King author

Mike Swanson

Fresh off the completion of his first major novel, an award-winning

effort, 10-year-old Drew Wheeler of South Laguna is already in the

conceptual stage of his next work.

The El Morro Elementary School fourth-grader -- named Outstanding

Orange County Author in his age group last month for his period

piece, “Bob and the Flame” -- will avoid being typecast with his next

work, “The Friendship Experiment.”

A more contemporary, sociological piece focusing on classroom

struggles between the popular kids and the outcasts, Wheeler will try

to step outside the realm of 14,000 B.C.-based literature that he’s

now known for.

A Los Angeles native, Wheeler said he’s been writing stories for

years (since he learned how to read about four years ago) and has

even more of a love for art. He wrote and illustrated “Bob and the

Flame.”

“Art’s my favorite subject in school,” Wheeler said, “but I also

like reading thick books that don’t have pictures.”

Wheeler cited Eoin Colfer and Carl Hiaasen as inspirations for his

work, and he’s started to make a dent in the “Lord of the Rings”

trilogy after seeing the first two movies.

Juggling a strenuous schedule that consists of schoolwork,

skateboarding, going to skate shops, skimboarding, playing his drum

kit, watching “The Osbournes” and playing with the neighborhood

pot-bellied pig Teaspoon, Wheeler said he still finds time to write

leisurely, even when work isn’t assigned.

“When Mrs. [Pamela] Keefe says we can write instead of read during

silent reading,” Wheeler said, “I always write.”

He said Keefe’s writing formula, W.S.S (the Want, the Struggle and

the Surprise) has taught him how to keep his work more focused.

“He has an extraordinary imagination,” Keefe said. “He’s very

receptive to thinking outside the box and has a flair for the

dramatic. He’s thirsty for knowledge.”

Wheeler also thirsts for a new skate park in Laguna Beach, so he

doesn’t have to pay the $30 annual fee to skate at Laguna Niguel’s

park or make the trek to Laguna Hill High School for theirs.

He and friends Michael, Teddy and the three Sams instead opt to

spend most of their skating time in South Laguna alleys and at the

post office.

“The post office guy yells at us all the time,” Wheeler said, “but

we like skating there.”

Wheeler said he and twin brother Alex, who plays electric guitar,

had a band when they lived in L.A., and he’d like to start something

again in Laguna. He said Ozzy Osbourne, The Who, Bob Marley, Green

Day and Good Charlotte were some of his favorites. He’s taking drum

lessons and recently learned to play “a ‘70s beat,” but hasn’t been

able to assemble a band just yet.

“We had a name for our band in L.A.,” Wheeler said, “but we didn’t

really use it though. It was something-five, or five-something. I

don’t know. It had a five in it.”

Despite missing his forgotten-named band and all his L.A. friends,

Wheeler said he prefers living and going to school in Laguna Beach.

“I had to wear a uniform at my old school,” he said. “It’s way

better here.”

Signs of Wheeler’s bright artistic future were apparent even at

his former, uniformed school, where he won a contest as a 6-year-old

for designing a Thanksgiving card. The award was $50.

“My mom actually helped me with that,” Wheeler said. “I didn’t get

any help on the book.”

With a gold medal, a first-place ribbon and a certificate of

outstanding achievement in tote, Wheeler plans to continue writing,

drawing, skating and playing music until he gets his big break as a

cartoon animator or designer.

The original pressing of “Bob and the Flame” is on modest display

in Wheeler’s El Morro classroom. He didn’t say when the public can

expect to see “The Friendship Experiment.”

* MIKE SWANSON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot.

He covers education, public safety and City Hall. He can be reached

at 494-4321 or [email protected].