Posted 9/6/06
Charles J. Shields, author of Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee, will be featured at the first ever PALCS Virtual Assembly on Sept. 20 at 10 a.m.

"I think it's an excellent opportunity to listen to and talk to an experienced author. He will be able to talk about Harper Lee and what it's like to be a writer and have a book published," said Erin Keefe, Director of Student Programs.

Students, their parents, and teachers are all welcome to send questions to Shields.

"They can ask about his writing the book or about Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird," said Keefe.

Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee is a biography on Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Shields' book is on the New York Times Best Sellers List.

The school will soon posting more information on Shields and Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee so that everyone can learn more about him before the chat.

"We will be letting everyone know in advance how to learn about Mr. Shields. He has done a lot of interviews over the past several months, so there are many articles and taped recordings of his interviews. They can learn about him that way," said Keefe.

Keefe feels that this Virtual Assembly will teach students “that there are people out there, like Mr. Shields, who have an interest and a dream and make it a reality.”

Shields found out about the school by reading the Talon.

“He read the Talon over the summer and contacted me about being interviewed by the staff. I told him more about the school, and he said he'd love to hold this virtual assembly,” said Keefe.



For September’s Virtual Assembly, everyone is asked to have questions sent to Keefe either via SchoolMail or email (ekeefe@palcs.org) by Sept. 15.

This isn’t the only Virtual Assembly being planned.

“This is going to be a series of assemblies. We would like to have one per month with other guest speakers from all over the country,” said Keefe.

They are planning on having not only authors, but other guest speakers as well.

“In October, it will be someone from the Cyber Parents Organization. There are a few other authors we’re talking to,” said Keefe.

Students are asked to tell Keefe if they know of anyone who they think would be a good guest speaker.

“Any other ideas are welcome for other assemblies. They can forward ideas to me,” said Keefe.