The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

THE IN Quinfe student new author 'Boy and The Dragon 'just the 1st step By HENRY BURY Staff Reporter Jeff Phillips has written a children's story about a boy and his dragon friend. He hopes it will be the first step toward becoming an accomplished children's author. The Grade 13 Quinte Secondary School student is now reading his new book to Grade 3 students in Belleville. The 'Boy and The Dragon' is a tale about a small * 'outcast" boy who meets a dragon in a cave. Both don't have any friends but soon become the best of friends. "The moral of the story is that everybody needs a friend, no matter who they are." Phillips says. The 17-page book contains 14 illustrations done by Grade 3 students from Hillcrest School, where his mother works. Wednesday morning, he presented the final version, illustrations and all. to the Grade 3 class. He later asked contributing students to sign the book. Aaron Gibbs. one of the student illustrators, said Phillips' story was "awesome". "I enjoyed the story line. It's a story you can read over and over again. I liked the pictures too." he said. Phillips, meanwhile, hopes the book is accepted someday by a children's publisher. "If it does get published, hopefully I'll be able to write another book for children. I love writing for that age group." By reading his book to Grade 3 students. Phillips said he hopes to get lots of feedback. "They're the best critics of such books." the author said. His start into children's literature was launched when he enrolled in the Grade 13 writer's craft credit course at Quinte. It's taught by another accomplished writer. Gary Thompson. "Even though the course is an option. I took it because I love to write. If anybody likes writing, it's a course they should take." Phillips said. He wrote the story about the boy and his dragon in three days. "Ideas starting popping up and I wrote them down." Phillips said the course has given him other ideas for stories. More importantly, "it's given me lots of fun writing." Photo- Henry Bury JEFF AND HIS NEW BOOK A T HILLCREST P.S.