When local author Tom Rockvam walked into a fifth-grade classroom at St. Therese School in Deephaven, his 21 newest fans -- all 10- and 11-year-olds -- leapt to their feet and gave him a thunderous ovation.

Speechless, Rockvam was led to a rocking chair at the front of the room. Then the teacher, Mary Davy -- who had read one Rockvam story a week to her students since the beginning of the school year -- asked her class if anyone wanted to "share with Mr. Rockvam about their favorite story from his books?"

A classroom full of hands shot up, and the fifth-graders rattled off their favorite tales from his books based on his childhood growing up on Lake Minnetonka.

One mentioned "Water Bomb" -- a story about how Rockvam once filled his lunch sack with water and dropped it two-and-a-half stories at school.

Another called out: "Not All Grandmas Are Warm and Cuddly." It recounted the time Rockvam's grandmother got even with him for relieving himself on her rhubarb by feeding him pie made from the abused stalks.

Yet another mentioned "Some Teachers Leave a Lasting Impression," about how Rockvam's fifth-grade teacher once punished him by making him sit under her desk, where he got a rather disturbing view.

Rockvam, a Mound resident, has written three books based on his childhood growing up on Lake Minnetonka, plus another volume about the Andrews Sisters and their ties to Mound. All of his books are self-published, and he personally delivers copies to Lake Minnetonka-area shops and fills orders from his condo in Mound. He knows all too well the less glamorous side of being a writer and the hustle required to keep his work in front of the public.

So it was gratifying, to say the least, for Rockvam when he got the rock-star reception.

The students, who like Rockvam have grown up under the influence of Lake Minnetonka, had found common ground with the author's life in their own experiences a half-century later.

Inspired by Rockvam's work, they've been writing their own short stories and clamored to read them aloud to the author. A bit of chaos ensued until Davy went to randomly drawing names.

Ryan Peroutka, 11, read a story about using fake lottery tickets to pull a prank on a neighbor child.

Emily Crawford, 11, talked about visiting the "bored" polar bears at the Como Zoo with her grandparents.

Brian Boynton, 11, recounted throwing up on the school bus during the last week of school and ruining his perfect attendance record.

The students also had created artwork inspired by Rockvam's stories and presented him with a handmade card they had all signed.

Two girls in the class, Emily Krier, 11, and Gabby Pitera, 10, then performed a dance to "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," one of the Andrews Sisters' biggest hits. Rockvam led a local campaign not only to highlight the Andrews Sisters' ties to Mound but also to get a city trail named in their honor.

When Rockvam handed out his business cards, the kids gingerly touched the cards and carefully read over his book price sheet. One earnest boy up front raised his hand and asked, "Mr. Rockvam, if my parents buy one of your books, do you think we could put it on our coffee table?"

"Yes," Rockvam said, beaming. "You sure can."

Alyssa Ford is a Minneapolis freelance writer.