I went back to high school today

I spent the day in Roanoke, VA at Forest Park Academy. Sherri Saddler invited me to come and speak to a group of 12th graders about reading and writing. 

When I was in high school, I pretty much hated everything about it. If I had a teacher like the ones I met today, I probably would've been sad when I graduated because I had to leave them. Don't get me wrong, I had some great teachers. Mrs. Johnson, I'm looking at you. :) 

But the teachers at Forest Park Academy -- the principal and vice principal too -- are simply awesome. Why? Because they want the students to read. And they saw the value in romance novels and contemporary fiction. I had a discussion with some students about one of my favorite authors, Eric Jerome Dickey. 

You can tell when kids want to learn and when they have adults stoking that fire. I saw that today. That was an awesome sight. 

Giving back is amazing because I really think I met the next New York Times Bestselling author today. I bet she doesn't even know it yet. 

And you know what, it didn't hurt my 37-year-old ego a bit when someone mistook me for a student. LOL! 

Happy reading.