Author Encourages Cross Evangelical Lutheran Students to Write

Children’s author Steven Layne challenged students to explain which one of three claims were true:

     • He had driven a race car at the Indianapolis 500.

     • He had sung a solo at the U.S. Capitol.

     • His cousin was Zac Efron.

When one girl figured he had made an appearance at the Indy 500 because anyone can go to the famous race, Layne pointed out that not everyone could drive a race car. Another girl figured his cousin was Zac Efron – because, well, anyone could have a famous cousin. She said she figured she could be cousins with the president.

Alas, the truth was: Layne had sung at the U.S. Capitol.

The exercise was among a few he used Monday morning to show students that – no matter how young – they could be authors. He said he begins writing with just a paper and pencil, he writes a variety of types of books because he gets bored easily, and he wrote his first book in 1st grade.

“Everyone in this room is an author,” Layne said. “I may be the guest but everyone is an author.”

He cautioned that authors often get rejected and listed all the rejections he received on a project in 1994.

“'No’ hurts,” he said. “I said, ‘I quit.’ And I did – for one day.”

Seventeen years later he’s written 22 books and is working on two more.

He challenged the students to look in the mirror before they went to bed that night and recite: “I’m looking at an author.”

Layne’s visit kicked off Lutheran Schools Week for the school on Yorkville’s south side. Three teachers heard him speak last year at the Illinois State Reading Conference and decided he’d be good for their students, said Principal Sue Lopez.

Other activities this week include a fun fair, a Young Authors Day, and Grandparents Day on Friday, in which grandparents or other special people may visit the school, Lopez said.

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