Author Watt Key speaks to JHS

Jay High School- As part of Celebrate Literacy Week!, on Wednesday, Jay High School had author Watt Key speak to the JHS student body (including JES’ 6th grade). Watt Key has wrote many popular books including Deep Water, Terror at Bottle Creek, Alabama Moon (which was a motion picture in 2009 starring John Goodman), Hideout, The Swamp People, and Dirt Road Home. 

Mr. Key spoke to the student body for about an hour detailing where his motivation for writing came from. Key, an Alabama native that currently lives in Mobile, AL with his wife and three children, went to college at Birmingham Southern. He spent most of his time on Wednesday telling of how he and two of his friends spent 14 days out in the swamp woods. Key explained that he was able to design the project and actually get college credit for doing it. Along with pictures from the expedition, the author explained that through this he formed the foundation for many of his books. He explained the different animals and plants that he and his friends ate during this two-week period (armadillos, wild pigs, water moccasin, tree bark, acorns, pine-straw tea) and just how miserable the expedition was at times.

Key also explained the book writing process for him, including the publishing process and even how books are chosen to become a motion picture. He encouraged the students that whatever they want to do, if they really want to do it, don’t quit and to keep fighting for what they want. The author confessed that he wrote ten books before the first one was published.

At the end of the assembly, he answered questions from the student body.

All of Watt Key’s books are for sale at major book stores and Amazon.