A writer's secret

When he was 5 years old, Roland Smith's parents gave him a manual typewriter for Christmas.

He's been pounding away at letters ever since, in between animal rescues and trips around the world.

On Tuesday, the award-winning children's author from Portland, Ore., passed along a different writing tool to hundreds of local students gathered in Cape Girardeau. He hopes his advice inspires them to consider a career in writing or at least encourages them to read.

"I think a lot of you can write, probably better than I can," Smith told his audience of 1,700 students. "But the difference between us is that I know the secret of writing."

But before he revealed his secret, Smith talked about the 19 books he's written and how his love of animals made him a writer.

He told students about how 20 years of working with felines in the Portland Zoo, researching elephants in Africa and Asia, saving sea otters after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska and helping reintroduce the endangered red wolf back into the wild all helped shape books such as "Sea Otter Rescue," "Jaguar" and "Journey of the Red Wolf."

"Working with animals gave me something important to write about," Smith said. "You should write about what's important to you."

Central Middle School student Kayla Pickens sat through Smith's hourlong presentation with her eyes glued to the auditorium stage.

"It was really neat how he's been to different countries," she said. "The whole thing has been cool."

At age 12, Kayla already dreams of becoming a writer. She couldn't wait to hear Smith's "secret to writing."

Smith's answer

At long last, the moment came.

"Writing is revision. Nobody gets it right the first, second or third time," Smith told the students.

He also emphasized that a computer isn't necessary to become a writer.

Smith slapped his forehead. "This is your computer."

He raised his hand.

"This is your keyboard. And a pencil is your printer."

The experience was a memorable one for 12-year-old Nick LeGrand, a sixth-grader from Trinity Lutheran School, where Smith ate lunch with students Tuesday.

"The thing that got my attention most was what he said about writing about what's important to you," Nick said.

Smith's latest book, "Zach's Lie," is about a 13-year-old boy whose family is relocated through the federal witness protection program. Several local teachers began reading it in their classes to prepare for Smith's visit.

"I read a chapter to my fourth-graders, and they loved it. They can't wait to hear more," said Marilyn Harrison, a teacher at St. Vincent's School.

Smith spends 100 days a year making presentations at schools and library conferences.

During his visit to Central Junior High alone he autographed about 600 books for students and teachers from the junior high, Central Middle School, St. Vincent de Paul School and Trinity Lutheran School in Cape Girardeau; Nell Holcomb in rural Cape Girardeau; St. Augustine and Chaffee in Scott County; and Bell City in Stoddard County.

"Each audience is different, that's what makes it fun for me," he said. "Sometimes I hear from students for years afterward."

cclark@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128