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Oneida Middle School
February 17 2010
Oneida Book
Club Enjoys Skype Visit with Author
 Oneida
Middle School's 8th Grade Book Club put Skype technology to use
recently when they met Patrick Carman, the award-winning author
of many books for young adults and children. Skype is a
software application that allows people to communicate over the
Internet. It was the perfect tool to connect this group of
young readers with the popular writer who presents web-based
videos as a companion to the books.
 The
club has been meeting at lunchtime to read Ghost in the
Machine, the second book of the author's Skeleton Creek
series. According Michelle Stewart-Mannino, instructional
coach, the series has captivated the readers with its seamless
combination of text and web-based videos. "What better way
to meet the author himself than through the Internet," she said.
Carman, in his
office in Washington State, spend almost an hour talking
to the students and answering their questions. Student
note-takers recorded the questions and answers which follow:
Q:
Did you keep a journal when you were younger?
Carman:
When I was young I kept a journal, not a diary - those are
for girls. I kept tons of them. I wrote and drew
pictures in them. Currently I write in journals and keep
most of them in my office. I always carry my journal with
me; you never know when something will happen that you will need
to write down. Oh here, I also kept my favorite book I
read in high school. (He held Frankenstein up to
the camera) It's good to write while you read, make
notations. If you can get a copy of your favorite book,
write our thoughts in it and keep it. It's fun to go back
years later and read it.
 Q:
How did you come up with the idea of a book with videos?
Carman:
The idea actually came to me when I visited the dredge.
I thought it would not only make a good written story, but I
could picture it being a movie too. There are so many
possibilities now with technology. You can pair up with a
friend, take some pictures or video, and write a story that
connects. You never know until you start writing.
Q:
How did you feel emotionally when writing Skeleton
Creek/Ghost in the Machine?
Carman:
That's a good question. Usually when you write a book
you are alone. You are the one making all the decisions,
you are in charge. With these two books it was different.
It was a challenge. I had to work with so many other
people. I had to trust their judgments and listen to their
suggestions.
Q:
How did you find the actors?
Carman:
We started the search at a casting call in Los Angeles.
Many people wanted the part of Sarah because she has much more
air time in the videos. We narrowed it down to three
girls. One of them ended up working on the Hannah Montana
show. The girl we chose to play Sarah actually was from my
town, Walla Walla, Washington. It was funny how it ended
up. In the end, we didn't have to go to LA at all.
 Q:
Why did you decide to make Ryan and Sarah teenagers?
Carman:
Well, I wanted them to be young enough that they were still kids
but not yet adults. If they were old enough to drive it
might have seemed weird; they wouldn't walk around town and may
not be interested in filming the woods. If they were too
young, it would have been unrealistic that their parents would
let them out of the house alone.
Q:
Where did you come up with the name Sarah Fincher?
Carman:
At first I wanted her name to be Sarah Fletcher. When
I went to register on the web site, the name was not available.
So then I decided to change the last name to Fincher.
Fincher is actually the last name of my favorite movie director.
Q:
Is the dredge real?
Carman:
Yes!
Q:
Where did you come up with the idea of Old Joe Bush?
Carman:
There is a real man named Joe Bush that actually died during
an accident on the dredge. His arm got caught in the
dredge and he drowned. There is an urban legend that has
started by people living near the dredge. They clam it is
haunted by his ghost.
Q:
Do you believe in ghosts?
Carman:
I am undecided. It's fun to talk about. I will
say this, while filming during the night on location at the
dredge, there were some strange things that happened.
Q:
What is the message from Ryan on the website about?
Carman:
It is a message about what is missing. That is how the
series continues.
Learn More
about
Patrick Carmen
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