Acclaimed Children’s Author Candace Fleming Speaks to Tartans About Writing Process

St. Margaret’s students got a taste of the writing process this week, as acclaimed author Candace Fleming visited campus and spoke to students from preschool through grade 6.

Describing in detail the behind-the-scenes process for the children and young adult books she has written, Mrs. Fleming spoke about her love of research and showed students how many drafts she writes before a book is completed.

“Mrs. Fleming showed students her progression through her draft and emphasized her writing process,” said Darla Magana, director of library services. “This ties into the work the Lower School students are doing in their reading and writing workshop time in the classroom. Students clearly heard that writers work hard, are persistent, and strive for perfection.”

Mrs. Fleming has written more than 20 fiction and nonfiction books for children and young adults, including Los Angeles Times Book Prize winner The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion and the Fall of the Russian Empire and Boston Globe-Horn Book award winner The Lincolns. She also has written popular picture books for younger audiences like Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!

At St. Margaret’s Literacy Day next Friday, Mrs. Fleming’s picture book Boxes for Katje will be read by all St. Margaret’s students. The historical picture book tells the post-World War II story of how a hope box of necessities sent by an American girl, Rosie, to young Katje in Holland started an exchange that swells with joyful and life-giving surprises. This inspiring story will serve to launch the St. Margaret’s community into a hope box-packing celebration on Chalmers Field to benefit Family Assistance Ministries.

“Mrs. Fleming was a fabulous presenter. She filled her time with high-energy, engaging student-centered presentations,” said Mrs. Magana. “I’ve never seen a visiting author speak so well to all students, sliding seamlessly from grade 6 presentations to preschool presentations. She writes for all the different age groups and that showed in how well she keyed into the different age-group audiences.”