In a sense author Jared Reck became a writer by teaching his middle school students the importance of writing. Listen in as Jared explains how he came to create his debut, A SHORT HISTORY OF THE GIRL NEXT DOOR.

Episode Mentions:

* Oh, Say Can You Say?

* Garfield

* Calvin & Hobbes

* Dave Barry

* Mama Day

* Bailey's Cafe

* Hondo & Fabian

* Kiss Good Night

* Arnie, the Doughnut

* Chris Crutcher

* Speak

* Athletic Shorts

* Laurie Halse Anderson

* John Green

* Looking for Alaska

* An Abundance of Katherines

* Sara Zarr

* A.S. King

* Nancie Atwell

* A Short History of the Girl Next Door

* Whale Ta...