Author Amber Elmore, of Sissonville, grew up at Watter’s Smith Memorial State Park in West Milford where her father was the park superintendent. Inspired by her follies as a child in the middle of a state park, Elmore created the character Betsy Beansprout, a rambunctious youngster who lives in a state park.

On December 6 at 6:30 p.m., Elmore will visit with area students at Marlinton Elementary School. All county elementary and middle school students are invited to attend.

Local Reading Council member Becky Spencer said the Meet the Author event has a special twist to it which has encouraged the students to write.

“At the elementary level, she emailed them as if she was Betsy,” Spencer said of Elmore. “She wrote, ‘what would you do if I could come and play at your house for a day? What adventures would we have?’ The kids are supposed to write back and she’s coming that night and will choose the best letters in each grade level to give prizes.”

For middle school students, Elmore wrote a letter as herself and explained the job description of an author.

“She wrote, ‘if you wanted to be an author, here’s the requirements you need to be, now tell me your best story you can create,’” Spencer explained.

Elmore will also reveal the best of those stories at the event.

The night is also a parent night and Spencer said it will be a great night for the parents and students to enjoy together.

The program will include Elmore reading one of her Betsy Beansprout books, talking to the students and reading a few of the students’ stories.

Elmore currently has three books, with one available to purchase online, “Betsy Beansprout Adventure Guide.” The books are published by Shade Tree Publishing, LLC.

Suzanne Stewart may be contacted at sastewart@pocahontastimes.com