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Phone: 208.983.1200 |
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| Students publish stories with author's help |
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By Lorie Palmer
KOOSKIA -- Bette Blair was working at the Clearwater Valley Elementary School (CVES) library through a senior citizens job retraining program when she was approached by a student.
"She knew I had written books, and she had written a story and wanted to know about how to get it published," Blair recalled. Blair has written a nonfiction book as well as several children's books.
That was last year and that student is now sixth grader Ashley Moore.
"I helped her get her story ready, edit it and get it to my publisher -- Steeley Print & Binding in Lewiston -- and that was the start of something much bigger," Blair smiled.
Blair has since volunteered her time at CVES to help other children publish their books.
"It's a wonderful enrichment for our kids, to be able to work with Bette like this," said CVES principal Marc Scheibe. "She has gone above and beyond, and we want to continue this program she has started, no matter what it takes."
As always, money is an issue for the setup and publication of books.
"We are looking into some teacher-sponsored grants and other ways of funding the publications," Scheibe said.
Moore has used baby-sitting money and several of the other children have also earned money for their book setups -- $9 to $18.
"Cost per book depends on if they use their own illustrations and they are scanned in or of the company puts in their computer illustrations," Blair explained. Costs per book can range anywhere from $3 to $12.
Many of the children have used their books as gifts for family and friends.
"My parents thought it was pretty cool," said sixth grader Kelsie Evans.
"My story is about a troll and it was really fun to write," added Lane Pratt, also in sixth grade.
Teachers Mr. Conger and Mr. Nelson have allowed their students writing time and both said they have seen the excitement for books and the written word grow.
Nelson is in his first year at CVES and formerly taught at Elk City School.
"Earlier on at Elk City I figured out the kids' writing test scores were not that great and no wonder, we just didn't spend the time writing," Nelson said. He remedied that and has since had students spend time writing quality stories.
"Remember, hyperbole, protagonists, character development," he told his CV class. "Remembering these things help make a good story."
Nelson's students started out writing 300-word stories and are now up to 400-word stories.
"Being published is a real incentive to write well," he added.
The publishing has also another added bonus.
"I have seen the interest in reading and noticing the details in books really pick up," said CVES librarian Mrs. Hunter.
CVES students and staff are not the only ones who are excited about Blair's work.
"We at Steeley Print & Binding have worked with Bette since 2002. She is a gracious, caring person who, living through personal loss, refused to be defeated. She addressed the negative, wrote a book 'Valley Fire' to help bring closure and moved on," said business owner Betty Steeley. "She found working with children, helping to instill the 'spark' of writing to be a therapeutic, rewarding journey. She said just seeing the faces of those young writers who have had their 'book' printed is an unbelievable experience. She has the 'word' skills, and printing her own book helped to guide her young proteges in the correct procedure in how to put a book together for delivery to a printer."
Steeley Printing & Binding has a book available to help first-time publishers that can be obtained by going to their Web site at www.steeleyprint.com
"I'm glad to see the kids excited about writing," Blair smiled. "It has been a joy I didn't necessarily expect -- but I'm glad it happened."
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