In the Words of a Mentor...

 by Charlotte Bennardo

We can all look to those pivotal moments in our lives that changed us. One of them, for me, occurred in seventh grade, at Brentwood Junior High School. I'd always been shy (yes, hard to believe if you know me now), and stayed in the background, whether it was with friends or in class. I had no idea about future plans since getting through math class was my biggest worry. One day, my English teacher, Mr. Cavuto, assigned the class an essay that had to be persuasive, and the topic was if we could be any animal, which would we choose. I chose the American bald eagle. 

I got an A. When he returned the paper, he said, "You write well. This was the best paper." The fact that he considered my writing better than the person who would go on to be our valedictorian left me shocked. He further surprised me, saying, "You should be a writer." 

From then on, I wrote. At first, very bad poetry, then awful short stories, then in high school for the student newspaper as the co-editor. I went to college for journalism, eventually got a job on a small-town paper, went back for a paralegal degree and rough drafted Memorandums of Law, then got my English degree. While I cared for my children, I wrote a novel, drafted story ideas, penned short stories, newsletter posts, and articles, and then started my Evolution Revolution trilogy. After that came the co-authored Sirenz, Sirenz Back in Fashion, and Blonde OPS novels. I continued to write and submit novels. The Excalibur Vow debuted a year ago, and now while in revisions with my editor for Christmas Bells, Hanukkah Lights, I am working on revising a romance series and several stand-alone novels, along with drafting the sequel to The Excalibur Vow.

All because Mr. Cavuto said I should be a writer. I never forgot his encouragement, and his belief in me. He was a mentor I didn't realize I had. In Blonde OPS, I dedicated the book to him: 

 

To George Cavuto, my seventh-grade English teacher. You encouraged a shy, awkward girl

to write and warned the bullies to leave her alone. Your words freed mine.

Words matter. And that is why we must be mindful of them: spoken, written, casual, public, and private, because we cannot foresee how those words will affect someone. In the best way, our words, our novels, our writing mentor dreams, and that is the highest calling.

Charlotte is busy promoting her new YA fantasy, The Excalibur Vow, and is working on the sequel people have been asking for. Her adult sweet romance, Christmas Bells, Hanukkah Lights, is currently under her editor's review and will debut in 2026. She writes MG, YA, NA, and adult novels and short stories in sci fi, fantasy, contemporary, horror, paranormal, and romance genres. She is the author of the award-winning middle grade Evolution Revolution trilogy: Simple Machines, Simple Plans, and Simple Lessons. She co-authored the YA novels Blonde OPS, Sirenz, and Sirenz Back in Fashion. She has several short stories in anthologies, online, and her website, along with newspaper and magazine articles. She's applying her MFA skills on several children's and adult novels and short stories. She lives in NJ but dreams of a Caribbean beach house. And more cats.