Flashback Friday: 

When I was in 8th grade, I was given permission to skip school to go meet my hero Brian Jacques, author of the Redwall series.  He did a wonderful reading and spent time signing books and talking to his young fans (like 12-year-old me, pictured above). 

When I asked him what advice he might have for a young writer, he told me to “always remember to  paint a picture with words.”  Best skip day ever.