Lake Ridge students 'squished' by storyteller's stories

Students at Lake Ridge Elementary experienced something close to meeting a hero Monday — the author behind books they know and love. Lake Ridge Elementary hosted children's author Megan Lloyd to learn how graphic novels come to life. Lloyd, author of popular titles including "Allergic," "Squished," "Winging It" and the "Super Pancake" series, spoke to students about her career, creative process and the years of work behind her books. She said her stories grew out of a love of reading as a child and a dream that grew even larger when discovering a special interest in graphic novels. Lloyd said that while graphic novels were not widely available when she was young, her love of illustrated stories helped guide her toward the format she uses today. "There weren't a lot of graphic novels for kids when I was growing up, but I loved picture books and the level of detail in the illustrations," Lloyd said. "I think that's what led me to the comics format, where you're planning out so much detail in the art." Lloyd connected her storytelling style to the books she loved growing up, explaining how those early influences still shape her writing today. "I think if you go back and look at a lot of the books I loved, you can see that in my realistic fiction characters," Lloyd said. "I always appreciated funny books and that sense of escapism, and you can definitely see that in something like 'Super Pancake.'" That combination of humor and visual storytelling, she said, is intentional — especially for the elementary-aged audience she writes for. Lloyd explained that she hopes her books do more than entertain, and offer comfort and encouragement to young readers. "I always hope that, first and foremost, the story is entertaining and transports kids away from the stress and worries of everyday life," Lloyd said. "At the same time, I hope it gives them a little bit of hope and inspiration for dealing with those challenges. I try to write stories that have both humor and heart." During the visit, Lloyd walked students through the process of creating a graphic novel, outlining key elements such as setting, characters and plot before showing how those ideas translate into scripts, speech bubbles and illustrated panels. She noted that while writing a book can take six months to a year, the illustration process often takes even longer. She also highlighted the collaborative nature of her work, including her partnership with illustrator Michelle Mee Nutter on "Allergic" and "Squished," as well as the role of colorists in completing books like "Winging It." Lloyd also shared her personal path to becoming a published author, emphasizing the persistence required to achieve her goal. "I wrote in my diary when I was 8 that I wanted to be a writer of kids' books when I grew up," Lloyd said. "I kept writing all through my childhood, and then as an adult, I was a stay-at-home mom doing it on the side, gradually writing more as my kids got older. It took about 12 years and a lot of practice novels that were never published before I improved enough to be published." Many students raised their hands when asked if they were interested in becoming writers, and Lloyd encouraged them to read widely and set personal goals, noting that she still reads dozens of books each year. The visit also held special meaning for Lloyd. She said her book "Allergic" previously received Tennessee's Volunteer State Book Award — a recognition voted on by students — making the opportunity to visit schools in the state especially meaningful. "I'm so excited to be here," Lloyd said. "'Allergic' won the Volunteer State Book Award a few years ago, which is a kids' choice award. It's been really fun to come to Tennessee, celebrate that and connect with the students here." Following the presentation, students continued engaging with Lloyd by asking questions and passing books through their teachers to be autographed. When asked during the visit which of her books students should read first, Lloyd offered a simple answer. "All of them," she said.