Finklea shared with the students that he almost quit trying to write after his first book was refused four times. That’s when his sister reminded him that Dr. Seuss was rejected 27 times before his first children’s book was published. Finklea continued revising his story and was finally published on his ninth submission.
Always wanting to promote the joy of writing, Finklea explained that anyone can be an author. He gave students several examples of how to improve their stories, and encouraged them to work through revisions and to never give up on writing.
Finklea has visited more than 2,000 elementary schools across the United States. Now based in Dallas, Finklea is excited about the opportunities to share his story, his books and his love for writing with the students in this community.