1. Nyxia
Scott Reintgen

2. Cary Native and Author Going on Local Book Tour August 29, 2017/in Arts, Community, Education, Featured /by Michael Papich from Cary citizen
Cary, NC – Scott Reintgen describes himself as Cary-oriented, learning to love writing in Cary schools and teaching that same love to local students. Now, with his space-fantasy novel “Nyxia” published, he is touring these same Cary schools to share it with young readers.

3. Scott reintgen biography
Scott Reintgen grew up in North Carolina, and took full advantage of the fact that he lived on the same street as fourteen of his cousins. It could be a little crowded, but he threw a few elbows and carved out a space for himself as the family storyteller. He enjoyed the role so much that he decided to spend most of college and graduate school investing in the world of literature. This led to a career teaching English and Creative Writing in the great state of North Carolina, where he currently lives with his wife and family. To his great delight, the demand for stories and storytellers is alive and well. As such, he can often be found at local coffee shops laboring over stories that he hopes his family, and fans, will love.

4. How to become a writer
Reintgen started writing fiction as a student at Cary High School but he said his writing has matured since then.
“I tell my students it’s around 12,000 hours of work to master something. I logged hour after hour of hard work writing,” Reintgen said. “Now I’m writing more maturely and I understand more of what readers would like to read so they can be engaged with this story.”

5. Writing and Audience
With “Nyxia,” the first in a trilogy of books Reintgen dubs the “Nyxia Triad,” Reintgen will be touring the area, appearing at Cary High School, Green Hope High School, Apex Friendship High School, Apex High School, Apex Middle School, Holly Springs High School, Knightdale High School and the Barnes & Noble in Cary on SE Maynard Road.
Reintgen said he chose many school settings because these are the readers he wrote for

6. Writing for a young adult audience
“Young Adult writing is meant for those age groups,” Reintgen said. “And I also enjoy engaging with kids. I miss teaching.”
In fact, for his novel, Reintgen said his students were his first readers.
“Ten to 15 students gladly took up the manuscript and gave me feedback on it,” he said

7. Passion for Literature
Reintgen’s interest in writing and books led him to become an English and Creative Writing teacher for the Wake County Public School System. He said the two meshed well together and allowed his interest in writing to come out as passion for his students.
“The more enthusiastic I was, the more that would bleed out into the class,” he said. “Even hesitant readers and writers would come out of the woodwork.”
Additionally, this made Reintgen a better teacher as writing on his own gave him more expertise, allowing him to be specific and direct when saying how a student’s writing could be improved.
“Kids love when you care about them and their work,” he said. “They can tell when you’re being genuine.”

8. Discussion questions
1.  Why is it significant that this author is from our area?  Do you think it will impact your connection to his writing?  
2. How do you think his history of being a teacher can and will influence his writing?  
3. Reintgen worked over many hours on this book. How does that matter to you as a reader ?  As a writer?  Why?
4. Reintgen had young people read his manuscript before the book was published. Should all young adult writers do this? Why? 

9. Wednesday 9/13
Consider the portion of the first chapter of Nyxia you heard in the media Center.
Consider the biographical information you read on Monday.
Consider Mr. Reintgen’s thoughts on writing and writing for young adults
Consider Mr. Reintgen’s local connections to our community
Now create a question on an index card that you can bring to the assembly tomorrow to ask Mr. Reintgen.