I would be happy to come to your school, synagogue, church, book club, or writing group to speak about being an author. All my programs are presented in PowerPoint to offer a visually exciting focus. I hope to inspire children to believe in their dreams and work hard to make them come true. By illuminating my writing process, I give children the tools they need to take their own writing to the next level. I prefer to speak to groups of 75 or less, but I will speak to larger groups as well.
I am always happy to customize a presentation for your group. Here are some of the topics I’ve covered in the past:
WHERE DO STORIES COME FROM?
This presentation, appropriate for first grade and up, is a 30-40 minute interactive presentation where children learn that Real Life + Imagination = Story. After I discuss basic story elements and read one of my humorous picture book manuscripts to illustrate my points about story structure and inspiration, I take real life incidents from audience volunteers, and together we create an outline for a fiction story. A question and answer session follows.
 A PEEK INTO THE LIFE OF A CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR
This 30-40 minute presentation, appropriate for grades 4 and up, highlights the steps involved in creating a novel, including: idea formation, plot and character development, revision revision revision, the agony of rejection, and finally, the thrill of publication. I use my debut novel, Julia’s Kitchen, as a model for this presentation. A question and answer session follows.
IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING…
This is the perfect presentation for book clubs. In about 45 minutes, I answer the most frequently asked questions about me, my book, and publishing in general. Some questions include, “Why did you write such a sad book?” and “How can I write a book and get it published?” The intimate setting of a book club is the ideal atmosphere for
exchanging ideas, learning new information, and inspiring dreams.
THE STORY BEHIND JULIA’S KITCHEN
This presentation, suitable for churches, synagogues, or religious schools, goes beyond the writing process and delves into the question that prompted me to write Julia’s Kitchen in the first place: Why does God let bad things happen? Through an open and frank discussion, we explore Cara’s belief in God and how her faith changes as she deals with the tragic loss of her mom and sister. We also talk about the Jewish traditions in the book and how those customs are similar to or different from the ones the children are familiar with in their own homes.
REVISING WITH POWER AND PURPOSE
Appropriate for students in grades 6 and up as well as adults, this presentation covers my favorite topic… revision. I show examples of my own revisions and give tips and techniques that everyone can use as they find ways to improve their writing. Topics covered include: How to look at your work objectively, How to see the big picture, Writing until it’s true, Cutting excess, and Polishing up. Anyone who shudders at the word, “revise,” will have a new appreciation for this powerful process.
Here’s what people are saying about my presentations:
| “Each student was inspired and motivated by your thoughts and words. They couldn’t wait to get back into the classroom to begin writing.” |
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Jeanne Sayner and Carlee Gold, teachers at Kipling Elementary School |
“She was very funny. I didn’t know it was so much fun to be a writer, and I didn’t know writers could work in their pajamas!”
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Emma, age 7, student at Wilmot Elementary School |
| “The fifth grade teachers LOVED you. They RAVED about your presentation.” |
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Mrs. Anne Shimojima, librarian at Braeside School in Highland Park, Illinois. |
| “You did a beautiful job of relating to the children and sharing the intricacies of the writing process in a way all could understand.” |
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Mrs. Linda Rageb, principal at Walden School in Deerfield, Illinois. |
Fees:
Half Day (1 or 2 presentations) $400
Full Day (Up to 4 presentations) $800
Book Clubs (Within 20 minutes of Deerfield) $100
Travel expenses for locations outside of the Chicagoland area are not included in the above prices and will be added as they are incurred.
Wondering how to find money to pay for an author visit?
- Ask your PTO/PTA if they will fund it.
- Hold a book sale in conjunction with the visit. Farrar, Straus & Giroux will sell the books to you at a 40% discount. By selling the books to your students at face value, you can use the profits to help offset the speaking fee.
- Apply for a grant. Check out this website for more information on grants: http://www.schoolgrants.org/index.htm
Please contact me for availability and more by clicking here.
And check out my upcoming schedule below.
September 8, 2007 7-9 pm, Chicago Kids Bookstore and More Fall Benefit, 3453 Southport Avenue
Please join the staff of Chicago Kids Boookstore and More at their inaugural fall benefit. They’re honoring local authors and illustrators and raising money for their literacy camps and tutoring programs. Tickets are $25 apiece, and may be purchased by writing to ChicagoKidsBookstore@yahoo.com or by calling the bookstore at 773 472 6657. Please RSVP by August 30th.
This is an adults-only party; the bookstore will be serving wine, beer and light h'ors d'oeuvre. 100% of all proceeds from ticket sales and books sold that night will go directly to the bookstore's community programs (story time, tutoring, and literacy camps).
Come join us as we celebrate the local talents of David Wartik (http://www.vonnesta.com), Esther Hershenhorn (http://www.estherhershenhorn.com), Kevin Luthardt (http://www.kevinluthardt.com), Kimberly Sullivan (http://www.kosbornsullivan.com), Lisa Mallen ( http://www.lisamallenauthor.com), Carmela Martino (http://www.carmelamartino.com), Natalie Rompella (http://www.natalierompella.com) and me.
October 6, 2007, Kidlitosphere Conference at the O’Hare Radisson
November 11, 2007 3 pm, Skokie Public Library, Sydney Taylor Panel
March 14, 2008 Illinois Reading Council Annual Conference Author and Illustrator Luncheon and Autograph Session at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel from 11:45 – 2:00
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