Writers Week opens avenues for Libertyville High students

Singer-songwriter Steve Everett says some of the best moments of his life were sitting in auditoriums, seeing performers he wanted to emulate.

The storyteller from Nashville, Tennessee, had the shoe on the other foot Thursday, as he inspired students at Libertyville High School during the school's annual Writers Week.

Everett's unique sound and comedic banter drew laughs and applause during his performance in the school's auditorium.

"It's fun for me being able to connect with everybody," he said. "Having somebody come in who has been writing for a long time and who pays his bills through art, it's pretty rare that you're face-to-face with somebody that does that."

This year's Writers Week was organized by teachers Dyan Naslund, Craig Schmidt and Mary Kate Schoenbeck.

"It's about a year's worth of planning that we put into it," Naslund said. "We try to expose (students) to all of the ways writing can open up avenues to them in life."

Writers Week featured professional writers from different genres as well as student and teacher participants.