Kyla LoPresti spoke to over 400 sixth graders about the two books she wrote, Flashback & Reality. She created a PowerPoint presentation where she taught the students about the elements of literature and her writing process. She received wonderful feedback from both the staff and students and inspired some of the kids to begin to write their own stories. Kyla really enjoyed going back to the school where she began writing her first book. She would like to continue going to other schools and talk about writing with kids of all ages.
2. Overview:
About Flashback Series
About Isabelle’s Flashbacks
Theme
Imagery
Characters
Setting
Plot
Editing Process
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3. Flashback is a story I created when I was in 6th grade here at
Carrigan. I had a dream about a girl that was killed. She reincarnated
and became a new person. I decided to write my dream down when I
woke up. The next day in school I began to write more. I showed a
couple of my friends and they really liked my idea. Six months later
the rough draft of Flashback was finished.
A year later I wrote the sequel to Flashback called Reality.
Right now I am finishing a third book Awakened which is a
spin-off to the series.
I plan to have 5 books total in the Flashback series.
4. What is a Flashback?
A scene in story set in a time earlier than
the main story.
Isabelle, the main character, has Flashbacks about her
previous life.
Every other chapter is about her past in the 1800’s.
She doesn’t remember everything about her past. Just bits
and pieces come to her throughout the story.
There are clues in her Flashbacks about what is happening
in her present life.
5. The reader must infer what the theme is
by what happens in the story.
Throughout the story Isabelle falls in love with Erik. Love
is a major theme in the story.
There are some deaths within the story. Death is also a
theme.
6. I use my
descriptions of things
to make the reader
feel like they are in
the situation.
When Isabelle has
her Flashbacks I
describe them so the
reader knows they
take place in a
different time period.
7. Many of my
characters are based
on my friends.
Rachael and Evelyn
are based on friends
who were both
students at Carrigan.
On my website I
like to have pictures
and descriptions of
my characters.
8.
9. Find inspiration in
everyday life and describe
the things that are around
you.
I went to Johnsonville to
see what is was like to live in
the 1800’s.
I did a lot of research to
see how people lived and
what they wore.
Johnsonville, CT
10. I went on Vacation to
Carlsbad, California. I
liked it so much I
decided to have the
characters live there.
I research things
about each place I write
about so that everything
is factual.
Carlsbad, CA
11. The main character is revealed. Isabelle is Katherine from
a past life.
Isabelle’s assailant from her past is back to get her.
An old flame returns to Isabelle’s life.
There are unexplained events that occur.
12. Step 1: Write a rough draft
in notebook.
Step 2: Type it into the
computer.
Step 3: Re-read the whole
book and make changes.
Step 4: Send it to an
editor.
Step 5: Make editor’s
changes.
Step 6: Re-read whole
book again.
Step 7: Make any more
necessary changes.
Step 8: Send it to the publisher
and order a PROOF.
Re-read PROOF make more
changes.
13. DO WHAT YOU
LOVE! Whatever it is
you like to do, you
can Inspire others.
I like to write
messages to the
reader on each book
so hopefully they will
follow their dreams.
