New York Times best-selling author Adam Gidwitz grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, but came to Austin in part to see a former teacher.

The writer spoke about his books and the art of writing to Trinity Episcopal School students Oct. 27, reuniting with his former teacher, Nadine Feiler, who now teaches eighth-grade English at the Westlake school.

"He was a total mess back in those days," Feiler said in a news release. "He could never get his homework turned in and he never knew where anything was, but it seems like he has gotten it together a bit since then."

Gidwitz's books are based on the original Brothers Grimm fairy tales.

"The real Grimm fairy tales ... are not cute and sweet and boring at all," he said in the release. "They are terrifying."