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26 | SignatureMT 26 | SignatureMT a class assignment and what they could write about," lit the spark giving him permission to be creative. "I still can't spell or punctuate, but I love writing," he says, noting that his honest approach to telling stories intrigue school children and prompt them to send him their writings, doodles and super hero designs, following his visits to their classrooms. Underlying Ryan's work as a writer and time with his family, and a "day job" - a consulting business he calls, "Creative erapy" - is his early experience becoming a father at age seventeen. "I had a son in high school – kind of jumped the gun. I was seventeen when he was born. I was learning life as he was. We grew up together." Today, that son, Zack, is a twenty-year-old living in Cali- fornia. "He didn't like to read," says Ryan, who says he decided to write something a kid might want to read. W hen asked to explain his choice of title, he says that the "Sugarbeeter" was his high school mascot in Chinook, and combining "Sugarbeet" with "Falls," gave him the perfect name for his fictional town. Ryan Acra's "honest" approach to telling stories intrigue school children. "I still can't spell or punctuate," he says, "but I LOVE writing." David Leray, (406) 590-0188 davidleray @ kw.com Great Falls, Montana NORTHERN MONTANA Each office is independently owned & operated TWO HOMES ON ONE LOT. Beautifully redone historic home with lots of charm & character. 17-577 — $208,000 DEVONSHIRE TOWNHOUSE - A rare end unit, with an extra parking space as a bonus! Updated kitchen,rustic hickory cabi- nets, new appliances and gas oven, wine fridge included. 17-557 — $199,990 LARGE VACANT LOT- 150 x 150 with a great view. Close to schools, hospitals, and grocery stores. Great lot to build on in the Charles Russell addition. 16-1819 — $69,900 SignatureMT's

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