AUTHOR RECALLS BROTHER IN FICTION

CHAFFEE -- June Rae Wood's life changed forever when her brother Richard was born.

And she keeps a 13-pound basket of crayons to remind her just how much of an impact he had in his 36 years.

Richard was born with Down syndrome and "was always like a child in his mind," Wood said Wednesday at the International Reading Association meeting here.

Wood's first published novel, "The Man Who Loved Clowns," is the fictional account of her life with Richard.

The book earned the 1995 Mark Twain Award. Each year, Missouri schoolchildren select the award-winning book from a list of nominees. It was nominated for similar awards in Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, Indiana and Oklahoma.

As part of the 15th annual Children's-Young Adults' Literature Festival, Wood will talk to 1,500 area students today and Friday.

Wood explained to 35 area teachers at the meeting that writing the book was therapy for her after her brother died in 1985.

Tears filled her eyes and her words were choked as she explained how hard it was to accept his death.

"The message is always that a little boy who was never supposed to live touched our lives for 36 years and still touches lives through the pages of the book," Wood said.

"It's still hard to touch the crayons," she said, adding that there were only a few things that were Richard's alone -- his crayons, toys and a cowboy hat.

Every time Richard got a box of crayons, he broke them into pieces and rolled them until they were flat. But every crayon in the basket still has a sharpened point.

Wood grew up in Missouri and lives in Windsor, southwest of Sedalia.

Other authors attending the literature festival are Gary Bowen and Ivy Ruckman.

Bowen won the 1995 IRA Children's Informational Book Award for his book, "Stranded at Plimoth Plantation 1626."

Ivy Ruckman is the author of several children's books, including "Night of the Twisters," a past Mark Twain nominee.

MDRV

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Scott City Halloween Parade Oct. 21

SCOTT CITY -- Ghosts and goblins of all sorts will parade through town Saturday, Oct. 21, in the eighth annual Halloween Parade.

The parade, sponsored by the Scott City Parks and Recreation Department, begins at 10 a.m. Entrants should arrive by 9 a.m.

Parade entrants should meet at the First Assembly of God parking lot, 312 Dearborn. The route will begin at the parking lot and march down Main Street to East Second Street before ending at the 600 block of the street.

Costumes will be judged. To enter a float or for more information, contact Parks Director Phyllis Spinks at 264-3411.