Take a look at what our authors and illustrators can do for your school or book-related event! They offer one-of-a-kind sessions sure to please any crowd. Below is a listing of their names and the sessions they offer.
Many also offer:
--Keynotes
--Title One Presentations/Family Nights
--Teacher In-Services
--Book Talks
--Association Meeting Presentations
--Presentations tailored just for your special events!
Click on their names below to go directly to their one-page biography with contact information.
Sonia Gensler
Last week I had the honor of presenting at the State of Sequoyah Conference in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, during the Cherokee National Holiday. I was on a panel with distinguished scholars -- all PhDs or ABD -- which was more than a little intimidating. Still, I always have fun talking about the history behind The Revenant.
Here's a newspaper article about my talk. Thank you, Betty Ridge!
Peggy Perry Anderson
Peggy provides a whole slew of writing and drawing skills with her fun, creative school visits. She's energetic, upbeat, and just the one to get the message out that writing and drawing can be educational and fun! She speaks to elementary-age students in K-5th grades and does a hands-on approach with her speaking. Her session lasts 45-60 minutes, depending on age level. Peggy's ahh-mazing and has tons of experience working with students as she used to be an art teacher. This gal knows her art!
How an idea Becomes a Book--This fantastic session covers it all---- from getting ideas, types of writing, steps to publishing a book, how printing is like "magic", characters and expressions, to showing emotion and action, and even a few fun and interesting brain and reading facts sure to surprise the kiddos! Teachers will love her, too, as she's got plenty of teaching experience having been an art teacher for many years.
Darleen Bailey Beard
Darleen's fun and personable presentations are geared toward any size group, from small to large to your entire student body. She's a seasoned pro with over 30 hands-on writing workshops you're students will love. Your teachers will enjoy her touching story about the special fifth-grade teacher to whom her first book is dedicated. She speaks to students of ALL AGES--from PreK-12th, even adults, and comes with her own microphone and sound system! If you want a seasoned pro with hundreds of school visits under her belt, she's the one you're looking for!
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Darleen's Author Talks— For all ages--Pre-K through Adult Darleen discusses her childhood, how terribly shy she used to be, her ‘Band-Aide’ collection (kids love this!), & the special fifth-grade teacher who changed her life. She does a book talk, current works talk, Q&A, and a slide presentation which shows her personal life, the process a book goes through to become a published book, as well as the pictures she drew & the stories she wrote when she was in elementary school (45-60 minutes). For large or small groups.
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Darleen's Hands-on Writing Workshops— For students in ALL GRADES--Pre-K through Adult. Over 30 fun, kid-tested, hands-on writing workshops to choose from (all listed on her website) both for students iand teachers, as well. Many of her workshops include props, silly costumes, music, & food. All are geared to help students experience the joy and power of writing while also enforcing the writing skills which students are required to master in their statewide writing tests: Narrative, Persuasive, Expository, and Descriptive (45-60 minutes). Workshops for teachers can be a half-day or whole-day(s). Also, workshops make great teacher in-services.
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Darleen's Author-in Residence — For students in grades 2 and up. Darleen will visit your school for up to eight-weeks at a time and engage your students in the above mentioned, fun, hands-on writing workshops. At the end of her residency, students will have a collection of their writing and illustrations in a hardbound book. It’s a special event which your students will never forget. Teachers get tips and lesson plans, so they, too, can share these fun writing workshops with future students (45-55 minutes per session).
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Darleen's In-depth Q & A with Poetry Writing—For students in grade 3 and up. Darleen answers in-depth questions about what it’s like to be an author— the ups & downs of getting published, how she gets her ideas, behind-the-scene stories about her books, money (you don’t want to be nosy, but you’d really like to know), & shows students how to submit their own writing & art to publishers. A fun and casual, sit-down session (20-60 minutes, depending how much time you give her).
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Darleen's Idea Files: How to Jumpstart Story Ideas—For students in grades 4 through adults. Darleen opens her own personal ‘idea file’ to show the newspapers, photos, travel brochures, magazines, cartoons, and even the junk mail she uses to spark ideas for her award-winning books. Teachers enjoy this session as it shows how they can help students create idea files in the classroom (45-60 minutes).
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Kim Doner
Kim is a one-woman-show. She brings not only professionalism and years of experience, but jokes, impersonations, African drumming, drawing, and writing to your event. Her energy is endless and her sessions are many. Your students will even have the opportunity to draw-along with Kim! She's done author/illustrator visits thoughout the U.S. and one of her recently illustrated books was on the New York Times Best Sellers list! Does it get any better than that?
From Idea to Reality--How a Book Becomes a Book--This session is for everyone, everywhere. Slides and original work are displayed, ideas and ways to realize them are shared, sketches are done, and stages of bookmaking shown. A hearty dose of inspiration for budding author/illustrators (45-60 minutes).
Where's Herman? --For students in Pre-K and Kindergarten. The "hiss"story of Herman, Kim's cartoon snake in her picture book Greensnake Ceremony, is shared through stories and playful art demonstrations (20-30 minutes).
The Art of Science, The Science of Art--An interactive draw-along for students in 2 grade and up. "Form follows function" is a rule in art; it applies to science, too. Comparative anatomy may sound intimating, but an illustrator uses this type of observation to build the visual traits for a character. Kids will discover how the use of science creates believable fantasy as they, too, draw along with Kim (45 minutes).
What a Character!--An interactive draw-along for studentss in grades 2 and up. This session connects vocabulary, writing, even math, into illustration. Ratio, proportion, and geometry...all figure into designing subjects, actions, and composition. Through collaboration, students combine descriptive terms to create an original character, then apply that list in a poetic tribute as they, too, draw along with Kim (45 minutes).
Gwendolyn Hooks
Gwen's perky personality and engaging nonfiction book talks will keep your students fascinated until her very last word. Students might even pick up a few research tips and learn some interesting facts about science, food webs, and who knows what else. If you love nonfiction, you'll love Gwen's visit! Gwen is a retired math teacher who loves easy readers and working with students.
Author Talks--Gwendolyns student programs can be geared for K-2, 3-5, and middle schools. She prefers classroom-sized audiences, but will present to larger groups if necessary. Her talks usally begin by discussing how she became a published writer and the process that transforms her story ideas into books. (Her sessions range in length of time according to each grade level.)
Writing Workshops--Gwen has a variety of fun workshops guaranteed to make even the most reluctant student pick up a pencil and write! Her workshops include:
Making a "Can I Have A Pet? book
Whose Shoe Is It Anyway
Popcorn and Poetry
A Story in Three Parts
Anna Myers
Anna's wonderful sense of humor, historical stories, and her signature 'book talks' will give your students and staff a one of a kind, sit-on-the-edge-of-their-seat good time. Students will laugh and have a good ol' time, all the while they'll be picking up helpful writing tips and learning about history. If you love history, then Anna's your gal! She's been all over the U.S. talking about writing and performing writing workshops.
Author Visits--Anna shares with students fun behind-the-scene stories about her books, how she became an author when she was just a little girl, tells students about her writing experiences, and gives students hints for their own writing. She also does at least one book talk dressed as a character from one of her books. (Her sessions range in length of time according to each grade level.)
Writing Workshops--For these exciting workshops, Anna works with smaller groups of children. She also offers
after-school workshops with teachers who want to write or want to have tips to pass on to their students, and evening programs with parents. She speaks to elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.
Chris Nick
More to come soon!
Tammi Sauer
Tammi's energetic personality shines through with her interactive, Hollywood-style presentations guaranteed to make your students get stars in their eyes and look at writing in a while new light! She's able to present to groups of up to 150 students, but prefers to keep the size down to allow for a more personal experience. Tammi will have your students "bawking and rolling" with her fun, interactive presentations. She used to be a librarian so she KNOWS what students and teachers love!
Shazam! A Writer's "Magic"--For students in grades K-1. Tammi will engage students in some silly audience participation, share her picture book, COWBOY CAMP, and perform magic tricks to illustrate where she gets her ideas and how she shapes a great idea into story (25 minutes). This session can be adapted for preschool students and runs about 20 minutes.
Yeehaw! Behind-the-Scenes of a Writer--For students in grades 2-4. Tammi will share a PowerPoint presentation that includes some weird and funny facts about herself as well as her picture book, COWBOY CAMP. She will also perform magic tricks to illustrate where she gets her ideas and how she shapes ideas into stories. In addition, she will take the students through an interactive, behind-the-scenes look at getting a story published which involves a quick trip to Tammi’s version of The Oprah Winfrey Show. A question and answer time will follow (45 minutes).
Shhh! Tammi's Top Ten Writing Secrets--For students in grades 4-5. In a funny and informative way, Tammi will share her top ten writing secrets, encourage audience participation, and lead students in something Hollywood-style. A question and answer time will follow (50 minutes).
Frankenstein Time! Building a Character--For students in grades 3-5. (This presentation works best with groups of 20 or fewer students.) Tammi will share ways to recognize and create characters that stick with readers. She will share examples of great characters, lead the group in creating a character together and in creating characters on their own, invite these characters to a made up version of The Oprah Winfrey Show, and end with something mysterious. A question and answer time will follow (50 minutes).
Una Belle Townsend
More info coming soon!
Carol Wallace
When Carol speaks, students listen. Her sweet spirit, interesting stories, and adorable pet pictures will have your students asking if they can go back to their rooms and do the unthinkable--write! (Bill and Carol Wallace usually do combined school visits with Bill speaking to older students and Carol speaking to the younger ones.)
Author Visits--For students in 1-2 grade. Carol uses slides to give students a “concrete operational” view of how she became an author, where the ideas and characters come from, and why she uses inspiration from her children, grandchildren, and the animals right in her backyard for her stories. Normally four presentations per day (Average length of time is 30-40 minutes).
Joint Presentation with Bill Wallace --Carol and her husband Bill answer the question: “How does someone ever become an author?” Relating life, school, family, children’s experiences they (with the help of pictures) show how they got started writing, where ideas for stories come from, the editing process, and the persistence it takes to get the first book published. For Adult Conferences.
Mike Wimmer
You may welcome Mike to your students as "Mr. Wimmer" but you'll be saying goodbye to him as "Mike." Mike's school visits are so personable that you'll invite him again and again. He not only draws, entertains, but inspires. His powerpoint program with photos of his amazingly realistic art will keep your students and teachers spellbound!
Illustrator Visits --Mike's school programs are appropriate for all ages from kindergarten through the university level. Each is directed to the appropriate age level for time and content. He schedules one school per day and gives two one-hour presentations for third through sixth grades, and two half-hour presentations for kindergarten through second grade. Another option is three one-hour presentations for third through sixth grades, if the school would prefer that he only speak to the older kids.
For the schools who want to share Mike's time and his expenses, he can break up the visits into: three different schools for a one-hour presentation each; or two different schools for a one and a half-hour presentation each, with each school sharing the daily expenses equally.
When Mike talks to middle school and high school students, he likes to speak only to those students who are truly interested or who would be greatly influenced by his presentation, such as the writing or art students, and those that may seem like problem students but show a knack or interest in drawing or art. These presentations last for approximately one and a half hours and are more in depth, covering illustration as a career.
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