Tell a teacher you appreciate what she/he does!

While tending to my book-selling booth at the Autumn Leaves Festival in Mt. Airy, N.C. this weekend, one of my students bounced into the booth with her parents to say hello, and lots more.

I teach public speaking at a community college, and this particular student had been dreading taking the class prior to arriving in my classroom at the beginning of the semester. See, she'd given presentations before to other classes, and felt horrible about her performance and about speaking in general. What a treat it was to hear her mother thank me for making the class (and subject) fun and exciting, so her daughter no longer feared public speaking!

The student isn't afraid anymore! That's music to a teacher's ears. Another plus was that her mother, who teaches high school science, has been enthralled with my games and techniques that her daughter shares with her. The science-teaching mom now uses these games and fun techniques with her students...and I hope she has students who come up afterward and thank her. It means so much to a teacher to hear what she/he does matters. 

Hospitality still thrives in Greensboro

I had the opportunity to visit with the members of Greensboro's oldest book club last week. I told them about my books, and they in turn shared with me their hospitality. The delicious cake served was nearly as sweet as the women were, as they asked questions about my writing.

One woman in particular knows Oriental, North Carolina, far better than I do (and I know it fairly well, having kept a sailboat there for years). We shared stories of the place and the people -- and she's quite familiar with Lukens, the location of my novel, Leaving Lukens.

My thanks go out to the ladies of Ex Libris Book Club for hosting a delightful afternoon of book talk and true southern hospitality.