Local author Natasha Lowe visited the R.H. Conwell School in Worthington this week to talk about her books, how she creates her stories and to offer writing tips to third and fourth graders.
Her visit, part of a month-long focus on literacy at the school, was a big hit with students who sat on the floor of their classroom attentively hanging on every word as Lowe described how she created her characters and came up with plot lines for her stories.
Lowe shared photographs of shops, lanes and her grandmother’s house, all in Lancashire, England, which were inspirations for settings in her popular children’s book “The Power of Poppy Pendel.”
She also regaled the students with stories of her father, daughter and a childhood friend, all of whom influenced prominent figures in her book.
“I loved this,” exclaimed fourth grader Payton Shippee, 10, of Worthington. “We never really had an actual author come in to talk about their books.”
To illustrate the writing process, Lowe read the first draft of “Poppy Pendle,” comparing it with the published version.
The students, who are currently reading the book, were keen at picking out all the differences and were amazed when they heard that the book had gone through several incarnations before Lowe deemed it complete.
“When I was your age I never saw the point of revision, but now it is my favorite part of writing because it is where you can make your story so good,” Lowe said. “You want to be proud of your work so it is very important to put the time into revising.”
Payton, who is working on a three-page story he calls “The Rock,” said he had no idea creating a story would be so time-consuming. Still, after listening to Lowe he decided his piece could use a bit more attention.
“It is long now, but, I think I can revise it and turn it into five pages,” he said.
To impress upon the children that “nobody is perfect,” and everyone has the ability to improve, Lowe brought along a less than stellar report card that she received as an elementary-aged student in London.
She also told a story of being told by a teacher that she would never be a good writer.
“When you find something that you are passionate about, keep working at it even when you think it is too hard, keep trying,” she said. “And if you ever feel that you are not good enough to do something, just remember me.”
Once Lowe’s presentation was over, the students eagerly lined up to have her sign their copies of “Poppy Pendle.”
“I love doing local school visits. I think it is lovely for them to be able to hear about how to put a story together and to meet the author behind the book,” Lowe said. “It is also wonderful for me because I get to meet my readers.”
A resident of Deerfield, Lowe has written two other books, “The Courage of Cat Campbell,” and “The Marvelous Magic of Miss Mable,” which is scheduled to be released on Aug. 30, with a book-signing at World Eye Bookshop in Greenfield on Sept. 10.
The Hilltown Community Center invites any Massachusetts resident to come and meet their Navigators from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday at the Hilltown Community Center, 9 Russell Road, in Huntington.
The event gives residents of the Hilltowns the opportunity to meet the members of the Navigator team and to enroll in MassHealth or ConnectorCare.
Navigators assist people in enrolling and explain coverage options.
Participants can walk-in or call for an appointment at 667-2203 and ask for Buliah Mae, John, or Phil, or 238-4155 and ask for Eli.
Light refreshments will be served.
Hilltowners of all ages are invited to a wildlife program hosted by the Westhampton Council on Aging.
Wildlife rehabilitator Tom Ricardi, who operates a raptor rehab center in Conway, will present a program on birds of prey at 12:30 p.m. April 7 at the Westhampton Congregational Church, 1 Tob Hill Road.
Ricardi will display several live birds as he shares his knowledge about the characteristics and ecology of these raptors.
Dessert will be offered after the program. This event is free and open to the public and funded in part by a multigenerational grant from Highland Valley Elder Services.
Suggestions for this column on life in the Hilltowns can be sent to Fran Ryan at Fryan.gazette@gmail.com.