NHL Lockout
Halloween Traditions
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Cafeteria Craze
Sports Update
Teacher Hobbies
Page 15
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Pages 8 & 9
Best Selling Author Nicholas Sparks Speaks at Ravenscroft Casey Harris S
STAFF WRITER
teve McGill, English Instructor, jokingly said he put a “Message in a Bottle” to invite the famous romance novelist Nicholas Sparks to speak to his Advanced Placement Language classes after they read his novel, “Three Weeks with My Brother.” Sparks sat down with McGill’s AP Language and Composition classes and answered questions about his inspiration, his writing process, and specifically about the book McGill chose to use as part of his curriculum this year. Written by Sparks and his brother Micah, “Three Weeks with My Brother” is a real story of the brothers’ three week trip around the world after their parents passed away. It tells of the discoveries they made about the love and loss life brings.
While the majority of Spark’s works are fictional romances, “Three Weeks With My Brother” is a touching non-fiction novel that Sparks publicly says “is the one that people should read.” McGill coached Spark’s son, Miles, during his high school career in hurdles. “Steve didn’t have to do what he did for my son either and I think it is just, if someone does something nice, you know, I think you find a way to repay them. I was very honored that he chose to read ‘Three Weeks with my Brother’. It is a very special book to me,” explained Sparks. He shared many personal responses to questions from the audience that helped them to further understand his family connections and the background for his novels. Later, he graciously signed all autographs and posed for countless photos with anyone who asked him to do so.
Will Barefoot, ‘13, Max Sminkey, ‘13 and Colson Dorafshar, ‘14, get their books signed by Nicholas Sparks after the discussion. Photo by Helen Velk
Q & A with Nicholas Sparks
Steve McGill enjoys a chuckle with Nicholas Sparks after commenting that he sent a “Message in a Bottle” to ask him to visit with his students. Photo by Helen Velk
Sparks Explains His Writing Method 1. The first thing I do is choose the age of the characters. My readers range in age from 12100 and the characters have to be relatable. Or, what’s the point?
2. The second thing is, how
they meet. It has to meet three criteria: 1. Be original 2. Be Interesting 3. Be Universal
3. Conflict. What is it that keeps them apart? No conflict, no story.
4. Next, what forces them together? 5. I have to decide the ending and there are only three endings. 1. Happy, which is defined as the couple gets together. 2. Or, tragic, one of them dies. 3. Or, bittersweet, they want to be together, but they can’t; like “Dear John.”
“Reading “Three Weeks with my Brother” and if you were to ask us what genre you would be famous for writing after reading that, I think, or I know I would guess adventure and action. What inspired you to write in the romantic genre?” -Will Barefoot, ‘13. “You know, it is interesting. “The Notebook” was a story inspired by my wife’s grandparents. And, so it was a story that I thought I could write and when I sat down to write I really wanted to write a book that could make an impact and I had this grand, big strategy. And, I said, this kind of genre might work, if I do it really well. So, I kind of chose that one for that reason. Had “The Notebook” flopped, maybe I would be writing adventure or thriller or horror or science fiction or anything else. It just so happened that “The Notebook” sold 23 million copies. So, look, then there is a choice you make. You think, well, I’ll just stick with this then.” “There are one or two novels that you wrote before you released “The Notebook” that you just kind of wrote for yourself. Have you ever thought of reviving or revamping them?” - Allison McAdams, ‘13. “Um. I, no. They would have to be rewritten from scratch.” “Are there some specific things in your writing where you can tell that, oh that is not going to be good or when you just, feel it?” - Mariel Ziperski, ‘13. “Everyone in creative writing knows this simple rule and it is not so simple to implement; you show, don’t tell. Anyone ever heard that? [laughs and groans from the audience] That’s hard! That is still hard now. I don’t want to write a book that you have read Emily Bedsole, ‘13, laughs before. Like the one that I am working on now, [ha, ha], you’ve never read it before, trust me! along with Mariel Ziperski, ‘13, who is quite impressed with And, it will move you.”
her own question to Sparks. Photos by Helen Velk