D58 Students Get Dose of 'Writing Life' at Author Fest 2014

Submitted by Downers Grove Grade School Dist. 58

District 58 students will have the chance to hear about the art of storytelling from some of the best in their field during the 2014 Author Fest, set for April 9-11.

Authors come to Downers Grove from all over the country during the annual event to talk about how they became writers, discuss their craft, answer students’ questions about the writing and/or illustrating process and talk about careers in literature. Visiting authors for 2014 include Blue Balliett, Julia Durango, John Madormo, Marianne Malone, Aaron Reynolds and Barb Rosenstock.

The Fest alternates each year between the north side schools and the south side schools, and this year’s host schools are Belle Aire, Henry Puffer, Highland, Hillcrest, Lester and Pierce Downer.

The LRCs at each participating school, as well as the classroom teachers, immerse students in the works of the visiting author before he or she comes to their school, and inter-library loans ensure that each participating school has books by each author.

The three-day event will wrap up with a book-signing featuring the authors and illustrators at Herrick Middle School, 4435 Middaugh Ave., on Friday, April 11. This evening book signing event is open to the public. Books will be available for purchase from Anderson’s Bookshop beginning at 6:30 p.m., and authors will sign from 7 to 8 p.m.

Author Festival is sponsored by the Downers Grove Area Council of Parent-Teacher Associations and the PTAs of the participating schools, with additional support from the Downers Grove Public Library, Anderson’s Bookshop in Downers Grove, Gatto’s Restaurant and Holiday Inn Express Downers Grove.           

This year’s Fest is being organized by Lara Vazquez and Kimberly Schmurr in conjunction with the PTAs of the participating schools, which also provide the funding for the authors’ appearances at their buildings.