Michael Anthony Steele

 

 
Today I ended my two day visit at All Saints Episcopal School with three sessions of writing workshops. I met a bunch of young writers and answered some insightful questions about my writing process (as well as some questions about my fez monkey collection). I hope everyone remembers some of my writing tips and begins impressing those teachers!
 

 
I also learned that before I arrived, the fourth graders all got together and created several book trailers for a few of my books.That’s a first for me! They creatively used computer programs, legos, and stop motion animation. You can check them out, too! Just click on the links below to pull them up.
 
Build This City
Catch That Crook
Chuggington
Fight That Fire
Fix That Truck
Look Out Below
Work This Farm
 
I enjoyed another lunch with some more students, this time the Middle School creative writing winners. Thanks for all the great questions: Brian, Cadien, Clay, Eliza, Elizabeth, Fiona, Jack, Jill, Lily, Rania, Serena, Serena, and Taylor.
 

 
Also between writing workshops, I zipped back to the Monster Book Fair to sign tons more copies of my books. In fact, I signed so many that if you read the third letter of every fourth book I signed, it spells out, “help, I’m trapped in a school signing books, please rescue me.”
 

 
Thanks again to Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Wilson for having me out and for being so accommodating and welcoming. Thanks to all the complimentary teachers I met during the past two days (so many that I can’t remember everyone’s names).Thanks again to all the Momsters for their help during my brief book fair stay. Thanks to all the 4th graders for the swanky book trailers. And another big thanks to all the students at All Saints. I hope you enjoy my books and I expect some of you to become fantastic writers!
 

 

 

 

 
Today I enjoyed day one of two at All Saints Episcopal School in Beaumont, TX! I was fortunate to be the first visiting author in their newly renovated library AND attend part of the week-long book fair. It was a monster of a fair, literally, with a monster theme throughout. The attending parents (or MOMsters) excelled in their spooky theme. I know because between presentations, I spent a lot of time in there signing dozens of copies of my books!
 

 
For lunch, I was one of many writers as I had a pizza party with all the creative writing winners! I answered tons more questions and got to hear about many fiction, non-fiction, and poetry entries. Thanks for the great lunch: Aayan, Alexander, Ariana, Brook, Cara, Carlisle, Ciara, Clara, Hadlee, Hailey, Jadyn, Maddie, Mamie, Matthew, Matthew, Meris, Molly, Sarah, Tristen, and Zeenia.
 

 
I received another treat from Mrs. Harrison’s 2nd graders in the form of fall-themed rhymes they created after reading one of my rhyming books. Here are three:
 
I see the colorful leaves of fall.
They rain down from trees so tall.
Mya
 
In a pile of leaves I rake.
Suddenly I see an angry snake.
Ethan
 
I have a good Fall time.
It is fun to create a rhyme.
Avery
 

 
Thanks to Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Wilson for having me out. Thanks to all the Momsters for their help during the book fair. Thanks again to Mrs. Harrington’s 2nd graders for the rhymes. And a big thanks to all the students at All Saints. See you tomorrow for writing workshops!
 

 

 
Today I was fortunate to visit the 2nd and 3rd graders at Read-Turrentine Elementary in Silsbee, TX! I had a great time during my stay and everyone was very welcoming. I especially enjoyed seeing everyone dressed in their favorite college colors (it was College Day, after all).
 

 
I performed two shows and all the students and teachers seemed to have a good time. However, I had an extra special treat for the day—my third cousin, Wyatt was hidden among the 3rd graders! I enjoyed visiting with him and even (just barely) talked him into posing for a picture.
 

 
Thanks to Mr. Kilcrease and Mr. Camron for helping me set up and the expert tech troubleshooting. Thanks to Mr. Barton for the intro. Thanks to Elissa for being such a big Wishbone fan. Thanks to Mrs. Langley for inviting me and to her and Mrs. Sandifer for the pleasant lunch conversation. And a big thanks to all the great kids at Read-Turrentine! You were the perfect ending for my two-day jaunt to your area!
 

 

 

 

 
Today I visited two schools in one awesome venue! I spent the day at the Lumberton ISD Performing Arts Center in Lumberton, TX, where students from Lumberton Primary and Lumberton Intermediate were bussed in for the show. Other than the fact that my arrival was on Lumberton Primary’s “hat day” (which was perfect timing), I learned that I was the very first author to perform in their new venue and it spoiled me. The screen behind me was a couple stories tall and was totally worth me having to keep moving as I spoke to students on all sides!
 

 
I performed a morning show for the 1st and 2nd graders and an afternoon show for the 3rd and 4th grades. After each show several students won copies of my books—signed, of course. Happy reading, everyone (the books … nobody can read my signature)!
 

 

 
Thanks to Mr. Caruth for helping me set up and the technical assist. Thanks to Mrs. Cleveland and her 4th graders for the cool welcome banner. Thanks to Mrs. Scoggins (with an S) for all the help and the use of her office for lunch. Thanks to Mrs. Scoggin (without an S) and Mrs. LaRue for inviting me and being such great hosts. Thanks to the Lumberton Intermediate students who took the time to write me (I just received your thank you letters–very cool!). And the biggest thanks to ALL the Lumberton ISD students for being such a wonderful audience. I hope you keep reading and enjoy many future author visits in your amazing arts center!