School Visits

I do, and I’m happy to discuss ways to make things work within your budget.

Yes! Here’s what you can expect for different age groups:

Pre-K and K: I am happy to talk to younger students, but prefer to present to them separately from grades 1 to 5. I show the kids books I made when I was their age, and the books I write now. Then we brainstorm our own fractured fairy tales and magic powers. My presentation runs about 45 minutes and includes show and tell.

Grades 1-5: This presentation focuses on my Whatever After, Best Wishes, and Upside-Down Magic series. I begin with a discussion of how the books I read in elementary school inspired me to become a novelist. Then, we'll brainstorm our own story idea and learn about the steps of book writing: Idea, Research, Characters, Outline, First Draft, and Revising. I also discuss best ways to collaborate. My presentation runs about 45 minutes and includes a Powerpoint and a question and answer period.

Grades 6-12: Similar in form to my Elementary presentation, I teach students how to write a novel. We'll brainstorm our own story idea and learn about the steps of book writing: Idea, Research, Characters, Outline, First Draft, Revising, and Collaborating. We’ll go deeper into each step, depending on the grade level of the students. Books referenced for middle schools are the Magic in Manhattan series, Gimme a Call, and Don’t Even Think About It, and for Ten Things We Did, How to Be Bad, and I See London, I See France for high school. My presentation runs about 45 minutes and includes a Powerpoint and a question and answer period.

A typical in-person school visit includes two interactive presentations and one meet-and-greet—for example, with English teachers, the school paper, a creative writing class, whatever you like. I can also do three presentations. All school visits include time for signing and personalizing books.

My virtual visit is 45-minute interactive Zoom presentation that teaches students how to tell their own stories. I discuss and show pictures of my background, my writing process (researching, outlining, drafting, revising), my inspirations (fairy tales, feeling different), how I collaborate with my co-authors, and my Upside-Down Magic movie experience. Afterward, I am happy to answer questions.

Usually 45 minutes to an hour for each presentation, depending on the length of the question-and-answer period.

As long as you have the space for the students and the tools for me to present, I’m fine with any number of students. The more the merrier!

I find that my presentations are more exciting when students have read my books, so the best way to prepare is to share my books with your students and encourage them to think of challenging questions they’d like to ask me: about specific books, about writing, about what it means to be a professional author—the deeper, the better!

For in-person visits, I’ll need: a PowerPoint projector and screen, a mic (if more than 30 kids are in attendance), a bottle of water, and access to a cup of coffee. As long as we’ve communicated about your needs and scheduling beforehand, everything should be smooth sailing!

I don’t bring books to sell at events, but I find that students love having a book for me to sign after presentations. It’s always great to support a local bookstore or distributor, and books can also be ordered from the publisher. Bookstores will often provide an advance order form that can be sent home with students so that the books will arrive at the school for the day of the event. Some bookstores offer school discounts, or even give a percentage of the sales to the school. All that said, book sales are not an expectation or requirement for a paid school visit—I am there to meet and encourage young readers and writers!

Yes, I do! I have a 45-minute interactive Zoom presentation that teaches students how to tell their own stories. I discuss and show pictures of my background, my writing process (researching, outlining, drafting, revising), my inspirations (fairy tales, feeling different), how I collaborate with my co-authors, and my Upside-Down Magic movie experience. Afterward, I am happy to answer questions. Please fill out the form below and put ONLINE in the location box for rates and additional information.