Author Visits

One of the best things about being a children’s author is talking to kids. I offer several presentations suitable for a variety of ages and audience sizes. As a veteran teacher and freelance writer with more than 25 years of experience, I have a wealth of information to share about all aspects of telling a good story. If you’re interested in having me visit your school, please fill out the form on my contact page. I’ll send you information about prices and scheduling.

Available Programs

The Story of MRS. NOAH

Learn all about the birth of my latest picture book, MRS. NOAH! From idea to finished book, MRS. NOAH’S story will inspire all young writers to take their ideas and begin book journeys of their very own! Grades 2-6.

Are We Friends?

An upper elementary look at the world of social media- how it works, how to stay safe, what cyberbullying is and if, when and where preteens should get involved, based on my children’s book, ALL ABOUT SOCIAL NETWORKING (CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY). We’ll talk about the difference between real-life friends and social media friends and how to build healthy relationships with others in the real world rather than just the social media world. Grades 3-5. Appropriate for assemblies and individual classrooms. Parents welcome.

Mining For Information

Finding information on the internet may seem simple, but getting the right facts quickly can be challenging without strong keywords. In this seminar, students learn the nuances of good internet search techniques, the difference between primary and secondary sources and what a good source looks like. I’ll also introduce them to online tools that can make sourcing easier, and I’ll answer questions about my process for researching both familiar and unfamiliar topics based on my upcoming titles, DESTINATION SPACE: THE APOLLO MISSIONS, and DESTINATION SPACE: THE SPACE SHUTTLE MISSIONS. Grades 5-8. Appropriate for assemblies and individual classrooms.

So, You Want to Be a Writer?

A writer’s life may seem glamorous. . . writing all day, every day, ideas flowing like water, doing what you love and getting paid for it. But there’s more to the writing life than author events and book signings, and that’s what we’ll talk about in this program designed for middle and high school students. Grades 6-12. Suitable for both reading month and career days.

Sing Me a Story! 

Did you know that stories sing? In this program, we’ll read some great rhyming books, sing a little. and learn how words can be musical! I’ll use some of my favorite rhyming authors as well as some of my own work-in-progress to show young writers how having fun with words is the start to crafting stories that sing! Grades K-3.