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Author Tamra Norton spoke to students at Eagle Valley Elementary School on March 25, about her fictional portrayal of a young girl whose father is deployed to Iraq.
Norton has written several young adult novels in addition to her middle grade books, "Make Me a Memory" and "Make Me a Home," which tell the story of Ali, an 11-year-old girl who goes with her mother and siblings to live with her grandmother while her father is fighting in Iraq.
Tamra Norton has seven children and lives with her family in Texas. She was in Utah for a writer's conference and visited Lindon Elementary, Noah Webster Academy and Hillfield Elementary as well.
"The best part about having Tamra Norton come to our school was watching the faced of the children in awe of a real author and watching the light bulb go on that they can do it too," said Kim Schultz, Eagle Valley Elementary Librarian.
During two separate assemblies over 800 students heard about the ups and downs of fictional writing. Norton said that her interaction with students is "vital for any author of children's books."
Students asked a number of questions of Norton including, what does it feel like to be an author and will your book ever be made into a movie? Her favorite part of being an author, she said, is writing a super cool sentence.
Tamra Norton said that she was impressed with the questions that students asked and with the school. She was especially touched when she saw the "United We Stand" wall in the library. The wall displays pictures of student's family members who are currently serving or are veterans of the military.
After the final assembly, which included the third through sixth grades, students stayed to ask Norton about her books and about how they could become writers, and waited patiently for autographs.
Principle Keith Conley said he was happy to have Norton visit the school.
"It is not often that we get to have a celebrity come," he said. |
