Screenwriter visits NWC

Verobnica mars visits Northwest College

By AAron Ontiveroz

Trail Co-editor

Screenwriter Kathy Belben of the UPN television series “Veronica Mars” entertained nearly two dozen Northwest College faculty and students on Saturday, Nov. 5 as part of the NWC Writers’ Series and the Rosebud Film Group.

For nearly four hours Belben, a former high school teacher and librarian, discussed her recent change of career, which re-located her from Bellingham, Wash., to Hollywood, Calif.

During her sixth grade year Belben published her first piece – a poem for a popular adolescent magazine “Teen.” It was no surprise to her that she published the work because she once told her parents at age eight that she wanted to be an author.

As a school teacher for nine years and a librarian for five Belben continued to publish short stories as well as essays. After becoming a fan of Rob Thomas, a writer of the WB series “Dawson’s Creek,” Belben wrote him giving samples of her work for review. Thomas was impressed by the stories provided and continued to keep in contact. Just over a year ago Thomas created the television series, “Veronica Mars” and asked Belben to join as a staff writer. Belben was reluctant and turned down the initial offer, but when the series was picked up by the network for an additional season she packed her bags for Hollywood.

In her early years as a teacher Belben worked in the same school district as NWC Professor of English Rob Stothart who led a local writers’ group and asked Belben to join. The two were recently re-acquainted when Stothart checked the Bellingham News online and read about his former group member. He called on behalf of the Writers’ Series and Belben agreed to give an afternoon lecture.

“I like to do presentations for people,” commented Belben. “I guess I like to share information with other people.”