On Wednesday, July 15, at 2:30 p.m., teens will get to meet two writers.
This week’s program is about writing in various forms,” said Emily States, teen librarian. “Whether you’re into hip hop, poetry or graphic novels, we’re trying to give some insight into the creative process.”
First up will be author G. Neri with whom teens will interact through a live Skype chat. Neri is the Coretta Scott King honor-winning author of “Yummy: the Last Days of a Southside Shorty” and the recipient of the Lee Bennett Hopkins Promising Poet Award for his free-verse novella, “Chess Rumble.” His other novels include “Knockout Games,” “Surf Mules” and the Horace Mann Upstanders Award-winning, “Ghetto Cowboy.”
Neri will discuss what inspires him to write and how he comes up with his ideas for stories.
“Ideas are like driving at night across Alligator Alley in Florida,” said Neri, a Florida resident. “A lot of bugs will hit your windshield, but every once in a while a real whopper will smash into you and you have to stop because you can’t see clearly anymore. A great idea will literally make you stop in your tracks.”
Neri will also share his journey to becoming an author and answers questions from teens who want to get serious about writing.
“At the end of the day, writers write. Period,” said Neri “You’re either going to find the time and the means to do it, or you’re not. I always say that if you can live your life without writing, do it. If you can’t and you write, even if you’re told you’ll never be published, then you’re a writer. It doesn't matter how good you are.”
Following Neri's Skype chat, Gregory Jerome, a hip-hop musician and poet, will lead teens through a writing workshop and perform some of his own music.
Jerome has travelled across the United States teaching students his unique brand of creative writing through Hip Hop and has been named to the Oklahoma Arts Council's roster of performing artists. He has opened for major artists such as Russell Simmons' Def Poetry Jam, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and John Legend.
The writing program is for students in 6-12 grades.
On Thursday, July 16, “Summer Cinema” features a Disney animated classic about a young girl who disguises herself as a male soldier and bravely takes her father's place in the Imperial Army. The film shows at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Major “Summer @ Your Library” sponsors include Friends of the Stillwater Public Library, Stillwater Public Library Trust, Chris’ University Spirit, KOSU, OK Quality Printing, Inc., U.S. Institute of Museum & Library Services, Oklahoma Department of Libraries, Arvest, Cockrell Eye Care Center, Monty Harper, Sonic, Sylvan Learning Center, Young Professionals of Stillwater and Wal-Mart. Please visit the library website for a full list of sponsors.
For more information about upcoming summer programs, contact the Stillwater Public Library by phone at (405) 372-3633 or by e-mail at askalibrarian@stillwater.org, or visit the web site at
http://library.stillwater.org.