UPDATED: Story Time Features Local Writer   Clifton Forge, VA (Oct. 10, 2019) - The Clifton Forge Public Library's Pre-school Story Time recently hosted local writer Shelly Cole. For the program theme on insects, Ms. Cole read her original story-poem called "Bed Bugs." “Bed Bugs” is the tale of a small child who wonders why her mother always tucks her into bed with the same words every night: Then she would walk to the door And turn out the light And she would say the same thing Every single night – “Sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite!” Then suddenly I was wide awake! And I never understood, Why would she say that? Yet I knew she always would. The story continues with the child’s musings about bed bugs and her creative solution to her mother’s favorite good-night rhyme. About her humorous story, Ms. Cole says, “I woke up and it was there in my mind. I thought, ‘Is this a story or what?’” She continues, “I started writing. I didn’t stop and think about it. I just wrote. As I was writing, I thought, ‘I’ve heard this since I was a kid. Mom would say it to me every night.’” Even as a child Ms. Cole made up stories. “I don’t sit down to try to write a story,” she says. “They are inspired stories and generally they come to me in the wee hours of the morning.” She continues, “If I don’t write them down, I won’t remember them because they don’t come from my head. I can’t take credit for my writing. I write the stories on paper but they are inspired by God.” Asked if she has a favorite story, Ms. Cole says, “When I first write it, it’s my favorite. The latest one is always my favorite.” She continues, “God gives me the stories and He gives me the ability to write them and today He’s giving me the ability to read one to a group of children.” She quietly adds, “I hope they’ll like it.” Ms. Cole also credits her dad, Jack Craft. “He’s my first reader and he’s my editor, making sure the grammar is right and the spelling correct. He encourages me and he is so excited that I get to read one of my stories today.” Ms. Cole is working on her second collection of stories. “Bailey’s Book of Bedtime Stories,” her first collection, has been copyrighted. She is currently looking into the book publishing process. Following Ms. Cole’s reading of “Bed Bugs,” she led the children in talking about their favorite bedtime rhymes. Afterward, Library Assistant Debra Henn led the children in making bumblebees and ladybugs. They played a charades game imitating various insect sounds and movements, and sang “The Bug Song.” The program concluded with a snack. The Library’s Pre-school Story Time is held on the third Wednesday of each month from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The Library is located at 535 Church Street. For information on library programs, call the Clifton Forge Public Library at 863-2519.

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