I am very thankful that we had the opportunity to meet and hear from Katherine Vaz in class.

 I attended her reading in the library building and it was exceptional. She is a gifted reader, and has mastered the ability to enchant the audience. I was not originally familiar with her work outside of this class assignment, but I am glad that I had this chance to learn about her work and her novels.

I loved the excerpts that she read at the reading and I did appreciate her comical statements at the event. She made the whole reading come to life. Her story is filled with vivid illustrations and I loved the descriptions. They definitely were captivating and engaging.

It was kind of her to take time from her schedule to come and visit the classroom. I really enjoyed hearing her re-telling of her background and where she came from. Also, I liked most that she took time to share with us the writing routine and practice that she had undergone in efforts to become a great writer. She was relatable, funny, quirky and a true joy. Her stories about Europe were my favorite; they made me smile. Her visit was the highlight of my day.

I truly admire all of the work she has done. I can’t wait to read the work that she will be publishing in the future, for it appears to be one for the books!

Katherine is filled with creativity and boldness that is inspiring. As an aspiring food writer, I hope to have the same love for writing, and for appreciating life. What I noticed and now love about her visit, is that unlike most speakers who often visit to lecture to a class. With Katherine it was different, having a conversation with her had felt like I was hearing great advice and pearls of wisdom from my favorite aunt.

Her pearls of wisdom were very helpful, and was truly welcomed. I often encounter writers block, and she demonstrated a few great suggestion on the best way to recover from one. She noted the times that she struggled with writing, or conveying a thought on a page. I am grateful that she was so thoughtful to answer my question. I valued her advice and her answer was very helpful.

She said that the way to incorporate the right words in a story is by using simple adjectives and taking time to choose my words wisely. I walked away from the lesson that day, realizing that my work has potential and that with practice I will be able to use the write adjectives as a powerful game changer in my writing.

Thank you very much Professor Bernstein for inviting her to class, it was a great lesson.