Dyslexia didn't hold back author

Cedric Hurtt is a published children's book author. His books sit on the shelves of local bookstores, candy for word hungry children.

But not too long ago, he couldn't have read all of the words in his books.

Hurtt always knew there was something wrong with the way he saw words.

He knew that he often read the word "was" as "saw". He knew that he struggled, but he didn't know why.

He says that when he was a child there wasn't yet a word for his condition. Today, they test children in school for dyslexia. Hurtt didn't find out he had it until long after his school days.

While he was in school, the love and encouragement of his mother helped him deal with his reading problem. And when he was at Center High School, he had distinguished himself in sports.

This overshadowed his reading problem and won him a scholarship to Penn Valley Community College and then to Midwestern State University.

During this time, Hurtt finally got a name for his problem. And this was a big relief. It was a starting point - a place to start working.

College classes were hard for Hurtt. Without any help in conquering his Dyslexia, Hurtt couldn't keep up. In 1983 he found himself back in Kansas City where he worked days shining shoes and nights cleaning offices.

When he reads, he reads the last page first. And when he writes his books he thinks of the title and ending first, and then fills in the rest.

In 1999 Hurtt wrote his first book, "I Look Up To My Dad." His books focus on his two sons, Cedric and Eric. Hurtt both writes and illustrates his books.

He says that when he paints the illustrations he is in his, "...own little world." And in his own little world, he creates a watercolor world for his readers.

He just finished his second book, "Our First Business Venture." It is a sweet story about his sons' first lemonade stand and all of the planning and imagination that went into it.

On the last page, Hurtt encourages his readers to write their own books and start their own business. He writes, "Remember, never stop chasing your dreams and never give up."

For Hurtt, "My Life" Magic Johnson's autobiography, was the book the taught him to never give up. He and Magic are the same age, height and weight.

He said he saw what Magic was able to do with his life and it gave him hope - a mission to achieve his dreams. "It was something that I could directly relate to," he says.

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With many thanks to the excellent Wednesday Magazine .