Travel to Toronto, Ontario for this "Good Conversation!" with one of Canada's most popular authors. Ken Oppel talks about his life as a writer and explains how he turned his interest in reading about bats into the characters of his popular Silverwing series. He also describes how he begins the writing process each day and discusses his book, Airborn. -21 mins
Highly Recommended Title at Educational Media Marketplace, 2005 Curriculum Connections Pick, Fall 2006

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Topics for classroom discussion and assignments:

• Kenneth Oppel talks about “Eureka moments.” What are they? Have you ever experienced one. If not, what do you imagine it would feel like?

• Do research on an animal that interests you. Next, write a short story with that animal as the leading character. Remind them that Kenneth Oppel says you don’t need to know everything about the animal — just enough to start writing.

• Have students take their favorite Kenneth Oppel characters and write your own episodes.

• Have the class brainstorm “What if” questions.