CHRIS SORENSEN picked what for most people would be a tough time to write and publish his first novel.

While a student at Brigham Young University, married, expecting his first child, on his way to a master's degree in education, he still found a way to carve out four to five hours each week to write over the course of two years.

"It was during a time when I wasn't happy if I didn't have a few dozen things going at the same time," the Chesterfield County resident said. "Having a wife and a family have calmed me down since. A few things at a time are enough."

Sorensen is coming to Borders at Central Park in Fredericksburg Saturday afternoon from 3 to 5 to sign what he calls a work of inspirational fiction, "The Greatest Discovery."

He's done several dozen signings all across the state to promote the fictional account of a college student struggling to find meaning and purpose in choosing a career and life path.

For a first, self-published novel, "The Greatest Discovery" has been welcomed warmly by some reviewers, including one in The Roanoke Times who called it "a debut of note, one in which the author achieves maturity far beyond his 25 years."

What caught my attention about Sorensen was an unusual pledge he's made in conjunction with the book.

Interested in working with young people--the master's in education he'll soon finish at VCU is in counseling--Sorensen has offered up his services for the coming school year to work with and talk to students throughout the state about writing.

"Working as a substitute teacher, my schedule is pretty flexible," said Sorensen when we chatted Monday in Richmond. "I hope to schedule four or five school visits a month. I can tailor a presentation on writing for any grade level, and have learned to include the SOLs so teachers can schedule it."

Sorensen, who's now at work on a follow-up novel, said the school talks started when a friend, a reading specialist, asked him if he'd come talk to students about writing.