Author Victoria Piontek Inspires Lower School Writers

This week Shorecrest Lower School was visited by author Victoria Piontek. Mrs. Piontek was recently recognized by the Sunshine State Young Readers Awards when her second middle grade novel, "Better with Butter," was named one of the top 15 books for grades 3-5. 

The main character of "Better with Butter" is a twelve-year-old girl navigating Middle School with an anxiety disorder. She finds help from an unlikely friend - an adorable fainting goat named Butter. Mrs. Piontek is also the author of "The Spirit of Cattail County" set in the Florida Everglades, and several short stories. Although she grew up in Florida, she now lives in California and works as an Educational Therapist. She helps students with learning differences and autism spectrum disorder every day, and often writes main characters handling some of the same issues that she sees in her students, family members, and herself.

Third and fourth graders were treated to special time with Mrs. Piontek and heard about how she became a reader, then a writer, and how she develops her stories. She showed an example of the many edits she receives from her editor on each book. She encouraged the students to plan and outline before writing, and to take time for freewriting without judgement. They also saw a photo of the goat she once fostered who was the inspiration for Butter. 

Thank you to the Vetter family for helping to arrange this special visit. 

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