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PITTSBURG —
Nancy Pickard has been seeing a lot of Kansas lately.
As author of “The Virgin of Small Plains,” the book selected for the third annual “Kansas Reads,” she has been visiting libraries and schools across the state. On Tuesday she spoke at Pittsburg High School Pittsburg Public Library, with an evening talk at the Pittsburg Public Library.
“I’ve seen places I’ve always wanted to spend time in, and went to 11 libraries in 11 towns in southwest Kansas,” said Pickard, a lifelong Kansas City area resident. “I love just getting in my car and driving the back roads of Kansas. Some people think that Kansas is flat and uninteresting, but it’s not. Kansas is beautiful.”
Author of 17 novels, she was thrilled when “The Virgin of Small Plains” was named a 2007 Kansas Notable Book, and then chosen by a group of librarians as the 2009 “Kansas Reads” title.
“It’s the highlight of my career, to have my own state recognize one of my books,” she said.
The first two “Kansas Reads” books were “The Learning Tree” by Gordon Parks and “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote. Both are deceased.
“Nancy Pickard is the first live author,” said Cheryl Larson, PHS librarian, as she introduced Pickard to the students. “She has committed to going to every place where she’s invited.”
However, Pickard has had to back down a bit on that.
“If I did that, I’d be one of the dead authors,” she said.
She said she was very pleased to be at PHS.
“I really like teens,” Pickard said. “My son is 26, and I loved having his friends around. I like hanging out with teens, and there are teens in my book.”
The book is set in a small Kansas town.
“I could not have sold this book 30 years ago,” Pickard said. “Nobody wanted to read about small towns back then, but now they’re kind of exotic.”
She told the students that ideas for stories come from many places, and that sometimes the writer isn’t quite in control.
“You have to be loose enough to let things happen, because sometimes the writing just takes over,” Pickard said. “Sometimes in my mysteries I know who the killer is when I start writing, and sometimes I don’t. Sometimes the characters take over, and they know the story better than I do. Part of the process of writing is conscious, and a whole lot of it is not.”
Some of the students were interested in writing, and Pickard had some advice for them.
“Don’t worry about getting published at your age,” she said. “Just write and write and write, and learn to take criticism. Learn punctuation, grammar and spelling. Lead an interesting life, and do cool things. Everything in your life is material for your writing.”
Pickard was presented with a pedometer and a Purple Dragon pen.
A drawing was held for an autographed copy of “The Virgin of Small Plains,” and the winner was Kaitlin King, PHS junior.
“It was pretty amazing listening to how she writes her books and learning what goes on in the mind of an author,” King said.
Nancy Pickard has been seeing a lot of Kansas lately.
As author of “The Virgin of Small Plains,” the book selected for the third annual “Kansas Reads,” she has been visiting libraries and schools across the state. On Tuesday she spoke at Pittsburg High School Pittsburg Public Library, with an evening talk at the Pittsburg Public Library.
“I’ve seen places I’ve always wanted to spend time in, and went to 11 libraries in 11 towns in southwest Kansas,” said Pickard, a lifelong Kansas City area resident. “I love just getting in my car and driving the back roads of Kansas. Some people think that Kansas is flat and uninteresting, but it’s not. Kansas is beautiful.”
Author of 17 novels, she was thrilled when “The Virgin of Small Plains” was named a 2007 Kansas Notable Book, and then chosen by a group of librarians as the 2009 “Kansas Reads” title.
“It’s the highlight of my career, to have my own state recognize one of my books,” she said.
The first two “Kansas Reads” books were “The Learning Tree” by Gordon Parks and “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote. Both are deceased.
“Nancy Pickard is the first live author,” said Cheryl Larson, PHS librarian, as she introduced Pickard to the students. “She has committed to going to every place where she’s invited.”
However, Pickard has had to back down a bit on that.
“If I did that, I’d be one of the dead authors,” she said.
She said she was very pleased to be at PHS.
“I really like teens,” Pickard said. “My son is 26, and I loved having his friends around. I like hanging out with teens, and there are teens in my book.”
The book is set in a small Kansas town.
“I could not have sold this book 30 years ago,” Pickard said. “Nobody wanted to read about small towns back then, but now they’re kind of exotic.”
She told the students that ideas for stories come from many places, and that sometimes the writer isn’t quite in control.
“You have to be loose enough to let things happen, because sometimes the writing just takes over,” Pickard said. “Sometimes in my mysteries I know who the killer is when I start writing, and sometimes I don’t. Sometimes the characters take over, and they know the story better than I do. Part of the process of writing is conscious, and a whole lot of it is not.”
Some of the students were interested in writing, and Pickard had some advice for them.
“Don’t worry about getting published at your age,” she said. “Just write and write and write, and learn to take criticism. Learn punctuation, grammar and spelling. Lead an interesting life, and do cool things. Everything in your life is material for your writing.”
Pickard was presented with a pedometer and a Purple Dragon pen.
A drawing was held for an autographed copy of “The Virgin of Small Plains,” and the winner was Kaitlin King, PHS junior.
“It was pretty amazing listening to how she writes her books and learning what goes on in the mind of an author,” King said.
