DEEP RIVER - The 6th-grade students at Deep River Elementary School seem pretty impressed. After all, they are talking with an author. Rob Buyea, the author, seems pretty impressed as well.

"These are smart questions. You guys are pretty cool," he tells them.

The students have read Buyea's book, Because of Mr. Terupt, and now they are talking with him about the writing process, his selection of characters, and his choice of settings. The conversation is taking place in Mrs. Shakun's classroom, where all the 6th graders have congregated, however, the author is sitting at home in front of his computer screen. This school visit is taking place via Skype, the technology that allows the students and the author to see and talk with one another.

Jackie Courtmanche, the school's reading consultant for grades 3 through 6, explains that one goal for her is to build a reading culture within the school and within the student: "We want to make it cool."

One proven method for increasing interest in reading is a student's opportunity to meet an author. When Courtmanche explored the possibility of bringing Buypea to Deep River, she discovered the cost would be too high. The author suggested Skype.

"It's wonderful. It's a technology that the students are comfortable with, more than I am actually, and they are excited," she says.

In three separate classroom sessions, one for each grade level, Buyea spent approximately 30 minutes talking with students, answering their questions, and making them laugh.

He is a hit, and so are these Skype sessions.

Most of the students have read the book-a nominee for the 2013 Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award-discussed it in class, and composed their questions for Buypea. Last year's 4th graders read the book aloud in their classrooms, and as this year's 5th graders, were well prepared for their meeting with the author.

In addition, all the students in grades 4 through 6 spent time on the author's website doing their research. In the process, they learned he had written a second book, a sequel. Courtmanche ordered copies of the new book, which was published Oct. 26, knowing the author was coming. Several of the students bought the book, and some ordered it to their eReader.

"They are so comfortable with the technology for reading," she says.

When Buyea heard about this in his discussion with the 6th graders, he responded, "Wow. I'm blown away. Did you guys like it the new book?"

The answer was a resounding "yes."

In the first book, Because of Mr. Terupt, seven students weigh in on Mr. Terupt's first year as a 5th-grade teacher. The students tell their own stories, from the new kid to the bully, about their year together. When a freak accident occurs, will it change everyone and everything?

Through their research, the Deep River students have learned that Buypea is a former elementary school teacher who uses his experiences in his book. One of those memorable experiences is the "snowball story," which he tells to each classroom as he "travels" to them via Skype.

This experience has been a successful one for the students and Courtmanche says another author will be "visiting" students in kindergarten through grade 3 in December. She hopes to be able to do this again in the spring.

Buypea's book is one of 10 nominated for the Nutmeg Book Award. The award program encourages children in grades 4 through 8 to read quality literature and to choose their favorite from a list of 10 nominated titles. Jointly sponsored by the Connecticut Library Association (CLA) and the Connecticut Association of School Librarians (CASL), the Nutmeg Committee is comprised of children's librarians and school library media specialists who are members of the sponsoring organizations.