and typesetter. The idea for Cinder came to Ms. Meyer in a vision as she was drifting off to sleep one evening; she envisioned Cinderella running down the stairs away from a palace, and instead of a glass slipper falling off, her entire foot fell off! Thus began the intergalactic tale of a young cyborg mechanic, set in future Beijing. From the author's own website (http://www.marissameyer.com/book/book-one/): 

"Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless Lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future."

Students asked a wide range of questions about her characters, writing process, future plans, and of course wanted to know if Cinder will be turned into a movie! Ms. Meyer explained that authors have little control over the movie process, once the rights to a book have been sold to a studio. She also divulged that authors do not have much, if any, say in the cover design for their books, because the publishing house assigns an illustrator (she is quite happy with the cover artwork on her novels). When asked how long it takes to write a novel, she explained that stories go through multiple drafts and that the revision process is typically much longer than the initial story-writing process. Her advise to aspiring writers is to keep writing, and keep reading, to refine skills. 

The Kopachuck Middle School Parent-Teacher-Student-Association (KPTSA) supported a library social immediately following Ms. Meyer's presentation, inviting parents from feeder schools and the KMS community to meet the author and socialize in the library as Ms. Meyer signed books. The library is a vital facility for students and teachers in middle school, supporting literacy and social engagement around literature. The library also provides a calm, safe place for students seeking quiet time during the school day. Inviting parents and community members into the library can build a connection with, and support for, the school library. Being in the space encourages adults to reconnect with the comforting, inspiring environment of a school library, and awareness of the broad range of learning tools that library offers today. 

KPTSA also reached out to Gig Harbor bookseller Mostly Books to participate in the event. Mostly Books attended to sell copies of Scarlet and Cinder; many students purchased books and had them signed by the author! In fact, Donna Bucholz sold all the books she brought, and took orders for more; the store is re-stocking both novels. Mostly Books generously donated a gift certificate for a prize drawing at the social. 

The KMS Library book signing and social represents a wonderful example of how parents, teachers, artists, and retailers in our community can work together to build exciting, educational events that benefit all. 

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