Lower School
Children’s Author Inspires Writers at New Canaan Country School
New Canaan Country School welcomed acclaimed children’s book author, Kate Klise, to campus March 6 to speak to students about the craft of writing.
Ms. Klise, author of the popular 43 Old Cemetery Road series, Three-Ring Rascal books and Stand Straight, Ella Kate among others, presented to students in Kindergarten through sixth grade, talking about her life as a writer and the art of writing.
“Writing is a messy process,” said Ms. Klise. “It can be frustrating, too, unless someone shows you how to organize ideas to form cohesive and compelling narratives. Professional writers don't try to get it right in the first draft. Writers are like architects. We build stories carefully, sentence by sentence, so they can stand tall and evoke an emotional response in the reader.”
During the presentations, students were encouraged to imagine a character, to create a problem for that character, and then develop a story arc to create a compelling narrative. Klise also urged them to develop and use their own authentic style and form of expression.
“Visiting authors are very important to our literacy program at Country School. We are so grateful to have such talented writers such as Ms. Klise share their craft with our students,” said Lower School Librarian Jean Stevens who organized the day-long event.
Ms. Klise’s newest book, Stay. A Girl, A Dog, A Bucket List, will be released July 18, 2017.
New Canaan Country School
New Canaan Country School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and are afforded all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid policies or any other school-administered programs.
