Aaron Wehner, a third-grader at Rowan Elementary School in Cranberry Township, asks author Erin Frankel a question after her presentation Monday at the school. Frankel, who teaches writing at the University of Pittsburgh's English Language Institute, visited the school and talked about writing and bullying.

CRANBERRY TWP — Students at Rowan Elementary School got a firsthand look at what it's like to write a book from an author.

Erin Frankel, author of the “Weird!” series of books, talked to students in kindergarten through fourth grade at Rowan Monday about writing and bullying.

School librarian Kelly McDonald partnered with the PTA to bring in Frankel. McDonald said she tries to get an author or illustrator to talk to the children each year in March to line up with Read Across America Day. McDonald read Frankel's “Weird!” series to all of the students during their library time.

Frankel of Mount Lebanon said she likes to encourage those interested in writing as well as spread the message that reading and writing, build empathy.

“I like thinking that I could actually make a difference, not only for students interested in writing, but for them to understand the message that reading and writing can make us nicer people.”

She walked students through the process of writing a book and getting it published, including finding a publisher, doing research and editing. Frankel has a master's degree in English and teaches writing at the University of Pittsburgh's English Language Institute.

Frankel also discussed her experiences with bullying as a child and as a mother and her inspiration for her first book series, “Weird!” She turned to writing as a way to help others after her daughter was bullied.

“Weird!” is a three-book series that tells the story of a young girl who is bullied from the perspectives of the three children involved: Luisa, who is the victim of bullying; Jayla, who is a bystander too afraid to stand up for Luisa; and Sam, who is the bully who does not realize how bad she makes others feel.

Fourth-graders Grace Benigni and Emma Williams enjoyed how Frankel shared her personal experiences with the students and how she encouraged writing as a way to deal with issues.

“I liked that her books were about bullying,” Grace said. “They really help a lot of kids with what they are going through.”