Video Description: Not often do New York Times bestselling authors admit they once hated reading. It’s even more unusual for Newberry Medal winners to make that kind of admission. But, Kwame Alexander is not your typical author. For example, he’ll tell you he writes for non-readers…seems like an unusual business plan, doesn’t it? But, Alexander sees it more as a challenge. In this Maryville Talks Books interview, Alexander talks about his love/hate past relationship with reading/writing, how he keeps poetry cool for middle schoolers and how his writing has taken him around the world.

• Use the video to help students gain insight into the writing process as they learn of the author’s approach to writing.
• Use the video as your students study poetry and write their own poetry.