Anatomy of an Author Visit

"How I became a killer and a thief."

YA author, April Henry is well-known for her stories which send a bone-tingling chill up the spines of teen readers. What thrill-seeking reader doesn't love that?
Teens in South Texas were treated to a week of school visits from Ms Henry.
In addition to describing the trials of writing a book with an arm injury which temporarily left her without the use of her dominant hand/arm (she was forced to fall back on dictation software which sometimes produced hilarious results), the author offered two important components of her writing process.

• Start with the question "what if?"  Look for interesting events from real life and ask yourself, "what if? "" What if the person were blind?" " What if the body were here?"" What if the parent was someone else?" This change in perspective can start you on the trail toward your own story.
• It's all about the research, research, research.  "What would it be like to be blind?"  "How does a person escape from handcuffs?"  Learn all that you can to answer your questions, including asking professionals in the field and spend time in actual training and simulations. 

"We were all so sure we knew the truth, but we were wrong."

Highlights from April Henry's visit to Four Bluff High School

The Girl I Used to Be by April Henry

"It's like I'm in one of those snow globes. Somebody's picked me up and shaken all my memories loose.
​Now they float around me, flickering in the corners of my eyes."

The Girl I Used to Be is based on a fascinating premise:
What if your mother was killed when you were only three years old?
​What if you grew up believing that your father killed your mother and then disappeared?
What if at age fourteen you learned that wasn't true?
What if you realize that someone killed both your father and mother?
What if you return to your father's funeral, determined to find out what really happened to your parents?
What if the killer is much closer to you than you ever realized?

"I'm not a little kid. I already know about evil. Nineteen stab wounds, a jawbone, blood drying on a knife. I know a lot about evil."

April Henry books are like potato chips. They are short and snappy with a definite crunch. Never sweet or sticky, but crisp and tangy. They are the perfect reading snack.
But be warned, just like potato chips, they are highly addictive.
You can never consume just one!