LouAnne Johnson

If you are teacher looking for advice, click the 'ADVICE' button for your document. Good luck and thanks for teaching!

Q: Did Raul ever pay you back the $100.
A: Yes, he paid me back the day he graduated. He was 20 years old, but he hung in there.

Q: Did Emilio really die?
A: No, he didn't. He spent 4 years in the Marine Corps and now he's married, living in CA with his 2 kids.

Q: What happened to the other kids?
A: Callie went to community college and had another kid. Gusmaro works for a software developer. Durell and Lionel came back to school after their grandma made them quit and work for a semester (and she never called me a honky anything - she was very nice). I saw some of the students in April 2004 and here's what their jobs are: dental hygenist, real estate agent, school secretary, video game designer, mortgage loan officer, electronics engineer, produce manager for a grocery store, nursing assistant -- so I guess they showed the school system that had given up on them!!

Q: Are you still teaching?
A: I usually teach one semester per year and then write for one semester, because I love both -- and I don't make enough money from books to support myself. Everybody thinks authors are rich, but if you ain't John Grisham, you ain't rich. I'm not complaining, though. I'm happy to have my books published. I decided when I was 10 that I would write books when I grew up. Nothing better than having your dream come true.

Q: Are you married?
A: At present, I am happily divorced but will consider all interesting proposals.

Q: Is the movie true?
A: Sort of. The movie is based on my book, My Posse Don't Do Homework, but the Hollywood guys made up a lot of stuff because they thought it would be more exciting. You'll have to decide what you think.

Q: Did you just teach one class like in the movie?
A: No, the first year I taught as an intern for one class. The following year, I had three classes, two were students who didn't speak English. Then I started teaching, full-time (150 kids per year), the kids who were portrayed in the movie. I taught in that program for four years, then moved to New Mexico to attend grad school. I also taught high school and college there. Since then, I've taught off and on, between writing my books. Right now I'm working on a screenplay, a play, some short stories and another novel. You can read about my novels at www.alyceshirleydaughter.com

Q: How can I become a writer?
A: First, read a lot - everything, but especially the kind of things you want to write. Then write a lot and ask people to read it -- but don't listen to everything they say. Read The Writer and Writer's Digest magazines, and if you are serious, get a copy of The Writer's Market that is published every year. Then, work really hard, believe in yourself, and don't give up. Eventually, if you write from the heart and you practice your craft, you will get published. Good luck!