Happiest Evening at the Eleanor London Côte Saint-Luc Public Library!

Today, dear blog reader, I'm reporting in on yesterday's delightful event at the Eleanor London Côte Saint-Luc Public Library. I should start by saying that that was the first library I ever went to, and that Eleanor London used to check out my books at the front desk!

So yesterday at 5:30 I was greeted by 12 delightful young people (and several of their parents -- more on the parents later!). When I explained the kids would be doing some writing exercises, Elise called out, "Oh yes!" Did that ever put me in a good mood! Because honestly, when I was a teacher at Marianopolis College for 35 years (a job I adored), my students were not always that enthusiastic about writing exercises!

I asked the kids how many of them had been forced to come to my presentation by their parents. From my informal survey, I learned that about ten of the twelve had been, let's say, "coaxed" into attending! Lucy told me, "I was partially forced." I immediately noted that I liked her use of the word partially. I also liked when Shmuel said he was "minorly athletic." I don't know if minorly is a real word -- but I still like it!

I asked the kids what they think I do first thing every morning. (The answer I was looking for was WRITE and I had brought along my journal as evidence!) But I cracked up when Selena answered, "Yawn!" Good one, Selena! And use that sense of humour in your writing too!

Two twins attended the workshop, wearing T-shirts that said "Thing 1" and "Thing 2." I asked the twins, Juliet and Charlotte, if they generally got along -- the answer was yes. Excellent for real life, but I explained that in stories we need TROUBLE!

I read a teeny bit from my latest middle grade novel, Wanted: Your House, and I gave the kids as many writing tips as I could ... and indeed, they did two writing exercises! One was a letter game; the other exercise was based on a memory. (If you know me, you know I am obsessed with memories as a source of inspiration for stories.) I asked them to remember a moment when they had lost something. Shmuel wrote about losing a library book. I thought that could be the start of a beautiful story! Especially because he told us how badly he felt about the loss. As I explained to the kids, it's the FEELINGS that need to be real when we write!

Now, before I go, a word about the adults. I have to admit I was wondering at first what they were doing at the workshop! Haha! Did they come to make sure I was behaving?! Haha! Well... it turns out they were VERY SPECIAL! One was a kind supportive mom of a talented writer in the group. One was MY FORMER STUDENT SABRINA G! (Oh that made my day!! She'd been my student nearly thirty years ago, so we go WAAY back and she's NOW A TEACHER HERSELF!) And two were very special because they are related to one of my mom's closest closest friends. And it just so happens that in the book I'n working on, I've been writing about THEIR UNCLE DAVID. So, well, it just felt like a meant-to-be kind of day!

Thanks to Bronwen Cathey at the CSL Library for helping to organize the event; thanks to Melanie for keeping things running smoothly; thanks to the Writers' Union of Canada for sponsoring the event. But most of all THANKS TO THE KIDS. YOU WERE AMAZING. KEEP WRITING, KEEP READING, STAY ENTHUSIASTIC! Oh, and thanks to the adults too! You added to the fun!