I just had a great school visit at Gator Run Elementary School in Weston, Florida. I spent the morning with pre-k, kindergarten and first grade. I read from our new picture book Three Little Birds which is based on Bob Marley's classic song.

Then I talked to the older children. I told them stories about having parents who encouraged me to write and the animals in our house that gave me something to write about. I had flying squirrels, bats, parrots, possums, raccoons, alligators and all kinds of snakes. My first published story, I explained, was about life with a flying squirrel.

Well, I had a lot of fun at Gator Run, and I feel certain the kids did too. Especially those students who won the essay contest and got to have lunch with the author.

I have been reading and admiring these thoughtful essays, and here are some samples from them.

"My brain is very absorbent, that means that Gerald Hausman will barely have to explain something, and the next time I write, I'll be using the unique techniques that the author uses himself."
Camilla Tussie

"I love the books the author writes. One of my favorite books is How Chipmunk Got Tiny Feet. When I read the book I thought it was very good. Then I started reading it more and it came out to be it was my favorite book!"
Vanessa Riveros

"One time I was reading a story and my dad said, 'My friend's daughter wrote that book, and it is a true story about her dad.' I never would have thought to write a story about my dad."
Jordan Weisman

"Since I am from Equador and Spanish is my first language, it can sometimes be difficult to learn English. But Mr. Hausman can help me write creatively, speak more fluently, and help me create the most amazing story."
Victoria Crowther

"I am an avid reader and I have always dreamed about the day I would be able to encounter the very person that can so easily catch my attention and hold it hostage...reading can capture the minds of many, especially folktales...maybe meeting one of the people that know and comprehend this secret can help me."

There was no name on that last entry, but I wanted to tell the young author that there is only one secret to being an author. It's the advice I got long ago from the first published writer I met. He said, "To be a writer you must affix the seat of your pants to the seat of your chair." I have followed that advice for more than five hours each day, every day, since I published my first book.

That's the secret. There is no other.

Oh, maybe there is one more. Here's how one of the young authors, Hannah Rarick put it -- "Things you do in life can be scary. But you can't let things in life scare you like that. So you need to beat the fear yourself. Nobody can beat it for you."

Hannah's advice covers how you keep yourself going when you have received a box full of rejection slips -- and we all get them.

Even totally great and famous writers like myself.