1988 Oak Harbor graduate and famous author, Sandra Evans, treated students at Crescent Harbor Elementary with a visit about her first children's novel
Her message to third and fourth graders from Crescent Harbor Elementary was clear. “If you love doing something, don’t let others get in the way of you doing it.”
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| This Is Not A Werewolf Story by Sandra Evans |
The author of “This Is Not A Werewolf Story,” Sandra Evans, treated the students from three Crescent Harbor classes to an inside look at what it takes to be an author and her journey as a writer.
This was Evan’s first school visit since her book was published. It was fitting that it took place in the same town she graduated high school (OHHS Class of 1988). Her high school classmate, third-grade teacher Rebecca Ching, organized the event after her class read the book.
“We’ve had authors come and visit our class before, but knowing the author was from the same town, the students were even more excited,” Ching said. “This was easily their favorite author visit.”
Evans began the hour-long event with anecdotes of her childhood, the inspiration for her children’s novel and her desire to become a writer. She shared her struggles of getting published and the many times she faced rejection from agents. Overcoming adversity and working hard at her craft quickly became a theme of the discussion.
A questions and answer period followed and Evans was asked everything from sequel spoilers to how she knew she wanted to be a writer.
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Author Sandra Evans gave the students an inside look into the life of a published author.
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She later gave students an opportunity to view alternate book cover illustrations and gave away bookmark keepsakes. She also talked about items in the story that were directly related to Whidbey Island including the Switchboard at Fort Casey and the Penn Cove Massacre.
The life an author is not always easy for Evans and she showed a stack of unpublished work to support her claim. However, she articulated that writing was what she loved and that writers are rarely successful the first time they write something, it’s the fourth or even fifth time that works.
Students related to Evans and were genuinely awe-struck when they had a chance to meet her during the book signing period.
A current resident of Tacoma, she holds a Ph.D. in French Literature from the University of Washington is a part-time French teacher at Stadium High School.
Evans closed her session by teaching students a few French words and even how to count to ten in French. It was an experience that none of them will forget, including Evans.
