Published: October 30, 2009 08:05 am      

Author visits with students, boy scouts

ADA — Award-winning author Neal Shusterman spoke to students, teachers and community members about his successes as a writer during his visit to Ada Tuesday, October 27 and Wednesday, October 28.

Shusterman made a visit to students and teachers at Ada High School, to the Troop 13 Boy Scout group at the First United Methodist Church, to Hastings and to the multi-school event hosted by the Chickasaw Nation at the Pontotoc Technology Center.

Shusterman told his story about how he became a writer and informed his audiences about what it takes to come up with the ideas to write a marketable book.

“To produce a good book, it has to be original, universal and screaming to be told,” said Shusterman. “These are the things I keep in mind when I write stories.”

Several schools attended the Pontotoc Technology Center event including Konawa, Pickett-Center, Byars, Stratford and Vanoss. Shusterman kept the students entertained by many questions about writing from the students.

Shusterman inspired his audiences to use their imaginations.

“A good writer is a trend setter, not a trend follower,” said Shusterman. “I strive to write books that are not what the reader expects them to be.”

Shusterman and audience members were also able to learn about Native American culture with a dance performance from the Oklahoma Native Dance group from Oklahoma City and the All Nations Pow Wow Dance Troupe of Ada.

As a successful novelist, screenwriter and television writer, Shusterman is known for his books such as “Everlost,” “The Shadow Club” and “The Schwa was Here.” He has written for the “Goosebumps” and “Animorphs” television series and authored the Disney Channel original movie “Pixel Perfect.”

Shusterman is also marked as a great storyteller and dynamic speaker. With college degrees in psychology and drama, Shusterman has a unique approach to writing and speaking. His novels include topics appealing to teenagers and adults, weaving true-to-life characters into sensitive issues with his entertaining sense of humor.