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Looking Back . . .
When I think of how it all began for me—and it's writing, of course, that I'm speaking of—I'm drawn back to Mary Lou Porter's first-grade classroom at Anna Wilson Elementary School in Crawfordsville, Indiana. It was in the warm melodic tones of Miss Porter's voice that Carolyn Bailey's Miss Hickory came so vibrantly alive for me. Why I was so captivated by stories about a twig with an acorn for a head remains a bit of a mystery to this day; all I know for sure is that Miss Porter's oval rug—guacamole green with frayed edges—her rocker, and her books led me on many an exciting adventure. It was in her classroom that the idea of story, especially the fantastic, first took root in me.
For much of my school career, I had a secret and passionate wish to be almost anyone else. Life as an only child did not suit me well; the isolation I often felt simply added to an existence I'd already christened intolerably dull. The adventures of comic book heroes such as The Flash and Spiderman gave me hope that would last for nearly a full weekend as I scrambled home from Mr. Whitecotton's Drugstore with a new batch of readings each Friday.
My best friends for many of my intermediate and middle-grade years were Frank and Joe Hardy, and I fancied myself a third Hardy brother who was yet to be discovered. When nary a Hardy Boy mystery was left that I had not read, I became a closet Nancy Drew reader—heading down to our local book store to buy them for "my sister." My love of mysteries drew me, next, to the works of Agatha Christie, whose very name promised greatness, and she delivered—exceptionally.
And then . . . Charlotte Warner stepped into my sophomore English classroom and gave me the chance to write my stories. Her style was unlike that of any teacher I had ever encountered. She was terrifically unimpressed with social status, athletic prowess, and wardrobe—the Holy High School Trinity. She cared more about ideas, and she gave us multiple opportunities to discover what we could do. It was in her classroom that I won the first of many writing competitions throughout my high school years; they were never her victories—always mine. I did not understand then, the gift she had given to me.
I was reminded of Mrs. Warner just a few years ago when I stood, as teacher, in my own eighth-grade language arts classroom, and a student challenged me to write my first young adult novel. As could be expected, the challenge was followed with loud and raucous shouts of "DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!" accompanied by the pounding of one too many junior high desks. I responded to that eighth-grade class by penning one of my most celebrated titles—This Side of Paradise (Pelican 2001).
Upon reflection, I have come to the conclusion that my experiences in classrooms, both as teacher and as student, have shaped my career in more ways than can possibly be measured. Such connections are easy to make with some of my titles such as T is for Teachers (Sleeping Bear Press 2005), The Principal's Night Before Christmas (Pelican 2004), and Life's Literacy Lessons (IRA 2001). Other books such as Over Land and Sea (Pelican 2005), My Brother Dan's Delicious (Pelican 2003), and my forthcoming YA novel Mergers do not reveal their classroom connections through their titles. The thread tying these books to school classrooms is invisible—elusive, perhaps, for those who don't have occasion to hear me speak of it in person—yet I can guarantee its existence.
And so my thanks to Miss Hickory for capturing me, to The Flash and Spiderman for rescuing me, to Joe, Frank, (Nancy—sshhh!), and Agatha for thrilling me . . . but most of all to students and teachers for walking beside me, opening doors for me, and challenging me to stretch in new directions. Your commitment to me through the years has been fantastic and a bit of mystery, too. •
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About the Author:
Steven L. Layne serves as a professor of literature and education at Judson College in Elgin, IL. Dr. Layne is a respected literacy consultant, motivational keynote speaker, and featured author throughout the world. His growing collection of titles for children and young adults include the multiple award-winning young adult thriller—This Side of Paradise, the picture book classic—The Teachers' Night Before Christmas, and the popular gift books—Life's Literacy Lessons and Verses for Dad's Heart. Steve lives with his wife and children in St. Charles, IL. To learn more visit www.stevelayne.com.
Recent Books:
T is for Teachers: A School Alphabet (Sleeping Bear Press 2005)
Over Land and Sea: A Story of International Adoption (Pelican 2005)
My Brother Dan's Delicious (Pelican 2003)
This Side of Paradise (Pelican 2002)
The Teachers' Night Before Christmas (Pelican 2001)
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