Gifted homeschooled students from across Canada will soon be able to attend an online writing program that is based right here in Ladner.

Author and storyteller Laura Thomas, known as Agent Story, is now accepting applications for a Junior Authors Gifted Writing Program that will run online in her virtual classroom September through June.

Thomas took her popular Junior Authors writing courses online last fall and has been pleasantly surprised by the effectiveness of the virtual classroom.

"My expectations were quite low when I started," said Thomas. "But after a few weeks, I realized that there is very little lost and much to gain by teaching online when you do it live."

The only thing that is lost, said Thomas, is the face-to-face visual connection.

"Currently, the kids can see me streaming in on video but I can't see them. But that's going to change. The application I use is launching an upgraded classroom that will support five streaming web cameras at the same time. In the meantime, my students enjoy typing in the chat box and sharing their work by microphone."

Thomas said the biggest gain in teaching online is the ability to pull together students from any location. Currently she has students from the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island, Alberta and Saskatchewan. She also has a B.C. student who is attending a course from Mexico where her family is on extended holiday.

"Because we don't have to drive to a meeting place, we all save money and time," said Thomas. "I can see that as bandwidths widen and applications improve that teaching online will become extremely popular. I love it already."

Not only will successful applicants to Thomas' gifted program have to demonstrate they can thrive in an online environment, they will also have an outstanding aptitude for language arts, an exceptional work ethic and a strong desire to see their work in print.

"I am looking for the same quality of students that attend programs like Stanford's Education Program for Gifted Youth," said Thomas. "Over the years I have written many letters of recommendation that have helped former and current Junior Authors students gain acceptance to programs like EPGY, so I know what kind of student I'm looking for."

Thomas said she will take up to eight well-qualified students between the ages of 11 and 17. The application deadline is June 30.

For more information or to download an application packet, visit www.agentstory.net.