New author speaks at local school and announces art contests

Astrolaris may not be a real place to many people, but to Brenton Barwick and his family, it has become like a second home. Barwick is a local author from Herriman. He recently self published the book "Defenders of Destiny, the Discovery of Astrolaris."
Barwick shared his story with the students at Butterfield Canyon Elementary during the school's literacy night on May 19.
While the event was not completely about Barwick, he did take center stage. Barwick's presentation included maps and a large robot and obelisk which he made himself as they are depicted in the book. Barwick also brought some of the geodes that actually started the adventure book.
Barwick also shared a sneak preview of his second book with the students and their families. As part of Book Two, Barwick, is hosting an art competition. He has not yet set a title for his second book. He is encouraging students and anyone who wants to participate to create artwork based on characters from the first book.
The winning artwork will be published in Book Two of his six-part series on Astrolaris and the family who discovers it.
The contest is divided into two categories. The first is for students from kindergarten to 12th grade. The winners of this contest will have their artwork published within the book. There will be at least 27 winners in this contest.
The second category is for the cover art. Anyone who wishes may enter this contest. There will be two winners for this part of the contest, one winner for the front cover and one for the back. The final date of acceptance for artwork will be Oct. 31.
"While writing this adventure, I intentionally created a story that would appeal to readers of all ages, but with youth particularly in mind. I was tired of books and movies that specifically excluded one or both parents from the story. I am appalled by the vernacular and inappropriate content of some of the books that have been recently written for youth," Barwick said.
The idea for the book came from traveling with his family and telling stories to pass the time. It just occurred to him one day that he should start writing these stories down, he said.
"It has been a real boon to be able to do this," Barwick said.
Butterfield Canyon Elementary's literacy committee, which consisted of a teacher from each grade level, put together the event.
"It was really a joint effort from a lot of people to make this night come together right," Terri Schmidt, the school's literacy coach, said.
The rest of the evening highlighted books created by the students themselves. Each student had created his or her own book about something they were learning in the classroom. These books were displayed for everyone to see.
"It has been such an opportunity to have each student have their own little book that they've published," Schmidt said.
The whole idea for Barwick to present his book came from Principal Shelly Davis. Barwick had approached Davis with a revision of his book and asked her opinion on it.
Being afraid that she might have to tell a student's parent that his book was not very good, Davis cautiously read the revision. She said that she couldn't put the book down and was excited to have the students read it.
The school has a guest author' the literacy night every year. They always purchase the book first so the students are exposed to the work before speaking with the author. Davis invited Barwick to be the featured author this year.
"This whole night has been very animated," Davis said at the end of the evening.

Students at Butterfield Canyon Elementary created their own
books to display at the school's annual literacy night.

By Alisha Tondro for The South Valley Journal

Published in June 2011 in Riverton, Utah

http://www.southvalleyjournal.com/pages/full_story/7072/-New-author-speaks-at-local-school-and-announces-art-contests/