Hackmatack Author Tour – Day Two Continues in Bath, NB

After another scenic New Brunswick drive, this time from Edmundston to Bath (with a gourmet lunch in Perth-Andover…yum…), I visited Bath Community School. I met with a range of grades, about 60 students strong (probably the largest group on my tour!). You were excellent listeners who laughed in all the right spots when I read Frostbite Hotel (phew!), and I think you had a record breaking number of questions. (It’s amazing we’re all not still there together chatting away, it was that fun!). I loved hearing about the books you are reading and – hooray! – the stories you are writing.

You had insightful questions about the writing process. I especially enjoyed how we talked about ways to build suspense in our stories – not necessarily to ‘trick’ out readers, but to keep pulling them along in the adventure. It’s why I didn’t tell you everything about ‘The Bear’ in Chapter One, but I gave some hints about Kirby’s sneaky antagonist, to make you wonder and want to read more. Guessing activates readers’ imaginations and makes them want to keep going. Try it out sometime in your own stories (but I suggest that you don’t make every sentence a guessing game, otherwise your reader will just say “Huh?” LOL).

I truly couldn’t believe the number of questions and comments from this group, and I couldn’t be happier about it. It means you enjoyed your Hackmatack experience and have a love of reading and writing that I hope you’ll carry with you forever. I will certainly remember my time at the wonderful, welcoming Bath Community School. And I want to say thank you so much for the incredibly special gift of locally made maple syrup, a hand-signed thank you card, and even an MM Award – what an honour!

I hope you enjoy the rest of your year (and do a lot of reading this summer.) All the best and…

…Till we meet again!

Karin 🙂