One of the great things about writing is the opportunity to share with the kids for whom I write.

Meeting with them, talking to them and getting them to realize their own potential and possible passion for writing is something that gives me great pleasure.

Below are some examples of workshops I have created for these visits. My presentations can also be tailored to your needs, and I am happy to give talks on the writing process to aspiring adult writers.

FOR KINDERGARTNERS AND 1ST GRADERS (1/2 HOUR):

PEOPLE, PLACES, THINGS – HOW AN AUTHOR DOES HER JOB: Beginning with a quick powerpoint presentation, I will run through the process an author goes through to make a book. We will discuss how to get ideas, and try some fun research, and create characters. At the end, using a storyboard, we will create a book together.

FOR ELEMENTARY (2 & 3 GRADERS – 45 MINUTES, ALL OTHERS 1 HOUR) AND MIDDLE SCHOOLERS (1 HOUR):

WHAT A CHARACTER: Just what is an author's life like? Where do I get my ideas? This presentation begins with an overview of an author's life, the patience it takes to become published and how a book is produced. Then using my children's old Halloween costumes, together we create a character. Picking various kids from the audience, I "dress them up". No ready-made characters are allowed (i.e., Little Red Riding Hood etc.). Only originality is acceptable. The students will eventually understand that no character is one-sided, that the most interesting ones are the ones with the most unusual traits, and that an author will know more about her character than a reader will ever learn.

FOR OLDER ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLERS (1 HOUR):

EVERY FAMILY HAS A STORY TO TELL: In this hour-long presentation, I will review my work, giving insight into how I came up with my ideas. Students will learn that most authors write about what they know. In my case, most of my stories were discovered within my family. From there, we will discuss the research I must do before beginning a book. And we will end with questions students can ask their own families in order to find interesting stories to write for their school assignments.

SURVIVOR: Can you survive the writing process? Come hear how a writer thinks up her ideas, what her day is like and how a book is ultimately produced. Then try your hand at it yourself. Classes are divided into teams and given challenges to see if they can survive the research, the writing and the editing that are all a part of an author's daily life. (Only for smaller groups).

THE SACRIFICE OR QUEST: I have presentations specifically geared to these two books, which include a bubbling cauldron of moral questions at the end. Students must have read the book to make this presentation.

FOR SERIOUS WRITERS (1 HOUR):

SO YOU WANT TO WRITE . . .WRITE? Two possible presentations are available here: The first is a straightforward workshop involving discussions on what exactly a writer's day is like, where stories come from and how a book is ultimately produced. Writing sessions covering plot, character, dialogue and setting are discussed and a few minutes are given for writing itself. We then share our work aloud. For teachers who would like a more in-depth editing session, I review work done by students prior to visiting (a few pages only). Then in a group and individually, I talk to the students about the importance of revising and editing to produce a better book, helping them with their own work. I show some of my early drafts and what editing was done on my books by my editor.

WANT TO VISIT VIRTUALLY? Click here (9.2 MB PowerPoint presentation).