Popular children’s author meets Meadowbrook students

By Emily Sorensen

Meadowbrook Middle School students got the opportunity to meet with popular children’s fantasy author Tui T. Sutherland on Nov. 10.

Sutherland, author of the “Wings of Fire” series, the “The Menagerie” trilogy and several other popular books, spent about two hours talking to 160 students in the school’s library.

This was the first time an author had visited Meadowbrook Middle School, said Heidi Uyloan, a teacher librarian at the school who helped organize the event. “A publisher in the area contacted me and asked if we would like to arrange for (Sutherland) to come,” said Uyloan. “I knew that our students were avid fantasy readers, so we had to have her come.”

Sutherland did two question and-answer periods for about 80 students each, talking about her books, how she got into writing and answering questions from the students. She also spent time afterward signing books and bookmarks for the students.

Sutherland also gave the students a preview of some of her upcoming books and their covers, including book six of her dragon-based “Wings of Fire” series, which will be released in January.

“I thought it was really informative,” said 7th grade student Kamryn Cruise. “I’m a big fan of her books, and it’s really nice to meet her. I liked being shown all the new books in her series.”

Sutherland said she was a publisher prior to becoming an author. “I was in children’s publishing,” she said. “That’s what I was reading and thinking about. I like reading and writing about children, because they’re optimistic and hopeful. Kids can do anything, they’re full of potential.”

This was the first time she’d spoken to a middle school, Sutherland said, though she’d spoken to many elementary schools.

Sutherland gave the aspiring authors in the audience several tips on how to get started. “Just keep writing,” said Sutherland. “As a kid, I was always starting stories and never finishing them. I didn’t finish a story until after college.” She also suggested future writers should read a lot, and talk about stories, as well as carry notebooks with them to take notes.

Sutherland also talked about how sometimes a story grows from characters, as her “The Menagerie” trilogy did, and how sometimes she starts by developing a world and then building a story around it, as she did with her “Wings of Fire” series.

“My favorite part was when she was explaining how she got inspiration,” said 7th grade student Gagandeep Singh. “I liked how she explained how she got ideas from reading. I never knew she was an editor. I also liked that she likes fantasy books and comes up with new dragons. She’s a really good author, and seems like a nice person to hang out with.”

“I learned a lot,” said 7th grade student Gracie Monroe. “I liked it a lot. I was a fan of her series (before), and I liked learning more about the dragons.”