Ashfall author Mike Mullin to address ACSD Honors English classes Friday

Recently, The Hunger Games and Divergent have emerged as popular fiction, both in movies  and on bookshelves around the world. Another recent trilogy in the genre, Ashfall, is set in Cedar Falls during and after a Yellowstone Supervolcano.  Ashfall author Mike Mullin will be sharing his insights with Honors English students at Waukon Junior and Senior High Schools this Friday morning, April 4. Friday night, Mullin will be headlining an event open to the public at Dragonfly Books in Decorah from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
In Ashfall, Mullin tells the story through “almost sixteen”-year-old Alex, a teenager who had intended to spend a relaxing weekend alone when the volcanic eruption blankets the city with grey ash. “Internally, Alex is based on myself as a teen,” Mullin wrote in an e-mail. “I was just as impulsive as Alex - a trait that got me into almost as much trouble as him.”
Alex’s age, separation from his family, and exceptional skills in taekwondo drive the story. He uses his martial arts to save himself and his friends from several dangerous situations throughout the series. “I chuckle every time I read a review that doubts a teen could be as good at taekwondo as Alex is,” Mullin reflected. “I want to see them spar with Ben Alexander,” the real sixteen year old Mullin used as the “external” basis for the main character. “Ben can kick my butt and make it look easy, and I’ve got about six inches in height and 80 pounds of mass on him.”
Local readers will notice familiar landscape in the book, including roadways and the rugged terrain of northeast Iowa. The motivation to survive moves quickly, as average citizens cope with no electricity, no phone service, and limited sunlight. Mullin highlights humanity at its very best when many people, sometimes strangers, work together. The story also highlights the very worst, with violent killings, vandalism, and torture.
Waukon Junior and Senior High School Librarian Lisa Snitker, in cooperation with Dragonfly Books, has been coordinating Friday’s event.  All of the students who are attending have read the first book in Mullin's trilogy, many of them finishing the 465-page novel in less than two days.
Dragonfly is also hosting a writers’ workshop Thursday evening, April 5 from 7-9 p.m. “We are thrilled to offer this experience with Mike,” Dragonfly owner Kate Rattenborg said. “This is a great way that we can continue to support [the writers] of our community.” Dragonfly has more information on its web site.