“His message was inspirational and I felt that it really applied,” Waukon High School junior Allie Schwartz said. “My editor drove three hours, with a bottle of champagne, to my doorstep after Kirkus awarded the star for Ashfall,” Mullin shared. He received several awards, including the extremely critical Kirkus Review where he was awarded a star, their highest honor, for Ashfall and Sunrise.
The determination has paid off for Mullin and his readers. “It sucks, but it is part of the ten thousand hours.” I went through several massive rewrites,” Mullin recalled. “I wrote every scene in Heartsblood on Post-its. He has tried several times to make Heartsblood publishable. Mullin said he wants to burn his first novel, but his mother has hidden it. He spent three years writing his first published novel, Ashfall after writing two other failures, Captain Poopy’s Sewer Adventure, and Heartsblood. He noted that other professions, such as teachers, musicians and athletes also need to work on their craft every day, trying to reach that ten thousand hour minimum to achieve greatness. He said he writes at least two pages every day. Mullin started the gathering by sharing his extensive research on what it takes to succeed, ten thousand hours of practice.
I am sad that he didn’t read more often, but I’m glad that it was my book that got him to read,” Mullin said. “I received an e-mail from a mother who said Ashfall was the first book her son had finished in four or five years. Mullin said he finds working with young people especially rewarding. Mullin also demonstrated his taekwondo skills by breaking a paver with his hand, answered questions, and signed books. Honors English students in grades 8-11 participated in and listened to stories about writing, education, career choices, and life. Determination and the science behind a super volcano dominated a high energy presentation by Ashfall author Mike Mullin Friday, April 4 at Waukon High School.
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