Michele Wilson

I am a writer and avid reader, so it is no wonder that my eldest daughter came full circle with books and reading. I taught her to read, read to her, had her read to me, caused her aversion to reading due to my obsession with it, and then brought her back to the printed word in her early teenage years by recommending books that threw a monkey wrench in her spiritual path. She has been complimented and urged to further explore her writing talents - which come from good reading - by all of her English instructors for the duration of her high school career. I feel that both her reading and writing capabilities will bode well for her next year in college. In the meantime, I get to do it all over again with my now 8 month old daughter. I've been exposing her to letters, sounds, words, visual aids, and even those videos designed to help your child learn to read since she came home from the hospital. I am confident that things will go smoothly with this one. Also, my daughter and I are planning to assist a young man who managed to get most of the way through school while being incapable of reading! He is in his late teens and has a baby due in the coming months, and we feel that he needs to learn to read so that he can better provide for his newborn once he gets here.

A TRUE INSPIRATION, MICHELE!

Ann Boyle

If you're a parent, force your kid to read. That's what I did, and the payoff has been remarkable. Turn off the TV, take away the cell phone, lock up the video games, and hog tie your child to the sofa if you have to, but give them that time where it's either sit there and stare at the wall, or read--10 to 1, they will read. Make sure it's a book that suits their interests. If you don't know what those interests are, then take them to the library, let them wander, and see where they end up. If they start a book and don't like it, don't force them to read it--simply have them pick out another one--after all, books at the library are FREE so there is nothing to lose. The trick is to find that one book that will hook them, drag them in, and hold them fast. It's out there--you've just got to find it. Once that happens, you won't have to hog tie them to the sofa anymore--you might even have to tell them to put the book down while they're eating/walking/sleeping, etc.

CONQUERING ONE CHILD AT A TIME

Peggy Bechko

I'm a many times published writer and optioned screenwriter. I've written articles to help new writers, post frequently to my blog and tweet online helps to writers. My most ambitious and fun undertaking has been teaching a two day workshop to young kids in which they were guided to write a wtory and then illustrate it with help from professional printmaker Linda Hunsaker. Their small books, which they took home with them from the workshop contained their stories and the print illustrations they created. It was a wonderful experience and those young writers left eager to hit the library and find books to read and examine.

MAKING TEACHING FUN IS THE KEY! THANKS, PEGGY

John Wesley Gream

I have always enjoyed writing, and when in JR. high school, some of my writings actually frightened my teacher. I take a little pride in that. Many of my works, my poetry and novel, come from dreams. I also have a very vivid imagination, which is a huge plus. I have written 3 stage plays, have had 2 poems published over the years, and have just finished writing my first novel. I am busy working on the sequel to Blood of the Scorpio, titled Wolves in Madrid. I love the aspect of entangling the idea of pirates and vampires, as well as other mythical creatures and beings in my novels. I only hope those who read my works enjoy reading them as much as I have enjoyed writing them.

THANKS FOR THE CONTRIBUTION, JOHN