courtesy of Fontbonne Academy

Chuck Hogan, renowned author of the book Prince of Thieves, which was made into the movie The Town, was at Fontbonne Academy last Monday. He addressed the senior class who had recently read Prince of Thieves. Mr. Hogan’s English teacher from Canton High School, Mr. Jim Carta, who now teaches at Fontbonne, arranged the talk. Coincidentally the author’s mother is an alumna of Fontbonne Academy, from the Class of 1961.

Mr. Hogan’s engaging talk covered his entire writing career, going back to his high school days where he fueled his secret passion for writing with extra credit assignments. He spoke of his education, how he pursued writing through college (he was an English major at Boston College) and how a friend from a class he took on how to write a novel at Harvard connected him with a literary agent who ultimately published his third book, The Standoff. He explained his writing and researching process and what it takes for him to write a novel.

Students sat, enraptured by Mr. Hogan’s talk while they ate their lunches. At the end of the talk Mr. Hogan took questions for 45 minutes, ranging from “Did you ever think they would cut scenes from the book when they made it into the movie?” to “How do you come up with characters’ names?” to “As a naturalist writer, how did you come to have a love triangle in your story?” Students and Learning Community members alike enjoyed the presentation and participated in the question and answer period. Students lined up for a book signing after Mr. Hogan’s presentation.

Mr. Hogan releases the third book of a trilogy today, October 25, called The Night Eternal which is written in collaboration with Guillermo Del Toro.

Chuck Hogan, renowned author of the book Prince of Thieves, which was made into the movie The Town, was at Fontbonne Academy on Monday, October 24.  He addressed the senior class who had recently read Prince of Thieves.  Mr. Hogan’s English teacher from Canton High School, Mr. Jim Carta, who now teaches at Fontbonne, arranged the talk.  Coincidentally the author’s mother is an alumna of Fontbonne Academy, from the Class of 1961. 

Mr. Hogan’s engaging talk covered his entire writing career, going back to his high school days where he fueled his secret passion for writing with extra credit assignments.  He spoke of his education, how he pursued writing through college (he was an English major at Boston College) and how a friend from a class he took on how to write a novel at Harvard connected him with a literary agent who ultimately published his third book, The Standoff.   He explained his writing and researching process and what it takes for him to write a novel. 

Students sat, enraptured by Mr. Hogan’s talk while they ate their lunches.  At the end of the talk Mr. Hogan took questions for 45 minutes, ranging from “Did you ever think they would cut scenes from the book when they made it into the movie?” to “How do you come up with characters’ names?” to “As a naturalist writer, how did you come to have a love triangle in your story?”   Students and Learning Community members alike enjoyed the presentation and participated in the question and answer period.  Students lined up for a book signing after Mr. Hogan’s presentation.

Mr. Hogan releases the third book of a trilogy today, October 25, called The Night Eternal which is written in collaboration with Guillermo Del Toro.