River’s End Prom Project & Birdleborough HS

First, thanks to everybody at JC Birdlebough HS (Phoenix NY) for a great day. I was able to give all of my presentations in the library which was awesome. Being surrounded by books has a soothing effect on me.

Below you’ll find some photos taken yesterday at my favorite bookstore, River’s End Books in Oswego, NY. The two sweet girls are Ashley Gessner and Bridgette Doran, two seniors at Oswego High School. They are the kind masterminds behind the Prom Project, a volunteer effort to make sure that everyone in their school who wants to go to the prom will have a nice dress or tux to wear. (Loud cheers for a fantastic idea!!! Louder cheers for smart girls who make their fantastic idea happen!!!! More cheering for a supportive community that is getting behind this fantastic idea!!!)

They are still accepting donations, if you’re interested. Go to their website for more information.

(Oh, yeah – I would like to say for the record that I hate the way I look in photos. Always. But I am trying to get over it. The guy in this photo is the Beloved Husband, Scot. He is extra Beloved right now because he is cooking an incredible Valentine’s dinner while I’m typing this.)

15 Replies to “River’s End Prom Project & Birdleborough HS”

  1. Ok I’m going to have to sound like a fan this being my first comment to you.

    I just finished rereading Speak and I’m still in “aw” of how talented you are. It’s my dream to become a writer (and a teacher.) Right now I’m working on becoming a teacher and am taking a Teaching Lit course as well as a Fiction Workshop course. So what a perfect semester for me!

    I hate to admit I’ve only read Speak, but I plan on picking up a few others very soon.

    Do you ever come to the NH area for book signing, or at least MA?

    Well ok I’ll stop being a fan and bugging you with this. But I am just amazed that you have a livejournal.

    Thank you so much for writing speak! I absolutely love it and recommend it to everyone I know!

    -Leanne

  2. Ok I’m going to have to sound like a fan this being my first comment to you.

    I just finished rereading Speak and I’m still in “aw” of how talented you are. It’s my dream to become a writer (and a teacher.) Right now I’m working on becoming a teacher and am taking a Teaching Lit course as well as a Fiction Workshop course. So what a perfect semester for me!

    I hate to admit I’ve only read Speak, but I plan on picking up a few others very soon.

    Do you ever come to the NH area for book signing, or at least MA?

    Well ok I’ll stop being a fan and bugging you with this. But I am just amazed that you have a livejournal.

    Thank you so much for writing speak! I absolutely love it and recommend it to everyone I know!

    -Leanne

  3. Ok I’m going to have to sound like a fan this being my first comment to you.

    I just finished rereading Speak and I’m still in “aw” of how talented you are. It’s my dream to become a writer (and a teacher.) Right now I’m working on becoming a teacher and am taking a Teaching Lit course as well as a Fiction Workshop course. So what a perfect semester for me!

    I hate to admit I’ve only read Speak, but I plan on picking up a few others very soon.

    Do you ever come to the NH area for book signing, or at least MA?

    Well ok I’ll stop being a fan and bugging you with this. But I am just amazed that you have a livejournal.

    Thank you so much for writing speak! I absolutely love it and recommend it to everyone I know!

    -Leanne

  4. Thanking You.

    I am a student from John C. Birdlebough HighSchool, and I was lucky enough to have my books (Speak + Catalyst) signed by you and listen to a great speech as well. (I was the one who accidently left my pen with you and you said “Don’t let the author steal your pen”. Not that I expect you to remember haha.) But I just wanted to let you know that you did an excellent job. I was very pleased to have heard you “speak” to us about your book and how you got started. I have been a huge fan of Speak since my freshman year of highschool. I was extremely excited when two of my classes this year “made” us read it again. This book had been an inspiration to me, as well as other teenagers my age. Whether you have been or haven’t been raped there is always a part of Melinda or another character that you can relate to, and I love that. It isn’t easy being a teenager, but it is easy when you find some one to help you get through it. So again, thank you for the great presentation- I was at your last one at 1:20-2:20 today and you spoke about your livejournal so I just had to comment to you, since I am too shy to say it to your face. I am also a huge fan of Bruce Coville, when you talked about him today I was completely jealous for the fact I grew up reading his books. I love them.

    Keep doing what you are doing because I love your work and as long as you do I will keep supporting you. I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedual to come speak with us about yourself.

    PS: I also am hoping to make it to your book signing in April at the Oswego bookstore you were talking to me about when I went to get my other two books signs so I can hopefully get Prom signed as well.

    Thanks Again,
    Shannon Kenyon

  5. Thanking You.

    I am a student from John C. Birdlebough HighSchool, and I was lucky enough to have my books (Speak + Catalyst) signed by you and listen to a great speech as well. (I was the one who accidently left my pen with you and you said “Don’t let the author steal your pen”. Not that I expect you to remember haha.) But I just wanted to let you know that you did an excellent job. I was very pleased to have heard you “speak” to us about your book and how you got started. I have been a huge fan of Speak since my freshman year of highschool. I was extremely excited when two of my classes this year “made” us read it again. This book had been an inspiration to me, as well as other teenagers my age. Whether you have been or haven’t been raped there is always a part of Melinda or another character that you can relate to, and I love that. It isn’t easy being a teenager, but it is easy when you find some one to help you get through it. So again, thank you for the great presentation- I was at your last one at 1:20-2:20 today and you spoke about your livejournal so I just had to comment to you, since I am too shy to say it to your face. I am also a huge fan of Bruce Coville, when you talked about him today I was completely jealous for the fact I grew up reading his books. I love them.

    Keep doing what you are doing because I love your work and as long as you do I will keep supporting you. I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedual to come speak with us about yourself.

    PS: I also am hoping to make it to your book signing in April at the Oswego bookstore you were talking to me about when I went to get my other two books signs so I can hopefully get Prom signed as well.

    Thanks Again,
    Shannon Kenyon

  6. Thanking You.

    I am a student from John C. Birdlebough HighSchool, and I was lucky enough to have my books (Speak + Catalyst) signed by you and listen to a great speech as well. (I was the one who accidently left my pen with you and you said “Don’t let the author steal your pen”. Not that I expect you to remember haha.) But I just wanted to let you know that you did an excellent job. I was very pleased to have heard you “speak” to us about your book and how you got started. I have been a huge fan of Speak since my freshman year of highschool. I was extremely excited when two of my classes this year “made” us read it again. This book had been an inspiration to me, as well as other teenagers my age. Whether you have been or haven’t been raped there is always a part of Melinda or another character that you can relate to, and I love that. It isn’t easy being a teenager, but it is easy when you find some one to help you get through it. So again, thank you for the great presentation- I was at your last one at 1:20-2:20 today and you spoke about your livejournal so I just had to comment to you, since I am too shy to say it to your face. I am also a huge fan of Bruce Coville, when you talked about him today I was completely jealous for the fact I grew up reading his books. I love them.

    Keep doing what you are doing because I love your work and as long as you do I will keep supporting you. I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedual to come speak with us about yourself.

    PS: I also am hoping to make it to your book signing in April at the Oswego bookstore you were talking to me about when I went to get my other two books signs so I can hopefully get Prom signed as well.

    Thanks Again,
    Shannon Kenyon

  7. Re: Thanking You.

    Of course I remember, Shannon. Thanks for taking the time to write, as well as for making me feel at home at JCB. It would be great to see you on April 2nd!

  8. Re: Thanking You.

    Of course I remember, Shannon. Thanks for taking the time to write, as well as for making me feel at home at JCB. It would be great to see you on April 2nd!

  9. Re: Thanking You.

    Of course I remember, Shannon. Thanks for taking the time to write, as well as for making me feel at home at JCB. It would be great to see you on April 2nd!

  10. Hi Leanne. There is a chance that I might be in Boston this fall, but nothing solid yet. Keep checking the Schedule on my website. And good luck writing and teaching!

  11. Hi Leanne. There is a chance that I might be in Boston this fall, but nothing solid yet. Keep checking the Schedule on my website. And good luck writing and teaching!

  12. Hi Leanne. There is a chance that I might be in Boston this fall, but nothing solid yet. Keep checking the Schedule on my website. And good luck writing and teaching!

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