Building a writers’ bloc

Mike Sciacca

There was no doubting the power of the pen Tuesday at 22 local

schools.

The 17th annual Authors Festival included more than 40 authors and

illustrators from throughout California and beyond who made guest

appearances at the Huntington Beach Children’s Library and the local

schools.

Participating authors and illustrators reached an estimated

15,000-plus elementary, middle school and high school students over a

two-day period.

School representatives selected their authors and illustrators

through a lottery system in November.

The festival was sponsored by the Friends of the Children’s

Library.

“They are a volunteer support group dedicated to promoting

programs and special events for the children’s library,” Nanci

Williams said of the Friends of the Children’s Library. “They support

the library in developing children’s library services.”

Williams is the children’s services coordinator for the Huntington

Beach Central Library.

“The Friends of the Children’s Library is a dedicated group of

about 25 hard-working volunteers who absolutely planned and performed

this entire festival on their own. Without them, we couldn’t have

this festival.”

The festival began Sunday when children’s author and illustrator

Viki Woodworth appeared at Family Storytime at the library’s Tabby

Storytime Theater.

Woodworth, a resident of Seattle, shared her picture books, “Daisy

the Firecow,” and “Daisy the Dancing Cow,” during storytime.

The festival continued Tuesday, with the authors and illustrators

making guest appearances at local schools as authors-in-residence for

the day.

Each participating school planned activities that reflected the

works of authors and illustrators who visited their campus.

The works of illustrator and author Curt Visca, and authors Kelley

Visca, Elizabeth Spurr and Isaac O. Olaleye, were presented to

students at Circle View Elementary School during an authors’ special

assembly presentation Tuesday.

The Viscas, who have been married for 15 years, have had 14 books

published. The couple are coauthors and Curt Visca does the

illustrations.

For Curt Visca, the creator, star and producer of the

award-winning cable television show, “It’s Curtoon Time” since 1989,

the festival was special in that his work was shown at Circle View, a

school he attended from kindergarten through sixth-grade.

Visca also attended Spring View Middle School and graduated from

Edison High School.

Kelley Visca presented her husband’s illustration works Tuesday.

“It’s an honor to be one of the featured authors at Circle View

School,” said Curt Visca, who is in his 10th year as an elementary

school principal in the Capistrano Unified School District.

“Maybe some day, one of these current students will be a future

author and will come back to present at Circle View School,” he said.

“I am proud to be a public school student in Huntington Beach.”

The Circle View students held a cartoon contest to coincide with

Curt Visca’s visit.

“I really think that when someone from our own school is

successful, and then comes back to share with us their success, it

really has an impact on the kids,” said Kathy Smith, a third-grade

teacher and administrative assistant at Circle View.

Smith served as Authors Festival coordinator for the school.

“I think this is just wonderful what the Friends of the Children’s

Library do each year for the students,” she said.

Following Tuesday’s visits to the local schools, the authors and

illustrators attended a gala reception and book-signing event at the

Huntington Beach Central Library.

* MIKE SCIACCA covers sports and features. He can be reached at

(714) 965-7171 or by e-mail at michael.sciacca@latimes.com.