Business News
Fifth Future Authors Book Unveiled at Signing
Tuesday 07. December 2010 - If Writing Were Easy, This Book Would Be Huge now on library shelves
More than 50 School District of Palm Beach County students debuted today as published authors at the Fifth Annual Future Authors Project book signing at the Spanish River Library in Boca Raton. Fellow classmates, parents, school officials and community leaders stood in line to be among the first to get autographed copies of If Writing Were Easy, This Book Would Be Huge.
The audience enjoyed a sneak preview of the book during a brief program that included readings from Alexandra Zofcin, a 9th grader at Olympic Heights High School in Boca Raton; Juan Puerto, an 8th grader at Don Estridge Middle School; and Ashley Johnson, an 11th grader at Glades Central High School.
This past summer, the writers spent eight days at the Océ Future Authors Project writing workshop taught by certified language arts teachers. Professional writers, including Dr. John E. Becker, an award-winning author of 28 books, and Cuban-born Carolina Garcia-Aguilera, the best-selling author of eight books, also spoke to the students during the workshop.
“It was fun and a great learning experience,” said Zofcin, a passionate writer since second grade, about the Future Authors program. “I learned how to make my writing better.” “The editing process was my favorite part,” added Puerto, who wants to become a poet. “I became a better, more advanced writer.”
Ashley, who also wants to pursue writing as a career, said the more intense editing process and presentations by professional authors open her eyes to the publishing process. “It was an amazing experience,” she said. “I learned so much from the authors and through the one-on-one coaching from the teachers. I especially enjoyed being around other students who enjoy writing as much as I do.”
“Investing in our young people brings promise for the future,” said City of Boca Raton Mayor Susan Whelchel. “Few people ever get to experience the exhilaration of becoming published. Yet, the students who participated in the Océ Future Authors Project got the chance to autograph their very own published works.”
Océ Future Authors Project is a partnership between the School District of Palm Beach County and Océ North America and is designed to help students experience the process of becoming published authors. The Océ Future Authors Project is designed to help students improve their writing and critical thinking skills, develop an understanding of how authors are published, and learn about today’s digital print and publishing opportunities. Writings from each student are compiled, professionally published and digitally printed in final book form by the Boca Raton-based Océ North America Production Printing Systems division. Since the program’s inception in 2006, more than 250 students have participated in Océ Future Authors Project writing workshops.
Francis McMahon, vice president of marketing, Production Print Systems at Océ North America, says the program is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students to be published. “We are proud to support this program and see so many students inspired to become writers,” he said. “We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the School District and our generous sponsors to cultivate even more future authors in the future.”
Constance Tuman-Rugg, Ed.D., assistant superintendent for the School District of Palm Beach County, added that programs like this demonstrate the power public-private endeavors. “For five years, the School District and Océ have worked together to ignite the joy of writing in students and help them hone their skills,” she said.
The Océ Future Authors Project is made possible with generous grants from the Lawrence Sanders Foundation, BankAtlantic Foundation and Xplor International, a not-for-profit educational and networking association serving users and suppliers of document technologies. All donations benefit the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County in support of Océ Future Authors Project.