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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 2018)
30 Wednesday, November 21, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon ELWOOD: Author appreciates background in Sisters Continued from page 3 considered writing — and writing about tech, which I’ve done for eight years — if it weren’t for those opportuni- ties,” said Elwood from her home in Portland. Growing up in Sisters gave Elwood insights into a child’s small-town perspec- tive based on boundaries and limited exposure to a diver- sity of opinions, lifestyles and cultures. She harnessed her experiences and wrote a book in 2010 that takes her young readers on an epic adventure that doesn’t look like it will end well. “Spartacus Ryan Zander and the Secrets of the Incredible” (ages 8 to 13), has a kidnapping, scary clowns and sibling squabbles most kids can relate to in one way or another. Elwood has found that a lot of kids grow up with a reality that evolves, once they explore other places and peo- ple. They begin to question what they’ve been taught and become their own narrator. “Kids in small towns don’t know that until later,” explained Elwood. “I intro- duce the character to the world outside of his little town. He learned to ques- tion things on his own, ques- tion adults and then decide if they are reliable. Often, kids in small towns don’t have the same opportunities to see var- ious points of view.” Elwood’s character learns to ask more questions about motives and points of view. “I don’t know how many kids’ books are covering that. Things happen to kids in books and they don’t ques- tion why or see different points of view about drawing conclusions.” Elwood has had her own adventure in the publishing world. After her book was published, the publisher went out of business. Like her resil- ient character, she didn’t give up and has rewritten the book and found a new publisher, Fitzroy Books. She’s applying to book contests and pursuing new ways to get her book out into the world. Combining her role as a children’s book author and her career at KEEN has its chal- lenges. She’s talking in front of classrooms of kids who make up her reading audi- ence. They can be scarier than adults. One way she’s tackled public speaking and readings is by doing stand-up comedy. “It fits in with my inter- est in improving my public speaking. I love dabbling in stand-up comedy, so I’m fig- uring out ways to tie that in and make my book approach- able. I want to appeal to par- ents who would buy the book for their children. I want to be a smart feminist voice as my ‘in’ vs. just speaking as a chil- dren’s book author,” she said. In Portland recently, Elwood ran into a former Sisters classmate whose mom had been her high school English teacher. “I ended up talking to her mom on the phone that night, and thanked her for teaching such a wide range of books,” she said. “She still had a photo of our graduating class in her home. It’s so nice to be from a small town. I know kids in small towns don’t always feel like they fit in or have the same opportunities, but they can also get personal, hands-on treatment that you wouldn’t get in a big city.” I love dabbling in stand-up comedy, so I’m figuring out ways to tie that in and make my book approachable. — Molly Elwood Elwood wants folks in Sisters to know she appreci- ates the education and people she met growing up. “I had Jim Cornelius edit- ing my articles and an English teacher who took the time to talk me through my writ- ing. I had a patient and kind tech teacher who was also my society teacher — hav- ing teachers know me beyond one class felt really important. There was the possibility for adult/teenager relationships PHOTO PROVIDED Molly Elwood has authored a children’s book. that aren’t always possible in larger places. Sisters has such wonderful potential to help students find their voice and unique interests.” Elwood’s book is available at Paulina Springs Books in Sisters (online at www. paulinasprings.com), Powell’s Books, and Amazon. For more information, visit www. mollyelwood.com. Holistic Mental Health Solutions Medication Management Counseling • Functional Medicine Audry Van Houweling PMHNP-BC Now Accepting Insurance 541-595-8337 • www.shesoarspsych.com 102 E. Main Ave., Downtown Sisters “What’s for dinner, dad?” Happy g in v i g s k Than he from t w Cre Hoyt’s H Hours: M-F M F 8 to 5 5, S Sat. 8 to 4 4:30, 30 Cl Closed dS Sundays d 440 N. Pine St. • 541-549-8141 • www.hoyts.net That’s a tough question when you don’t have enough food for your family. Sisters is fortunate to have the Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank to ensure everyone in our community has food to put on their table, but that requires year-round community support... Cash Donations ... Food Donations ... Volunteers Ready to donate? The staff at The Nugget will receive your donations and deliver them to Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank during our food drive. The Nugget Newspaper FOOD DRIVE through Nov. 23 442 E. Main Ave. • 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri Financial donations and non-perishable food (not past expiration) will be accepted. Sisters Kiwanis is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Make checks payable to “Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank.”
