Bits ‘n’ Pieces: Sci-fi book, promotional milk truck a family affair for author

Author Rafael Gruszecki turned a 1952 Divco milk truck into a rolling chalkboard to introduce his book, “Mark From Earth,” to local readers. The milk truck and Gruszecki will make an appearance May 26 through 29 at Cascade Middle School’s book fair.

Why a milk truck? It inspires imagination, Gruszecki said.

“I read about an artist in New York City who painted a beat-up Hyundai in black chalkboard paint, drove around the city and just let people write on it. I thought it was a fantastic idea, but I didn’t want a humdrum little car to putter around in,” he said.

After some Googling, Gruszecki found the rusty Divco milk truck for sale. It became an adventure in car restoration, as his brother, David, encouraged him to make it a sibling project.

“Neither of us knew anything about cars,” he said.

When the truck was finished with light and dark blue paint, his younger sisters, Sara and Julia, and their friends gave it a test run.

The two worked on scenes together, and David’s help gave him an inside look at the trials and triumphs of being a teenager, Gruszecki said.

“I’m revising (the book) a little bit this week after the reading at the middle school,” he said.

The eighth-grade class at Cascade Middle School had been reading his book, and teacher-librarian Michelle Annett arranged for the recent meet-the-author event.

“It was grand, tremendous. It lasted the entire class period. I was completely bombarded with questions,” he said.

Many students said it felt like a movie or graphic novel, which was style Gruszecki wanted to convey.

“Afterward, the teacher said she hasn’t seen (the students) that energized over something,” Gruszecki said, adding that he is looking forward to seeing the reaction at the book fair and talking with kids.

And the only downside of a milk truck painted with chalk?

“It can’t really be outside in the rain,” he said.

Bits ‘n’ Pieces appears Fridays and Saturdays. If you have a story you’d like to share, email bits@columbian.com.