School Project Launches Book Series for Chesterfield Student

Shay Kelleher published her first book, an action-adventure tale for children in third to sixth grade.

Ren, Brook and Colleen are eighth-grade students at Arcadia Academy. Ren is an expert in the martial arts. Brook is an animal expert. Colleen, well, she’s a genius. They’re also rock musicians and undercover operatives. If you’re interested in meeting these whiz kids, you’ll find them in the new book Rescue Rockers–Havoc in Hong Kong, written and illustrated by Shay Kelleher, a 16-year-old first-time author and Chesterfield resident.   “I chose to write an action/adventure book with female heroes because I like the genre. And my girls are smart and brave. They’ve been part of my life since I was 11,” Shay said, who began the Rescue Rockers storyline as a writing assignment for school.  After writing the original story, Shay decided she …

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Historical Writer To Speak in Authors Series

Candace O'Connor is a freelance author and editor who specializes in researching and writing histories.

An historical writer is the latest installment in Chesterfield Arts’ River Valley Author Series, which is meant to provide an opportunity for aspiring authors to interact with established ones. Candace O’Connor will speak Wednesday evening at Chesterfield Arts. The series, which follows a casual format and is free and open to all, allows for plenty of time for audience questions. O’Connor has written seven books, including several corporate histories, such as Beginning a Great Work: Washington University, 1853-2003, which was commissioned for Washington University’s 150th anniversary. O’Connor said she has enjoyed the chance to research and write history as a story. “Some people think history is very dry, and they’re afraid to read history…

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Author Series Features Journalist Turned Best-Selling Author

Angie Fox, author of the "New York Times" best-selling series Accidental Demon Slayer, will speak at Chesterfield Arts Wednesday night.

St. Louis novelist Angie Fox will speak at Chesterfield Arts Wednesday night as part of the River Valley Authors Series. Fox, author of a paranormal fiction series about a demon slayer, will talk about her journey from journalism school to the New York Times Best Sellers list. Fox studied broadcast journalism at the University of Missouri. She worked in advertising for a few years before setting her sights on fiction. She had always thought about writing a book, she said, so one day she decided to go for it. Three manuscripts and many rejection letters later, Fox had learned a lot about the business but was still unpublished. One particular rejection letter, from literary agent Donald Maass, inspired her to change her direction. Maass said…

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Combined Communication Arts Class is Working in Parkway Middle Schools

Staff at Parkway West Middle say the block class devoted to reading and writing for seventh and eighth graders has fostered student-teacher relationships quicker and allows for better instruction.

It’s that moment some students count down to: the bell rings. Eighth graders in a Parkway West Middle School communication arts class shuffle out to the hallway, chatting with friends about the upcoming winter break and the quiz they just completed. Just as the next bell rings, they file back into Kyle Roff’s classroom, take their seats and settle in for another 45 minutes of class time devoted to reading and writing. They’ve always had two class periods devoted to communication arts, but previously the time has been separated: one class devoted to writing and the other to reading, taught by separate teachers. This year, all Parkway middle schools implemented back-to-back class periods of communication arts instruction for seventh and …

High School Writers Are Awarded at Chesterfield Arts

The top three entries and 15 honorable mentions in the 2010 Phyllis Corbet High School Writing Contest were announced Wednesday night.

Marquette High School senior Nick Schasch is tall and built like a football player. So when he stood at the podium to read his prize-winning poem, it came as no surprise it was titled "Football." The poem took first place in the The 2010 Phyllis Corbet High School Writing Contest. Winners were announced at a reception Wednesday night at Chesterfield Arts. Second place went to Parkway Central High School sophomore Hannah Wiedner for her short story "Revenge of the Girlfriend." The third place spot was awarded to Parkway South High School sophomore Tory Sparks for her poem "First." In only its second year, the Chesterfield Arts High School writing contest as grown considerably. "We had 50 entries last year, and three times as many this year…

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