Beloved children's author Kate DiCamillo talks books, writing with fans of all ages

It felt like an afternoon among friends when author Kate DiCamillo took to the stage to talk about her books and the memorable characters she has created during her career as a beloved children's writer.

"I feel like they're people that I've discovered, and it's my job to tell their story," DiCamillo said, referring to the characters from her award-winning books such as Because of Winn Dixie, The Tale of Desperaux and Flora & Ulysses.

Close to 400 eager fans of all ages showed up to the Forest View Education Center to meet DiCamillo on Saturday, April 28.

DiCamillo started the afternoon by reading the first couple of chapters from her most recent novel, Raymie Nightingale. She then answered questions and impressed fans with her sense of humor.

"I didn't go to graduate school," DiCamillo said after talking about how she got her undergraduate degree in English at the University of Florida. "Instead I bought a black turtleneck because that's what writers do."

DiCamillo recounted how she started writing her first novel at the age of 30 by completing two pages a day. She provided details about the history behind her books, described her writing process and more. In turn, the audience responded positively to DiCamillo's insights and experiences as a writer.

"It was great. The fact that she talked about her writing was to the benefit of both kids and adults. It was very enlightening to the way an artist thinks," said Steve Bayer, who attended the event with his 8-year-old daughter Camille. "I liked that she was willing to open up about her own books and her own personal story."

"She was very funny and very personable," added Jolinta Voelker, who came to the event with her two daughters, Abby and Bethany. Voelker said DiCamillo's book, Flora & Ulysses, introduced the family to listening to audiobooks.

Following her presentation, DiCamillo signed copies of her books and took photographs with fans. An Afternoon with Author Kate DiCamillo was co-sponsored by Candlewick Press and The Book Stall and served as the closing event for Lit Month, the Arlington Heights Memorial Library's month-long celebration of writers and literature. In addition to DiCamillo, Greg Kot (I'll Take You There) and Celia Perez (The First Rule of Punk), were among the writers who visited Arlington Heights in April.