CAMDEN, ARKANSAS, UNITED STATES, November 10, 2017 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Too much of reading for children is homework. As a result, they never truly learn how to read for enjoyment, to place themselves in the story and unlock their imagination. There has to be a balance.

Brenda Fickey has dedicated her entire career as a teacher to strike that balance. As the Reluctant Reader’s Friend, Brenda promotes literacy among young readers.

“When I decided I wanted to write for children and young people, I decided what I wanted to do was reach out to those reluctant readers, because they need some good materials to work with,” says Brenda. “In the process of educating them, I'm entertaining them and giving them a purpose beyond the reading itself.”

An educator for nearly 40 years, Brenda’s expertise is in the area of writing. She currently teaches writing to AP students, both juniors and seniors.

“I was a reluctant reader myself when I was in school,” recalls Brenda. “Even though I was a strong reader, I needed a little extra push to help me enjoy the reading that had to be done.”

Brenda is the author of The Arkansas Oil Days series for middle readers, fifth through eighth grade. The series includes Whispering Darkness, Echoing Silence, Beckoning Shadows and Kidnapped Justice. Readers will be excited to learn Brenda is currently working on a fifth book in the series, Stolen Slumber.

“It gave me the opportunity to share these stories and fascinate them with adventure, as well as place them within the context of the story themselves. It's like virtual reality without the virtual reality goggles,” says Brenda.

“It's much more challenging than writing a novel for a particular genre,” says Brenda. “I include enough in it so the avid reader can enjoy them, too. I have challenging vocabulary as well as typical vocabulary for those age groups.”

Brenda says she hears from parents that their children sit at the dinner table and talk about the books with their family.

“I don't do the typical. Every time my readers get to a major point in the story they say, ‘Oh, I bet you he's going to do this’ and every one of them is wrong,” says Brenda. “I love watching their faces for the thought process; they're beginning to think for themselves. And I love it because what they're doing is literally a skill that can't be taught. It has to be experienced.”

CUTV News Radio will feature Brenda Fickey in an interview with Jim Masters on November 14th at 3pm EST and with Doug Llewelyn on November 21st at 3pm EST.

Listen to the show on BlogTalkRadio.

If you have a question for our guest, call (347) 996-3389.

For more information on the Reluctant Reader’s Friend, visit http://www.brendafickey.com.

Lou Ceparano
CUTV News
(631) 850-3314
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