NEW PORT RICHEY – Imagine meeting a successful author and touring his home office – without even leaving school.

That’s what Gulf Middle School students did Tuesday, when three reading classes held a lively question-and-answer session with children’s writer Patrick Carman, using Skype – a Web-based technology that enables people to make free voice and video calls.

Carman writes kid-oriented mystery books, such as “Skeleton Creek” and “Ghost in the Machine.” His books, featured works in Gulf Middle reading classes, are exercises in technology themselves. Part of each story is told through a first-person journal, written from the point of view of junior detective Ryan, while the other half is told through online adventure videos, directed from the viewpoint of junior detective Sarah.

The books have sparked interest in reading throughout the school, said Marilyn Shafer, a media specialist there.

“Today, with all the electronic distractions, it’s hard to get students to pick up a book,” she said. “When we introduced these books, the students went wild. Now they ask every day, ‘Are we reading today?’”
School officials saw the live chat with Carman as a way to further stoke students’ enthusiasm.

“Sessions like these help kids make connections between their lives and the book, as well as the author of the book,” said Lin Carver, the school’s literary specialist.

Carman talked to the students from his home office in Walla Walla, Wash., and was projected on a large screen.

“Thanks for taking a few minutes to hang out,” Carman told the kids, who all waved in response.

Then he led a quick video tour of his home office and opened up the session for questions.

“How did you come up with the idea for ‘Skeleton Creek?’” asked Yanguier Bastian.

Carman said he toured a community much like the one that provided the book’s setting and encouraged students to discover their own special places to write about.

“That’s the great thing about imagination,” he said. “You might walk into a place and think it’s interesting. That’s a good clue you should write it down.”

Becky Carter asked Carman how he became a writer.

“I’ve done a lot of different things,” said Carman, who worked in advertising after abandoning his dream of being a stunt car driver. “It helps to have life experience to be a writer.”

Carman, who started writing at 35, told students it takes time to develop the life experience needed to be a writer.

“Being a writer is a journey,” he said. “It takes time to write something publishable.”

Carman told students he initially didn’t think he was smart enough to be a writer and that he wrote his first book in secret, not even telling his wife and two daughters. He attributed his writing success to a formula that includes creativity and hard work.

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1. jenni says:

   September 26, 2011 at 6:50 am

   i wish that i could meet patic carman

   Reply
2. Owen says:

   March 30, 2010 at 12:25 pm

   hi i am like ur #1 fan and i really like ur skeleton creek books and i was wondering if u could make any more please write back at owenlikes4@comcast.net thank you

   Reply