(L-R) Jeanne Gee, Roland Smith, and Donna Maly
“Bringing out the best in youth” is Optimist International’s purpose and mission. Our Seward Optimist Club proudly supports that mission by sponsoring an author/illustrator at the Plum Creek Literacy Festival here in Seward, NE. This year, Roland Smith from Portland, Oregon will be sponsored by our club. He began his writing career in 1991 and is a popular author of young adult fiction as well as non-fiction books for children.
The 2022 Plum Creek Literacy Festival proudly celebrates its 26 th Annual Festival and has invited 20 respected and acclaimed authors and illustrators from across the US. These award-winning individuals will spend two days meeting with students and their teachers at various schools in Nebraska as well as on campus at Concordia University. An additional full day is provided for an Adult Conference with the authors/illustrators as well as literacy experts. As these accomplished authors and illustrators share their stories, their creative processes and personal experiences, the students and teachers get to know the presenters as ‘regular people’ which strengthens the students’ connection with the books and encourages a love for reading, writing and the creative process. It also helps children to recognize that they too can achieve the similar accomplishments someday.
A benefit of being a sponsor of the festival allows our club to receive free registrations for two individuals to the Saturday Adult Conference including lunch and keynote address. This year two middle school educators from Lincoln Public Schools will be our guests … and one of them is our very own club member Donna Maly.
2022
Roland Smith, author from Portland, Oregon. He began his writing career in 1991 and is a popular author of young adult fiction as well as non-fiction books for children.
2021
Gordon Korman, the author we chose to sponsor, has written and published more than ninety books for children and young adults, most recently War Stories and Notorious. He captivated youngsters as well as their teachers during his recent Nebraska school visits bringing his trademark humor and adventure styles into his presentations.
Gordon is a full-time writer and speaker with over 32 million copies of his novels in print in thirty-five languages. He lives with his family in Long Island, New York.
2019
Lita Judge is the author and illustrator of at least 25 fiction and nonfiction books including her book Flight School which has been adapted into an off-Broadway musical.
Bright Beginnings Child Development Center staff were guests of the Optimist Club at the Plum Creek Festival Adult Conference.
2018
Chris Grabenstein is the author of the New York Times bestselling books: The Island of Dr. Libriss, Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics.
Bright Beginnings Child Development Center staff were guests of the Optimist Club at the Plum Creek Festival Adult Conference.
2017
Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, NYT bestselling author of 21 books including The Crossover, 2015 Newbery Medal winning novel.
2016
Brandon Mull is an American author best known for his children’s fantasy series, Fablehaven.
