MONROE - Mayor Bill Ross has always loved mystery novels.
"As a kid, I had a part-time job and when I'd earn a dollar, I'd go buy the next Hardy Boys book," said Ross, referencing Franklin W. Dixon's bestselling series for young readers.
Ross is himself the author of four mystery novels. On Thursday, he spoke to students at Parkside Elementary School about writing and storytelling. The school has been working to develop its "writing workshop," Parkside first-grade teacher Jacqueline Schutz said in an email to The Monroe Times.
Ross said fiction is most effective when readers can visualize the characters and action in their heads.
Writing is a hobby for Ross, who retired from his job as a whey plant manager for Saputo Cheese in October. He has been Monroe's mayor since 2010, and also held that part-time post from 1994 to 2006.
His books are available for purchase on Amazon, as well as Barnes and Noble bookstores across the country. They are also sold at the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, with a portion of proceeds going to that organization.
Ross said one reason he writes the books, which draw heavily on his experiences living in Monroe, is to bring people to the area.
"I thought if I started writing mystery novels, it might enhance tourism," said Ross. "My first book went over well. People were asking me to continue writing these books."
"As a kid, I had a part-time job and when I'd earn a dollar, I'd go buy the next Hardy Boys book," said Ross, referencing Franklin W. Dixon's bestselling series for young readers.
Ross is himself the author of four mystery novels. On Thursday, he spoke to students at Parkside Elementary School about writing and storytelling. The school has been working to develop its "writing workshop," Parkside first-grade teacher Jacqueline Schutz said in an email to The Monroe Times.
Ross said fiction is most effective when readers can visualize the characters and action in their heads.
Writing is a hobby for Ross, who retired from his job as a whey plant manager for Saputo Cheese in October. He has been Monroe's mayor since 2010, and also held that part-time post from 1994 to 2006.
His books are available for purchase on Amazon, as well as Barnes and Noble bookstores across the country. They are also sold at the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, with a portion of proceeds going to that organization.
Ross said one reason he writes the books, which draw heavily on his experiences living in Monroe, is to bring people to the area.
"I thought if I started writing mystery novels, it might enhance tourism," said Ross. "My first book went over well. People were asking me to continue writing these books."