A Vancouver Island author returned last month to the elementary school where his writing career began more than 40 years ago.
Troy Wilson, based in Saanich, debuted his fifth book The Sinking of Captain Otter to a group of students at John Howitt Elementary School on Thursday, Oct. 25. Wilson was a John Howitt student in 1977 when he came up with the story of Captain OtterB次元官网网址攐riginally written and illustrated on construction paper and stapled together by WilsonB次元官网网址檚 teacher, Mrs. Eivindson. Mrs. Eivindson read the story out loud to WilsonB次元官网网址檚 Grade 1 class and encouraged him to become a published author.
He achieved his dream in 2004 when his first book, Perfect Man, was published by Orca Books. During his classroom tour of Perfect Man, he decided to return to Captain Otter.
B次元官网网址淚 first thought of [publishing Captain Otter] after I had been out visiting schools,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 thought, how cool would it be to have the original in one hand and a new version in the other hand.B次元官网网址�
Thursday was WilsonB次元官网网址檚 third time visiting his old elementary school, where he joined librarian Elizabeth Platz to read both versions of Captain Otter to a group of Grade 1 and 2 students.
ItB次元官网网址檚 been 41 years since Captain Otter was read out loud for the first time, and a few things have changed. WilsonB次元官网网址檚 Grade 1 classroom is now empty. His Grade 1 teacher, Mrs. Eivindson, passed away a few years ago, but the duo did reunite over radio shortly after the publication of his first book. With illustrations by Maira Chiodi instead of Wilson, the new and improved Captain Otter is a slightly different story with a very different ending.
B次元官网网址淭his time is very special,B次元官网网址� said Wilson. B次元官网网址淏ecause IB次元官网网址檓 reading [The Sinking of Captain Otter] here for the first time. I knew from the get-go that this is the place I would read it first.
B次元官网网址淚t feels great to come full circle.B次元官网网址�
WilsonB次元官网网址檚 updated pitch for Captain Otter was rejected in 2005, but after more than 10 years of persistence, The Sinking of Captain Otter was finally published.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 something I emphasize with the kids,B次元官网网址� said Wilson. B次元官网网址淧ersistence is the most important quality to have if youB次元官网网址檙e a writer. ThereB次元官网网址檚 persistence, luck and talent. Persistence gives you more chances to be lucky and allows you to get better at what you do.B次元官网网址�
This lesson wasnB次元官网网址檛 lost on the students of John Howitt Elementary School. B次元官网网址淲e learned that he tried his best and didnB次元官网网址檛 give up,B次元官网网址� said Grade 2 student Ellie Arcus after the presentation on Thursday. Arcus and her friend, 脡milienne Lenormand, have written a book together, although they admit that they like drawing better than writing.
B次元官网网址淚 thought Captain Otter was really good,B次元官网网址� added Grade 2 student Eli Darling. Darling is another John Howitt student who is interested in writingB次元官网网址攈e says he has written his own B次元官网网址渟mall book.B次元官网网址�
Wilson was happy on Thursday to hear that so many students at his former school are now interested in creating their own stories.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 so glad to hear that long after me, new [students] are writing, as well,B次元官网网址� he said.
elena.rardon@albernivalleynews.com
