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| Thursday September 02, 2010 | Dailycall.com |
| 1/16/2010 5:12:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Terry W. Ervin II stands with his book ‘Flank Hawk.’ Ervin is an English teacher at the Upper Valley JVS.
Provided Photo |
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UVJVS teacher writes novel
By Jennifer Runyon
Staff Writer
PIQUA - At the Upper Valley JVS teachers have often spent time 'doing' the jobs they are now teaching. Wanting to add this credibility in his own classroom, English teacher Terry W. Ervin II became an author.
"I thought why not work in writing?" he said, adding that the cosmetology teacher probably worked at or owned a salon, the auto services teacher was a mechanic.
On Oct. 27, Ervin published his first novel "Flank Hawk," the tale of what would happen if a dragon and World War II aircraft encountered each other. The novel is considered in the fantasy genre, but Ervin said it's really a mix of multiple genres making it "hard to pigeon hole."
"It's a blend of genres. It has techno-thriller, science fiction and horror. Which made it a little difficult to sell (meaning to find a publisher)," he said.
Ervin thought of the novel's plot while driving home from work. He then spent 16 months, writing, editing and revising the novel. While this is his first published novel, he has seen his short stories printed in magazines, anthologies and online.
"It helps when explaining the different elements of writing because you've actually gone through the process. Plus, I know the submission process, so if students want to get published, I can be a resource," he said adding that he has had some students get poems published.
While working with an artist on the book's cover, Ervin brought sketches into two of his classes asking the students what they liked and disliked about the design. Ervin said some of his students have purchased the book and enjoyed reading it including one who gave the book to his brother after he finished and their mother is now reading it.
"Each person comes away with something different," Ervin said.
This is often the case when he uses one of his short stories to teach as he does every year.
"The students really like that. It shows a different aspect of your life to the students," he said.
"Flank Hawk" has been nominated for best science fiction novel of 2009 by the Predators and Editors Readers Poll. Ervin expects to know the results in March. In 2006, his short story "Tethered in Purgatory" won third place for best science fiction short story.
Ervin's novel is available locally at Around About Books and Jay and Mary's Book Center in Troy, The Ole Book Nook in Urbana and Christy's Gifts and Sundries in St. Paris as well as online at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. Ebooks are available through Smashwords.com and Amazon Kindle.
For more information about Ervin and his work, visit www.ervin-author.com.
Ervin likes to pass this message onto his students: "It's a long shot to get published, but if I can do it, I think you have a shot too."
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