February 6, 2008 – Teacher Beth Ward and the writers of Granville High School in Granville, N.Y. gathered with me and Lenore (here, stressed out as usual, after much cuddling) and we brainstormed ideas for the book we are planning,  “Tales from Granville High,” to be published in the Spring, assuming we get great stories.
  It looks like we will. The ideas that came out of the group were amazing. Dylan wants to write about the responsibility of caring for his brothers, and the fact that in small towns like Granville, there is often no “Second Chance” if you mess up. Jacob is planning a Granville-inspired Sci-Fi fantasy called “Alchemy.” Cheyenne wants to illustrate some of the stories – she’s a gifted artist – and write about the difficulty of an aspiring musician (she plays the guitar) has developing her music, and her individuality,  in a small town.
  Jen wants to write about the three days in which she was forced to change her life radically, and urgently  become independent. Rachel’s idea – “Shipped in a Box” – is about her adoption from Korea, and how Granville has responded to her. Molly says nobody loves chickens anymore, and she does, and she loves watching their habits and patterns and wants to write about them. She said a title might be “The Official Chicken Caretaker.” I can see the movie now.
  Anne wants to write about life in a family with five siblings, and how that can present challenges in terms of identity. Shayna has grown up with animals, especially birds, and believes they are more unconditionally loving and loyal than humans, who can stab in the back, and betray. Animals have changed her life, and she wants to say how.
  And Ashley wants to write about a move, and how moving to Granville changed her life. Crysta is sick, but is focused on several ideas and choose one later this week.
   I was a bit surprised at the energy and quality of these ideas, and the sense they all conveyed of life in this particular place, at this particular time. The kids talked a lot about family, peers and the particular challenges they faced in their lives, and I suspect the stories will reflect that. They were markedly supportive of one another, and of each other’s ideas. The two hours went by in a heartbeat.
  I brought Lenore, a bit of a risk, as she is a lot more rambunctious than Izzy, but she was stellar. She greeted everybody, and then dozed for the entire time. As we were leaving, she walked by the cafeteria, and she was mobbed by food-toting admirers, which caused a minor and joyous disturbance. She did well, and I am reconsidering my decision to keep her out of Hospice work. She was quite calm in turbulent circumstances – for a puppy to be that calm in a High School is something. I want to develop that.
  I didn’t want to focus too much on picture taking this round, but next week, I’m bringing the equipment and doing some portraits of this process at work. Big lens time.
  I was very excited by how well this meeting, our second, went. They are all going to start on their stories and bring some writing in next week. I think “Tales from Granville High” will be a book, and I am already lining up bookstores and some media. I learned a lot today, and am grateful for this opportunity.
  After class, Izzy and I made a hospice visit in a nursing home, and I have to say I love having two dogs I can go about the world with in that way, and another great dog, Rose, minding the farm.
  As a writer, this experience is powerful for me, as there is an energy and creativity in young writers that is infectious, even inspiring. Can’t wait for next week. The teachers are very dedicated to helping these kids get in the class and do well there. You can feel them rooting all the way. Why didn’t I have teachers like that?  We might take one more student in. So we have one work of fiction and non-fiction essays and memoirs so far. Plus some illustrations, and, of course, photos.

The pupil Lenore listening attentively