New Westminster Secondary School

Ilona Beiks, from The Vancouver International Writers Festival’s outreach program contacted me to see if I’d be interested in visiting New Westminster Secondary School to do an authors talk.  Of course, I was delighted to go. 

The school from the outside, doesn’t look too impressive.  Is in desperate need of an update, a paint job.  However, when we walked in one of the first things I noticed were these amazing prom dresses, created out of paper and cardboard and stuff.  Some of them were really truly stunning.  There was a few that I could actually see wearing proudly, not even caring that they were made of something other than fabric.  It was like high fashion.  So creative and full of whimsy.

I was very surprised when Laurie walked up to me.  She is the photographer who took the picture of me that I have at the back of my novel, Porcupine.  I didn’t know she had transfered to that school.

We were a little early so, Sarah, looking very spiffy, took us into the back room in the library and we chatted.  At the very start of my talk, all of a sudden I felt a little nervous, just for a flash.  I wanted so much to connect with these teens, but I wasn’t sure if anyone would be open to what I had to say.  And then I just said to myself, “Do the best you can.  You are here for a reason.” So, I put it aside and trusted that whatever I chose to read would be the right thing, and who ever needed to hear what I had to say, would. 

Well, it was wonderful.  The teens were great.  I didn’t want it to be over, so it was lucky for them that the bell rang after an hour and 1/4 because honestly, I would have read and talked with them until the cows came home.

I was very moved and honored by some of the conversations I had afterwards.  A couple in particular, I will hold forever in my heart. 

Thank you to the Vancouver International Writers Festival and HSBC for sponsoring this visit.  I am so, so, glad I went.  And to top it all off, I have the lovely bouquet of flowers that Sarah gave me, sitting in a vase full of water on our kitchen table, smiling at me.

Posted by Meg Tilly on Monday, May 26, 2008 in Chewing the Fat

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