Legacy Prep School

 

I visited a great school in North Salt Lake today, Legacy Prep. The son of my friend, Jennifer Jensen, and her niece go to school there. I loved meeting Hunter and Shania. They are great kids and I've heard such good things about them from Jennifer. I work with Jennifer at the hospital. Jen is a great nurse and an even better friend. Both of the kids have a very good energy about them, and I can see why Jen loves them both so much.

I also enjoyed meeting Mrs. Dawn Christensen, Hunter and Shania's teacher. Mrs. Christensen was very nice and all of the students were very friendly. I had a fabulous time speaking to them. I first spoke to a large group of students, three classes, and we had a fun time. They had great questions and I really enjoyed interacting with them. Also, Jennifer was able to attend the speech, and I loved seeing her there.

The other teachers were also very friendly and fun to chat with. After the large assembly, the kids and I took a break, then two classes came back together and we did a mini writing workshop. It was so much fun to teach the students about writing fiction. The teachers got into it as well, and we had so much fun. We made up a funny story as a group project. The tale came out really well and the kids were so smart. They had such good ideas and when we were done, the story was awesome.

I was able to chat with a few of the students after the workshop and hope to see them again, perhaps at my book signing at the Barnes and Noble in Sugarhouse on June 6, from 7-9 PM. I love speaking with smart kids and the kids at Legacy Prep are amazing.

 

Paul Genesse, Author of The Golden Cord

www.paulgenesse.com

My TV Interview

 

Here's the link to my TV interview on Fox News, channel five in Las Vegas.  It's been posted on YouTube and is about 4:30 minutes.

 

 

Link to the TV Interview

 

or find it below

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDEKJZaAp9E

Las Vegas--My First TV Appearance

Vegas was awesome. I was on the channel 5 TV news. The Fox news channel that I grew up watching had me on their morning show and interviewed me for 3 minutes. It was great and went so well. As soon as I have the clip, I'll post it here. I was interviewed by Dave Hall, who went to my high school, Beatty High and graduated two years ahead of me. He was and is a cool guy. They were teasing him about his hair cut in high school. Yep, he had a mullet. I admit, I had one too in 9th grade, but I had no idea it was a mullet. It was just the style of the day.

Anyway, the interview went well and then I was off to Bob Miller Middle School. I spoke to a couple of classes and we had a great time. The librarian there, Scott Hensley, is the coolest. He's the techno librarian and his library is so wired. Scott actually gave the kids four copies of my book to keep. I got to meet the kids and sign their books. That was fun. The students once again showed me how intelligent they were and I enjoyed their questions very much.

Then I went to lunch with a very good guy and his wife. John and Linda Hanks. Linda , a librarian, brought me out to Bob Miller Middle School and John wanted to meet me. He's done a lot in his life and now he's interested in writing. He's got a great story to tell and plan on watching his career unfold.

Then I was off to my old elementary school, George E. Harris Elementary on Sandhill Road. I went there from first to fourth grade. See my next post for all the details . . .

Paul Genesse, Author of The Golden Cord

www.paulgenesse.com

Las Vegas Barnes and Noble Book Signing

 

Hello,

 

My book signing at the Summerlin Barnes and Noble (on Charleston and Fort Apache) went really well. I made it there a little after four and met the Community Relations Manager (CRM), Amy Gulliot. I loved meeting her and she was great to work with. I'll definitely sign there again. There are still a few signed copies available there, if you live in Vegas and want one.

 

I had a set up in the back, in the "cookbook" section. At first, I was a little worried about being in the back of the store in cookbooks, but it was great. A dozen chairs had been set up and that turned out to be the best thing. A bunch of people came and were able to sit down in front of my table and hang out for a couple of hours. If I had been in the front of the store I would have sold a few more books, but the people who came to the signing wouldn't have been able to sit and rest. They would have just got their book signed and left the store. This way they could hang out and get to know me, or visit with me. Getting to chat with people and really hang out was so perfect. Amy had it right, I just wish that there was room in the fantasy section to do the signing.

 

I met so many cool people. Some of them came because of the TV interview, some from the schools I visited that day, and many others were friends and family from my past. I loved seeing my family and my second families. My mom and John came, plus Richard and Carol Stephen, Fran and Alan Stratton, Dee Crawford, Skylar Stephens, and lots of other great people.

 

I met a couple of kids who really impressed me. There was one who was already a great writer and he was only nine! I read one of his short stories right there on the spot. Wow. Then there were some amazing kids from the schools I spoke at. I am so inspired by the kids I meet.

 

The signing was a big success and afterward I got to hang out with Amy for a while and chat about writing. She's a writer herself and loves a lot of the same books that I do. Meeting her was great and I hope to see her again someday soon.

 

Finally, I dragged my sorry butt out of the store and headed for Cedar City around 7 PM. I had to be in Salt Lake City the next day and wanted to get on the road. I would have loved to stay again in Vegas, but I had to get going. That night I had to stop in St. George, an hour from Cedar City. I was too tired to continue on. I made it safely and life was good.

 

Vegas was so memorable and I look forward to visiting again someday.

 

Paul Genesse, Author of The Golden Cord

www.paulgenesse.com

George E. Harris Elementary School

GO TIGERS!!

There is something magical that happens when you go back to your old elementary school. You remember what it was like to be a little kid again . . .

I went to George E. Harris from first to fourth grade back in the early 1980's. I loved that school and once a Tiger, always a Tiger! My teachers were amazing and taught me so much. Then I moved away in fourth grade. I still remember my favorite teachers, Mrs. Holman, Mrs. Gonatovich, and Mrs. Brabham. They were the best.

Leaving George E. Harris was a sad time in my life and going back for the first time since 1983 was very special. I was welcomed by the great staff. Jill Moe, the Literacy Specialist is an exceptional person and she had been my main contact there as I set up the visit. It was great to finally meet her. Also, Henry Rodda, the principal, made me feel right at home. Jill and Henry, plus the vice principal, Heather Lenz, and the office staff, Ms. Pina and Mrs. Gutierrez were all great. I met others, but I can't remember their names. The teachers at the school were also very welcoming and I felt so comfortable.

When I arrived in the school office I shared that the school song had been running through my head all day and for weeks before I arrived at the school. Of course, I had to sing the words that I remembered and we had a great laugh. Principal Henry Rodda and Jill Moe were lots of fun.

Jill had already read, The Golden Cord and really liked it. She said some very nice things about the book when she introduced me to the kids. Also, Ms. Pina, who works in the office, read the book and really liked it as well. I was very humbled by their praise and I wish I could have spoken with them longer.

Then it was on to the main event. I spoke to two groups in the same auditorium where I had performed in plays, and listened to countless assemblies. George E. Harris was so great, partially because they gave out lots of awards. I clearly remember getting Good Citizen Awards and correcting the old principals pronunciation of my name.

So, the first assembly was a bunch of younger kids, second and third graders. They were great and I shared my story with them about growing up in Vegas and going to the school where they went now. It was awesome and I got choked up during my speech, barely keeping it together a couple of times. The first speech went so well and I absolutely loved meeting the kids and the staff. It was a very magical moment and those kids got to hear things that no one else on the tour got to hear. The speech was from the heart and I hope I had a lot of impact on the kids. I encouraged them to do the right thing and hopefully they will. I hope they will learn from my experiences and I think going back was a way for me to heal the wounds of my childhood. But I think that being the short kid and getting picked on made me stronger. If all of that hadn't happened, I would not be the person I am today.

The second assembly was fourth and some fifth graders. They were a tougher bunch, but it went pretty well. I was surprised at how many of them didn't seem interested in reading books. In the end, it worked out great though. I connected with the kids and really liked most of them. There's always a few kids that act up, but I made peace with one kid who had been rude during the speech. I felt bad about reacting to his comments, and embarrassing him. In the end, we made up and it was fine. I think we both learned a lesson there. Hopefully, he will learn respect and I learned how to better handle a smart-ass in the crowd.

I also had one surprise, as I ran into the little sister of one of my high school classmates. I met Lorrie Isom, little sister of my high school mates, Robert and Richard Isom. It was so funny to see her at my old school. She was a cute little kid back then, but I still remembered her and she remembered me. Her dad was my teacher at Beatty High School. I guess it really is a small world.

After the assemblies, school got out and I met lots of kids and teachers. It was a lot of fun and I wish I could have stayed longer and hung out. I signed autographs and spoke with the kids and staff. Finally, the principal (Henry), vice principal (Heather), and Jill Moe had to get me going. I had a book signing to attend at 4:00 at the Barnes and Noble across town and it was already 3:30.

They put me in my car and basically said: "Go down that road, very fast!" I wished I could have stayed longer, but I headed for my signing and made it at 4:05. I really loved meeting the staff and the kids. I think the current students of George E. Harris are in such good hands. When I went there years ago, the school was the best in Vegas, and it still is the best public school. They get really high scores in reading, the highest in Vegas, and I'm so proud of all they've accomplished and all they've achieved.

I hope I helped them. I wanted to give back to the school that gave so much to me.

Best wishes and Go Tigers!

Paul Genesse, Author of The Golden Cord

www.paulgenesse.com

Phoenix Schools

Me reading The Golden Cord, (only page one) at Diamond Canyon School in Anthem, Arizona.

I spoke to over a hundred kids there and they were a great crowd.

 

 

I really loved Phoenix. I arrived on May 20, my wife's birthday. She flew down from Salt Lake and we had a lovely dinner with family and Tam's good friend, Nazneen. It was lovely and The Cheesecake Factory was wonderful. I hadn't seen Tam in a little while and it was good to get together.

 

The next day I embarked upon my most audacious feat yet, speaking at four different schools in one day. I went to a great school called Desert Mountain in the morning, 9:30, and spoke to a bunch of amazing kids (they were 6th and 7th graders). They were a great crowd and the librarian there, Jan, was really nice. A different woman introduced me, I believe her name was Joanne, (I apologize, but I can't quite remember her name). Anyway, she had bought my book the night before and read 125 pages straight through. She loved the book and it was great to get such positive feedback from an educator and avid reader.

 

The speech went very well and afterward I met Virgel Cain, the illustrious Community Relations Manager at the Happy Valley Barnes and Noble in Phoenix. He set up all four school visits for me. I am so impressed with Virgel. He cares so much about the kids in the schools and has dedicated his life to making their lives better. Not only did he adopt a troubled child, but he serves on many boards that helps kids, and does all he can to improve things for the kids in the Phoenix area. He's one of the people who should hold public office. Meeting Virgel was a great highlight for me. I love meeting new people, but he's one of those people who really cares and I love that. Virgel was kind enough to escort me to the schools and was so very helpful at all times. I'm so glad that I met him.

 

The second school was called Paseo Hills and I met Gail Salameh, a wonderful librarian. I spoke to a younger crowd, 4th and 5th graders, around 100 of them. They were so much fun and we had a great time interacting. They had such excellent questions and were so smart! One of the boys picked up on the idea that Olympus Mons on Mars was somehow related to my inspiration for the plateaus in my book. I was very impressed.

 

The third school, Diamond Canyon was a lot of fun. I spoke to a big group in their gym, of mostly 6th and 7th graders. The speech went well and the kids once again showed me how brilliant they are. I loved meeting them and Mrs. Mercer, the librarian was very nice. She had me sign a brick on the wall in their library. That was cool. I signed it with the gold marker I have. I was able to speak with a few of the students afterwards, and they were so nice. I have been treated so kindly by the people I've met. I love that I've connected with so many of them. I want them to be inspired by my speeches and be passionate about whatever it is that they want to do.

 

The fourth school, New River, was late in the day. We had one glitch, as the 6th grade award ceremony went long and instead of them being in the library at 2:30, they arrived at 3:00. I had 15 minutes to speak to one class. They were great, but it was rushed and not my normal presentation. It went well, though. Virgel and I thought it worked out just fine. The librarian, Ms. Krentz was really great as well.

 

The marathon school visit tour was over and I went to dinner with friends and their kids. I got to hang out with Jordan Stephens, Natalie Kobinski, my in-laws, and my wife Tam. It was great.

 

Then it was off to the book signing at the Happy Valley Barnes and Noble. Virgel did a great job setting it up and we sold lots of books. I signed a bunch of copies of the extra books. So, they Happy Valley Barnes and Noble will have copies available for a while.

2501 W Happy Valley Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85085
(623) 780-3300

I think we would have done even better at the signing, but that day was graduation day for lots of kids in the schools. Next time, I'm going to visit Phoenix earlier in the year. All in all, it went really well and loved meeting the students. They were great.

 

The whole day was great, but the best thing was getting to hang out with my friends, Natalie, Jordan, Deanie, seeing Tam, and meeting lots of new friends at the schools and the book signing. I met some really great people, but the most memorable was Virgel Cain. The Phoenix area is truly blessed to have that man.

 

Best wishes,

 

Paul Genesse, Author of The Golden Cord

Whitney High School

Hello,

Today was a great day. I spoke at Whitney High School in Cerritos, California--which is in the L.A. area. It was wonderful. The students there are very smart and the school was rated the best in California numerous times. The teachers and kids are top notch.

I was greeted so warmly by Ms. Denise Saudedo, a very smart woman who is the school's counselor. She's also a flamenco dancer and is living the message I brought: find what you're passionate about and do it. For me, it's writing and being a nurse.

I loved speaking with the kids and spoke to four separate groups, three large groups and one small one. They were all very sharp and I was very impressed with their maturity and character. Several of the students hung out with me during their lunch time and that was a lot of fun, as I read them the first few pages of The Golden Cord and we chatted.

I really enjoyed meeting Crystal and several of the other students. Leia C. just emailed me another question she had I wrote her back. If any of you out there have a question, ask me through email or on my blog. I'd be happy to get in touch when I have a moment. I managed to escape the L.A. area and am now in Riverside for tonight.

So, the cool thing about today was meeting all the great kids. Andrew (a student ambassador) and Ms. Saucedo met me when I arrived and the whole visit was extremely rewarding. I hope to return someday to that wonderful school and hope the students enjoyed my message. I really loved sharing my journey with them and hope they share theirs with me someday.

Best wishes,

Paul Genesse, Author of The Golden Cord
www.paulgenesse.com