In The Pipeline:

This past Tuesday was the 21st annual Authors Festival in Huntington Beach, and once again, it was a day for the ages. Sponsored by The Friends of the Library, the festival divides about 40 or so authors up among grade schools and middle schools in Huntington Beach where the writers make presentations, answer questions and sign books. Afterward, there is a gathering at the Central Library for more book signings, readings and other book-related activities.

This is about the seventh year I’ve participated, and in that time I’ve had the pleasure of visiting many local schools. Authors are chosen by schools through a lottery system, and this year I was invited to speak to the sixth grade at Dwyer Middle School, sharing the bill with a wonderful children’s author and poet from Jamaica named Monica Gunning. The Authors Festival Committee (which includes Irma Loper, JoAnn Rankin, Gail Page, Ruth Siegrist and Melody Tokunaga) has the event worked out to the finest detail, and as usual everything flowed like clockwork.

We authors are assigned volunteer mom escorts at our appointed schools to get us from point to point. Any equipment we need is ready and waiting, and lunch is usually held with the teachers at some point in the day. This year I want to call particular attention to the spread put out by the Dwyer PTSA — because it was sensational. The room was beach-themed, the buffet was very satisfying and the company was excellent. To Hospitality Co-Chairwomen Debby Miller and Gina Reed-Kraus, along with Gloria Hu and Kelly Morrissey — a sincere thank you — you spoiled us. (Laurie Benson, who escorted me around, also made the day more than pleasant).

When it came time to speak to the kids (in groups of about 200 or so), I was reminded why this event is so vital to the city. Attentive, interested and curious, the kids I spoke to were terrific. I end up saying that every year, though, because it’s always true.