Skype An Author Network - Recently Updated Pages

Virtual Author Visits in Your Library or Classroom

sachauncey — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:37:05 CDT

DIRECTIONS FOR AUTHORS ~ DIRECTIONS FOR TEACHERS & LIBRARIANS

It all started when author Mona Kerby visited Grandview Library in 2008 to talk to 2nd graders about her book Owney, The Mail Pouch Pooch. In 2009, Ms. Kerby visited the class via Skype. The children and their teachers cheered when Ms. Kerby "appeared" on the Smart Board. Ms. Kerby talked about Owney and the process she went through to research, write, and publish the book. Several of the children asked Ms. Kerby questions and the whole group enjoyed waving at and thanking Ms. Kerby for "visiting". The mission of the Skype an Author Network is to provide K-12 teachers and librarians with a way to connect authors, books, and young readers through virtual visits. Wouldn't it be great to invite authors into your classroom or library to video chat with students before, during, and/or after reading their books? We are growing a list of authors who want to make that connection with you via Skype. Visit our Skype Overview page to learn more about Skype.

Click Here to Read Success Stories

Martha Rodriguez- May 2013

Martha helped the students aspire towards becoming authors themselves. Every single student was actively engaged in her Q & A session and her fun writing activities that sparked the students’ imaginations.

This was her second year of visiting our school and each time the students love to hear from her. They always comment on how much they enjoy her books. We are so fortunate to have found such a wonderful author to help our third graders with their author study project by Skyping with us from Florida to Hawaii. She enriched our students’ learning with her wealth of ideas and inspiration.

Thank you Martha!Laurel Taylor, Library Media Specialist/Tech Coordinator JK-6

Bruce Hale - March 2013

Last week we had a Skype visit with Bruce Hale and he was fantastic. I loved the way he engaged the students. It was almost like he was in the room. The students felt like he was there and had a great time interacting with him. He shared a Slideshow with me to show students so they could see what he was talking about and how he became a writer. He was funny, entertaining and very informative. The students loved that he drew pictures as well. My son was in the audience and he even tried to draw Chet Gecko the next day after watching Bruce.

I highly recommend him to any school. He was so easy to work with, so kind and so on target. He was as good with Kindergarten as he was with the older grades and he saw every grade except 5th because we could not fit it in their schedule. I would certainly have him again. Way to go Bruce!

Clarissa Grindle, Librarian
Great Oaks Elementary
Round Rock Independent School District

Marsha Diane Arnold - February 2013

In celebration of Lily's new adventure, I'm offering a special price for Skype visits if booked by the first day of spring, March 20th. For those who take advantage of the Lily Special, I will Skype with your class or school for a "song". Just $90 for 45 minutes to 1 hour, which can include a slideshow, reading a story with your students, showing them around my office, answering questions, and more! Email me at marshaoak@mac.com to book today.

Lily's App is Here

Newsletter

Lisa Ard - February 2013

"I can't thank you enough for taking the time to speak with our fifth graders. We had over one hundred 10 and 11 year-olds in attendance, all of whom had been anticipating your visit for weeks, since we began reading Fright Flight.

I wish you could have heard the discussions we had after the session. The students were inspired with a new excitement for writing as they shared their favorite piece of advice from you.

I overheard a couple of students discussing how they were going to buy little notebooks over the weekend, so that they could start recording their ideas. When students are able to learn from an expert in a field, it takes their learning to a new level. Thank you for seeing the value in that and taking the time to help develop young writers."

Michele Colebrook,
5th grade teacher, Timberline Elementary

Dear Marsha,

You are such a delightful person! The children just beamed during our follow-up conversation. They just couldn't believe that they were actually talking to you! I am confident that we made a memory for them that will have an impact for years to come! Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Perhaps we can do it again next year! I will be in touch.

Please continue Skyping! Our students may never experience talking to a published author without this kind of opportunity as we are unable to afford the fees that are incurred when an author has to travel to be here. It is truly invaluable. I appreciate your willingness to participate in this type of experience to expose our students to the wonderful world of reading and writing.

Thank you again for such a lovely conversation!
Carla Laney
Manning Early Childhood Center
Manning, South Carolina

Professor Marilyn Arnone & Curiosity Creek shares her delightful Nature Booktalks

Wouldn't they make great ticklers for a Skype Visit!
If you've written a children's picture book with a nature theme,
let me know mailto:sachauncey@gmail.com.
Professor Arnone may be interested in creating a talk for your book!

Our goal is to set up a network of authors who are willing to participate in Skype conversations with students in classrooms and libraries. This wiki provides a page for each author who joins the network. Our author template ensures consistency of content and keeps things simple for authors, teachers, and librarians. The author pages provide procedural and contact information. Take a look at Mona Kerby's page as an example.

Arrangements for Skype visits are initiated via email and/or phone between the author and the teacher and/or librarian.

Authors offer two types of visits:

No Charge - Meet the Author Visits - 10 to 15 minutes
In-Depth Visits - Time and fee determined by each author

Next Steps
Once you are comfortable with "Skyping" you can try additional web-based technologies to enhance your visits, for example:

UStream TV - Listen to David McCullough
A Whole New Learning Experience - read and be sure to watch the video in this post
Scriblink - Interactive white board - great for sharing illustration demos.
Google Lit Trips - A Different Way to Read Great Literature! This site is an experiment in teaching great literature in a very different way. Using Google Earth, students discover where in the world the greatest road trip stories of all time took place... and so much more!
Skype Blog - Find out how others are using Skype. Here's an author example ...

The possibilities for collaboration are many. If you have used other tools during your sessions, please start a "Discussion" to share with all of our members.

Authors Who are Interested May Email
sachauncey@gmail.com OR rkerby@mcdaniel.edu

Pinterest Experiment

FREE SKYPE TOURS
OF NEWS ROOM!

Illustrators & Author Illustrators
Click to Visit

Jewish Books Page
Click to Visit

Education Week
Web Conferencing...

Writer on the Side
Interview

Skype An Author
Columbia News Service

Author/Illustrator Mike Artell
Shares a Skype Visit

Eric Ode

ericode — Thu, 09 May 2013 22:33:25 CDT

Author Website: http://www.ericode.com

Presentations: Through high-participation poetry and music, we will explore the writing and creating processes. Sessions for the youngest grades focus on where our ideas come from and how those ideas change and develop. Additional time is set aside for Q&A and an extra song or poem or two.

Audiences: Grades K through 6

Available Times: Contact me at eric@ericode.com or call 253.826.2115. We'll find a time that will work for your school schedule.

No recording of Skype Sessions without permission from the author.

No Cost Meet the Author Visit: 10 to 15 minutes. This session provides our first opportunity to get to know each other. I'll introduce myself, share a song or poem or story, and share a bit about what the students should expect from our follow up visit(s). This also doubles as our "work out the bugs" session, helping to insure our Virtual Author visit will run smoothly later.

FREE Session: Learn how to earn a free 45 minute Skype session. Visit http://www.ericode.com/virtual_visit.htm

In-Depth Visit Length: 45 minute sessions
(Visit the above link to learn how to earn a FREE 45 minute session)

In-Depth Visit Cost:
One session: $120.00
Additional sessions (same day): $60.00 each (max. 4)
VIRTUAL RESIDENCY: As an opportunity to build on earlier sessions, schedule your group for four visits on four different days. $420.00

Prerequisites: For paid visits, once we have your Virtual Author Visit scheduled, I will mail to you FREE either a copy of my book When You're a Pirate Dog and Other Pirate Poems, Sea Star Wishes - Poems from the Coast, or Tall Tales of the Wild West (and a Few Short Ones) along with a copy of my music CD I Love My Shoes. Please make sure your students have been exposed to these materials before our Virtual Visit. For free visits earned with the purchase of 20 or more books and/or CDs (please visit above link for details), we will schedule your virtual visit after your books and CDs have arrived.

Contact Information: Please email me at eric@ericode.com or call 253.826.2115 so that we may discuss and plan your visit. I'll want to know what you hope your students get out of our time together and if you have any special requests.

Affiliations: American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI)

L. R. W. Lee

LRWLee — Sat, 04 May 2013 15:10:22 CDT

Author Website: http://www.lrwlee.com

Author Address (e.g., City, State, Country): Austin, TX, USA

Genres: (see list on Directions for Authors page)
fantasy, coming of age, mystery, humor, personal writing, language arts,

Presentations: 1) The writing process 2) How I got started writing books/what's it like to be an author 3) Themes and Philosophies

Audiences: middle grade (4th - 6th grade)

Available Times: Upon request

No recording of Skype Sessions without permission from the author.

No Cost Meet the Author Visit: 10 - 15 minutes

In-Depth Visit Length: 45-60 minutes

In-Depth Visit Cost: Please contact me to arrange fee for In-Depth visit.

Prerequisites: I request students read the book before our meeting so we can have a more meaningful conversation. Books can be purchased at http://amzn.to/115Ur72

Contact Information: Please contact me via my website at http://www.lrwlee.com/#!contact/cgbd

Affiliations: Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators, Coursework at Institute of Children's Literature

Claire Legrand

clairelegrand — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:17:42 CDT

Claire Legrand used to be a musician until she realized she couldn't stop thinking about the stories in her head. Now a writer, Ms. Legrand can often be found typing with purpose at her keyboard, losing herself in the stacks at her local library, or embarking upon spontaneous adventures to lands unknown. Her first novel is THE CAVENDISH HOME FOR BOYS AND GIRLS, a New York Public Library Best Book for Children in 2012. Her second novel, THE YEAR OF SHADOWS, releases August 27, 2013, with her third novel, WINTERSPELL, to follow in fall 2014. Claire lives in New Jersey with a dragon and two cats. Visit her at claire-legrand.com.

Author Website: http://claire-legrand.com

Author Address: Princeton, NJ, USA

Genres: fantasy, fairy tale, paranormal fiction, science fiction

Presentations: Listed below are topics I typically discuss, but I'm willing to discuss a different topic that may better fit your group's needs. Just ask me! :)

Book Talk on any of my books
author Q&A (a free-form visit in which audience determines direction of discussion)
From Band Nerd to Full-Time Writer: College, Changing Majors, and Following Your Dreams (high school)
The Road to Publication
Story Structure: Outlining for the Pantsers at Heart
A Whole New World: Building a Convincing Story World

Audiences: elementary school, middle school, high school, adults - book clubs, classrooms, writers groups

Available Times: I'm quite flexible and on EST. Please contact me to arrange a specific time!

No recording of Skype Sessions without permission from the author.

No Cost Meet the Author Visit: 20-minute author Q&A AND/OR 20-minute book talk

In-Depth Visit Length: 45-60 minutes (w/PowerPoint presentation if appropriate) OR 45-60-minute book talks; longer visits possible, please email me to discuss!

In-Depth Visit Cost: $50-$100, depending on topic

Prerequisites: Depends on the presentation. For book talks, the group must be familiar with at least one of my books. For any presentation, please have attendees prepare questions ahead of time.

Contact Information: clairelegrandbooks at gmail dot com

Martha Rodriguez

MarthaRodriguez — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:18:20 CDT

Hello and thanks for stopping by!

I am the author of the children’s picture book A Reel Cool Summer as well as a children's book of short stories, Smell My Feet! 10 Seriously Silly and Sweet Short Stories for Squirts and What About Barnaby? my first middle-grade fiction book. I am also the owner of Read To Me Publishing, LLC.

I was born in Havana, Cuba and immigrated to the United States with my family at the age of three. I'm a wife and the mom to three awesome kids. Like most moms, I've had many years of experience answering the question, “We’re bored, what can we do?” One answer to that question brought about the story behind A Reel Cool Summer. With encouragement from family and friends I decided to write and self-publish the book. My oldest son, Joey, illustrated the book, making it a fun family project. I'm currently working on a second book featuring the three wacky siblings from A Reel Cool Summer.

Smell My Feet! is a collection of eight short stories I had written for my blog, http://areelcoolsummer.blogspot.com, and two brand new ones. Some were inspired by family and friends or true events and others were sparked by writing prompts I found here or there, from this group or that.

In What About Barnaby? (A Gumshoe Crew Mystery) when Barnaby's disappearance comes to light, two friends, Zeke and Scotty, join together to try to decipher the mystery of the missing mutt. Will they be able to solve the mystery on their own or will they need help from old and new (furry and not so furry) friends?

Show less

I've been active in my church as well as my children’s schools; volunteering wherever my talents were in demand. I'm a supporter of literacy initiatives and have been a volunteer Adult Literacy Tutor with Literacy Volunteers of Leon County (LVLC). I served on the Board of Directors of LVLC from 2008-2011 as a member, the Vice President and as Fundraising Committee Chair.

My husband and I live in Tallahassee, Florida.

Author Website:
http://www.readtomepublishingllc.com

Auth or Address: Tallahassee, FL, USA

Genres:
Children's book
Picture book
Comic fiction
Short stories
Realistic fiction
Middle-grade fiction

Presentations:
1. Grades 1-3: Read-aloud of my book A Reel Cool Summer and/or various short stories from Smell My Feet! (includes question/answer session).

2. Grades 4 and above: Get Your Writing Juices Flowing! - We complete a MadLib-type writing prompt together and I encourage the students to continue the story and compete in a writing contest for a free copy of my book and/or other
prize(s). This presentation will include my experience writing and self-publishing my book and fun exercises on how to
"show" instead of "tell" when writing. (Includes question/answer session)

I can also customize a program to suit the need of your school, library or book club.

Audiences:
Grades 1-3 : read-aloud and question/answer session.
Grades 4 and above: Get Your Writing Juices Flowing! presentation.

Available Times: I'll do my best to be available when it is convenient for your school, library or book club. Please contact me to discuss.

No recording of Skype Sessions without permission from the author.

No Cost Meet the Author Visit: 15-20 minutes

In-Depth Visit Length: 1 hour
In-Depth Visit Cost: Please contact me to discuss.

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites but I would like for the children to be exposed to my books before my visit. I would be happy to donate a copy of the book to your school, library or book club.

Contact Information: Please contact me via email at martha@readtomepublishingllc.com or by phone at (850) 321-9034

Affiliations:

Read what the Library Media Specialists from one school I visited are saying:
My students ages 4-8 read this book in the library and loved it! They couldn’t stop laughing and have been quoting that book for months now. A hilarious read aloud that inspires students to use their imaginations and work as a team. Five out of five stars!
--Laurel Taylor, Library Media Specialist JK-6

The book engaged listeners. It was funny and entertaining. A great book for summer!
--Heather Maggini-Mackay, Library Media Specialist JK-6

Author Visit Review
Martha Rodriguez is a true gem! She worked with me to develop lessons that aligned with our curriculum, and brought in props and teaching materials to keep students engaged.

Grades K-2nd were learning about authors so she talked to them about the writing and publishing process. She read them her story and at the end, they got to dress up as the characters! Students loved her silly story and enjoyed being able to ask her lots of questions about being an author. I loved how she made the book come to life for my students!

For Grades 4th-6th, she did a writer’s workshop to get their creative juices flowing. They learned a lot about using descriptive words and where to go to find inspiration for writing stories. By the end of the lesson, they couldn’t wait to start writing their own stories and share their ideas with others. I’ve never seen them more motivated in class!

Martha gets along wonderfully with students of all ages. What I appreciated the most about her was her flexibility with lesson planning and visits, her ability to make reading fun that helped motivate students to want to read and write, and her ability to develop a great rapport with all students. She made a huge impact on student learning for them to meet a real author, and I would love to have her back again!

My books:
A Reel Cool Summer
Smell My Feet! 10 Seriously Silly and Sweet Short Stories for Squirts
What About Barnaby (A Gumshoe Crew Mystery)

Tonya Clanton

TonyaClanton — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:49:05 CDT

"Cricket's Little Corner" is a chapter book for 4th grade and up. It is written by Cricket and a little help from her lady describing the antics, events and experiences that Cricket encounters when she arrives at "The Farm". Cricket learns new skills, meets new friends and discovers the impact that she can make in the lives of those that want to learn how to ride a horse.

Author Website: Cricket's Little Corner

Author Address: Kaufman, Texas USA

Genres: Children realistic fiction

Presentations: Author Q&A; in-depth book club or classroom discussion, Writer's Workshop promoting an authentic writing process and self-publishing. Discussion of self-promoting and marketing strategies.

Audiences: Elementary, Middle and High School classrooms and libraries, Public Libraries, Summer Reading Clubs

Available Times: 8:00-4:00 CST

No recording of Skype Sessions without permission from the author.

No Cost Meet the Author Visit: 15-20 minute Q&A, or 15-20 minute class or book clubs visit for reading "Cricket's Little Corner".

In-Depth Visit Length: 30-45 minutes.

In-Depth Visit Cost: $75.00

Prerequisites: The visits are most successful when the students have already read "Cricket's Little Corner" and had some class discussion about the book. A technical run through would be needed before the actual visit.

Contact Information: tonyaclanton@ymail.com

Affiliations:

Amy Fell

AMYFELL — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 07:36:09 CDT

Amy Fell loved to make up stories and draw imaginary pictures as a child growing up in Northwest Ohio. She has used her talents as anelementary art teacher, an artist and writer to create this humorous story about two picky eaters.

She taught art inNorthwest Ohio for 20 years. During her years of teaching she incorporated reading and writing ideas into art lessonsfor her students. She also used stories she wrote and other authors’ books as springboards for project ideas in her classroom, summer campsand art classes she taught at a local regional arts center. She continued this idea by creating Kid’s FEEDBACK Magazine for her Master’sthesis.The magazine was designed as a creative tool to promote reading, writing and criticism across the curriculum. It was the inspiration forARTaFacts Magazine, a subject-specific publication about the world of art for elementary and secondary students for which Amy has beenthe editor and publisher from 1996 to the present.

Amy is currently creating her own artwork with paper & fabrics and has exhibited in local art shows and galleries. Her work can be found onFacebook.com and at www.artafactsmagazine.com.

Author Website:http://amyfellbooks.weebly.com/

Author Address: SYLVANIA OH USA

Genres: FICTION, FOOD, COOKING, IMAGINATION

Presentations: "TWO TERRIBLE EATERS" by AMY FELL

Do you know children who are picky eaters? Then be sure to read the new children’s book “Two Terrible Eaters” by Amy Fell.

The book is a humorous, illustrated story for primary readers about two royal children who just won't eat anything but peanut butter andjelly sandwiches, even when they are presented with food prepared by the best chefs from around the world. Find out how the children,with the help of these chefs, finally decide to eat something new. Included in the book are enrichment activities for parents & teachers.

Audiences: CLASSROOMS, SCHOOL LIBRARIES, PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND HOME SCHOOLFACILITIES.

Available Times: AFTERNOONS

No recording of Skype Sessions without permission from the author.

No Cost Meet the Author Visit:I WILL DO A FREE 15 MINUTE VISIT.

THE 15 MINUTE VISIT INCLUDES AN INTRODUCTION OF ME AND MY BOOK "TWO TERRIBLE EATERS". I CAN READ MY BOOK TO THE CHILDREN IF DESIRED AND THEN ANSWER QUESTIONS. I WILL THEN TALK ABOUT HOW I GET MY IDEAS AND HOW THE CHILDREN CAN GET IDEAS FOR STORIES TO WRITE. FINALLY, I WILL SUGGEST TO THE CHILDREN TO FORM THEIR OWN NEW FOOD CONCOCTION AND EITHER DRAW A PICTURE OR WRITE A RECIPE HOW TO MAKE IT.

In-Depth Visit Length:

THE LONGER VISIT WOULD INCLUDE ALL OF THE VISIT INFORMATION OF A FREE VISIT BUT WITH MORE TIME FOR INTERACTION WITH THE CHILDREN. ADDITIONALLY, I WOULD TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT THE CHILDREN LEARNED FROM THE STORY AND ABOUT RHYMING WORDS. FINALLY, WITH THE AID OF A HANDOUT THE CLASS WOULD WRITE A SIMPLE GROUP POEM ABOUT THEIR OWN NEW FOOD CONCOCTION WITH MY HELP.

In-Depth Visit Cost:

A 45-60 MINUTE VISIT IS $100.00.

Prerequisites:

IF YOU DECIDE TO SCHEDULE A SKPE AUTHOR VISIT WITH ME I WILL EMAIL YOU A SIMPLE CONTRACT,INFORMATION HOW TO PURCHASEPRE-SIGNEDBOOKS DIRECTLY FROM ME, AND AN EMAIL FLIER FOR YOU TO PRINT AND DISTRIBUTE. I DO LIKE TO HAVE A TECHNICAL RUN THROUGH PRIOR TO PRESENTATION.

CONTACT INFORMATION :artafacts@bex.net or 419.885.8830, also on Facebook for Amy Fell or "Two Terrible Eaters"

Affiliations:

Tara Kelly

guitarnaiad — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 01:47:52 CDT

Author Website: http://thetaratracks.com

Author Address Portland, Oregon

Genres: YA fiction, YA realistic fiction, Young Adult

Books:
Harmonic Feedback (ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults, Bank Street Best Children's, Oregon Spirit Award)
Amplified (Oregon Spirit Award Honor)

Presentations:

15 minute Q&A session or discussion--free for students, book clubs, and writing groups who have read Harmonic Feedback and/or Amplified.
Discussion of Harmonic Feedback as well as my own experiences with ADHD and the autistic spectrum, followed by Q&A.
Discussion of Amplified, followed by Q&A
My road to publication
The writing process--how to create unforgettable characters, develop your own voice, and develop ideas into stories.
A custom presentation made to suit your needs.

The above presentations can be combined as well.

Audiences: middle school, high school, colleges, book clubs, writing groups

Available Times: Please inquire about times.

No recording of Skype Sessions without permission from the author.

No Cost Meet the Author Visit: 15 minute discussion--free for students, book clubs, and writing groups who have read my books.

In-Depth Visit Length: Up to 60 minutes

In-Depth Visit Cost: $200

Prerequisites: Please be familiar with my books and have questions ready.

Contact Information: contact@thetaratracks.com

A.S. King

AS_King — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:10:15 CDT

A.S. King is the author of acclaimed ASK THE PASSENGERS, EVERYBODY SEES THE ANTS, the Michael L. Printz Honor Book PLEASE IGNORE VERA DIETZ, and THE DUST OF 100 DOGS. Her next YA novel, REALITY BOY, is due in Fall 2013. Learn more at www.as-king.com

Author Websites:

www.as-king.com
Blog: www.as-king.info

Recent Skype Visits:

"I work at a university, where I train preservice English teachers. As part of a course focused on the teaching of literature, and the field of young adult literature, I asked Amy to Skype with my class. The students had already read Please Ignore Vera Dietz, and were very excited to meet with the actual author of one of their texts. Amy's Skype session with my class was fantastic, and more than I ever could have hoped for. She shared insights into her writing process, the characters and events in her novel, and her thoughts on the state of reading instruction in schools today. Everything, and I mean everything she talked about fed directly into discussions and activities our class had been doing over the course of the semester. Amy is incredibly open, engaging and funny. She put my students at ease very quickly, and our hour together flew by. I had several students come up to me, after the session was over, and tell me that it had been the 'best last class ever.'" Mark Letcher, Purdue University Calumet

"I had the pleasure of having Ms. King do a Skype chat my English class. I was very impressed with both Ms. King's preparation beforehand as well as the presentation. We spoke about what was going to be discussed, preparing the presentation to go along with what I was teaching at that time. I was able to apply all that was talked about during the Skype chat and take it back to the classroom for a follow up lesson.

Ms. King spoke about how she developed characters in her books and also did a Q & A with the students. The students were both fascinated by the author and the technology. They enjoyed her presentation and were talking about it for days. I had a few students so inspired by Ms. King, they started creating their own stories. A.S. King was engaging, funny, and informative. She was easy to talk to and delivered the information in a way in which the students could understand. I would recommend Skyping with Ms. King to any teacher who wants to inspire her students to become better writers." Shannon Bailey, 8th grade ELP English at Rhodes Junior High, AZ

Presentations:

General Book and Writing Chat
Talking to readers about my books, my process, and answering specific questions about characters or ideas, and how I got published is really fun for me. For school visits there are educator guides available on the home page of my website. Please inform me whether the class has or has not read the book before the visit. For non-school visits, I'm open to whatever your group would like to talk about. I love sharing my knowledge of how to break through in the publishing business, and how to grow a love of writing. All sessions are run as an ongoing Q&A, versus a long, formal presentation, for best video-chat interaction.

Specific Book Chat
For students and book clubs who have read a specific book and would like to talk about it.

For Aspiring Writers:
Finding Your Writer's Middle Finger: An examination of persistence, voice and breaking traditional writing rules.
Based on the title of her popular essay series, an hour of rebellion with A.S. King, exploring questions writers often ask, like: Do I suck? Will I ever get published? (Once published = Will I ever make a living at this?) When should I just give up? What is good writing, anyway? What is voice and how do I get one? Who can help me? The workshop focuses on personal growth and self-esteem as a writer, as a query writer, and as a published author. 15 minute Q&A included.

Audiences: High school students grade 9 and up, university creative writing students, aspiring writers (teen or adult), book groups, university education YAL students.
Also, literacy students interested in creative writing & their tutors.

Available Times: M-F 10-3:30 EST, Monday nights available for book groups or libraries. Saturday afternoons available for literacy students & tutors.

No recording of Skype Sessions without permission from the author.

In-Depth Visit Length: 60 minutes, with ample understanding if Q&A runs over time.

In-Depth Visit Cost: $200 (Book groups, contact me for book group price!)

Prerequisites: Author will need to know if participants have read her work.

Contact Information: asking@as-king.com

Affiliations: ALAN, SCWBI

Jo Linsdell

JoLinsdell — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 06:46:19 CDT

Author Website:www.JoLinsdell.com

Author Address:Rome, Italy

Genres: rhyming children's picture books, picture books,fairy tale, fairytale

Presentations:

- Question and Answer Session

- Writing rhyme

- Illustrating a picture book

- The process of self publishing a book

Audiences:Classrooms, School Libraries, Public Libraries

Available Times:Flexible.

No recording of Skype Sessions without permission from the author.

No Cost Meet the Author Visit: 10-15 minutes

In-Depth Visit Length:to be determined

In-Depth Visit Cost:to be determined

Prerequisites:Students should have heard or read the books Out and About at the Zoo and Fairy May

Contact Information:jo_bins@yahoo.com

Affiliations:

A. Lynden Rolland

sachauncey — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 15:44:05 CDT

Author Website:

Author Address (e.g., City, State, Country):

Genres: (see list on Directions for Authors page)

Presentations:

Audiences:

Available Times:

No recording of Skype Sessions without permission from the author.

No Cost Meet the Author Visit: enter number of minutes here - suggested 10-15 minutes

In-Depth Visit Length:

In-Depth Visit Cost: Enter info on working out a longer visit

Prerequisites:

Contact Information:

Affiliations:

Howard Binkow

sachauncey — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 22:20:55 CDT

Author Website:http://www.wedolisten.org

Author AddressSarasota, Florida USA

Genres: Picture books

Presentations: Educator endorsed Howard B. Wigglebottom animated bookstackle important life lessons for children like being better listeners, bullying, anger management, moderation, truth, divorce, peer pressure, belonging, generosity, sportsmanship, attention and feeling good about themselves, The animations can be viewed by visiting http://www.wedolisten.org. Click on Animated books, posters, lesson/discussion questions and songs.

Schools can choose which Howard B. Wigglebottom animations and songs they prefer playing and discussing with each grade level.

Audiences: PreK-3

Available Times: open

No Cost Meet the Author Visit: Up to 4 classes of 30 minutes each

Contact Information: howardb@wedolisten.com

Twitter: @hbwigglebottom

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/iB9dWN

Phil Bildner

sachauncey — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 22:20:27 CDT

Author Website: http://www.philbildner.com

Author Address (e.g., City, State, Country): Brooklyn, New York, USA

Presentations: I'm available for Writing Camps; Question & Answer Sessions, Presentations about my Writing Process

Audiences: Grades 1-12, presentations work for all grade levels.

Available Times: Day and Evening Times Available

No recording of Skype Sessions without permission from the author.

No Cost Meet the Author Visit: Not available, but will do 5 minute day-of system check.

In-Depth Visit Length: 45-50 minutes.

In-Depth Visit Cost: Generally $250, but please email me for details at phil@philbildner.com

Prerequisites: Prefer that students are familiar with my books, but it is not necessary.

Contact Information: phil@philbildner.com

Affiliations: SCBWI

Barbara Bietz

sachauncey — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 22:19:53 CDT

Author Website: www.BarbaraBietz.com, www.BarbaraBBookBlog.Blogspot.com

Author Address 722 N Oak Point Drive, Oak Park, CA 91377

Presentations: Jewish Author Group - Writing Workshops for Kids, Book Talks

Audiences: Schools, Libraries, Community Centers

Available Times:

No recording of Skype Sessions without permission from the author.

In-Depth Visit Length: 45 minutes

In-Depth Visit Cost: $100

Prerequisites: Familiarity with my book

Contact Information: BarbaraBietz@aol.com

Affiliations: SCBWI, Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, Association of Jewish Libraries,

Karl Beckstrand

sachauncey — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 22:19:02 CDT

Author Website: http://Premiobooks.com

Author Address: Salt Lake City, UT, USA

Genres: biography, comic fiction, contemporary fiction, health, history, holidays, how-to, humor, informational, inspirational, language arts, multicultural, mystery, nonfiction, non-fiction, picture book, school market, science

Presentations: Story creation, publishing and marketing, ebooks, healthy treats, Spanish/bilingual books with pronunciation guide, children's cookbook, finding and counting activity books, overcoming fear, immigrants overcoming obstacles, family activities

Audiences: preschool and up (including adult groups)

Available Times: flexible days, some evenings

No recording of Skype Sessions without permission from the author.

No Cost Meet the Author Visit: 15 minutes

In-Depth Visit Length: 50 minutes

In-Depth Visit Cost: $135 (can be reduced with school book order)

Prerequisites: An order of books can reduce speaking cost

Contact Information: info@premiobooks.com

Affiliations: UT Humanities Council "Author on Main Street" (bilingual lecturer), League of Utah Writers

Dale Basye

sachauncey — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 22:17:05 CDT

Author Website: www.wherethebadkidsgo.com

Author Address: Portland, Oregon. U.S.A.

Genres:
comic fiction
coming of age
contemporary fiction
fantasy
feature article
humor
language arts
magazine short stories
paranormal fiction

Presentations:

I almost always use a PowerPoint/Keynote presentation at my readings and appearances. They are loaded with fun charts and graphics, quizzes, etc. I also sing a few songs, usually, about my book series: Heck: Where the Bad Kids Go. I've also given writing workshops for my audience, with simple exercises to help young writers get over common obstacles and get them writing. These are optimally geared for 4th-8th graders.

Audiences: My books and presentations are aimed at middle-readers, which is roughly 4th grade to 8th grade.

Available Times: I am a freelance writer so my schedule is flexible.

No recording of Skype Sessions without permission from the author.

No Cost Meet the Author Visit: 10-15 minutes

In-Depth Visit Length:An hour. 90 minutes if this includes a writing workshop.

In-Depth Visit Cost: For live appearances, I generally charge $300-$500. I am willing to work out a Skype rate depending on the specific presentation/requirements.

Prerequisites:Skype (duh) or even Google+ (I have done a couple of Hangouts). Since I use a PowerPoint, the bigger the screen and sharper the digital projector, the better (plus a nice dark room!). I would also want the students to be familiar with my work beforehand (Heck: Where the Bad Kids Go, Rapacia: The Second Circle of Heck, Blimpo: The Third Circle of Heck, Fibble: The Fourth Circle of Heck, Snivel: The Fifth Circle of Heck, and Precocia: The Sixth Circle of Heck…the seventh Heck book comes out at the end of 2013).

Contact Information:heck@wherethebadkidsgo.com

Affiliations: No thank you, but I appreciate you asking.

Beth Navarro

BethNavarro — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 14:27:00 CDT

Author Website:www.bethnavarro.com

Author Address: Sierra Madre, CA

Genres: Picture books

Presentations: I speak about my childhood, how I became an author and about my writing process. I will also read one (or both, if time allows) of my picture books. I use a power point presentation. What I want the kids to walk away with is a sense of excitement about writing and the confidence that they have something to say.

Audiences: K-6th

Available Times: Monday and Wednesday 8am- 3pm west coast time

No recording of Skype Sessions without permission from the author.

No Cost Meet the Author Visit: 10 mins.

In-Depth Visit Length:50 mins.

In-Depth Visit Cost: $75.00

Prerequisites: If you can provide pipe cleaners I will do a fun story starter exercise with them (with the in depth visit only).

Contact Information:navarrobeth@hotmail.com

Affiliations: SCBWI member and member of California Readers and The New Hollywood, a philanthropic women's group

Christine Brodien-Jones

Chris_Brodien-Jones — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 09:50:32 CDT

Author Website: http://cbrodien-jones.com/

Prerequisites: 50-minute Meet the Author sessions are available to classes and book club members who have read THE OWL KEEPER and/or THE SCORPIONS OF ZAHIR so that students will have a basis for asking questions.

Available Times:
Visits: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm EST.

Cost for Meet the Author Visit: 50-minute session - $100

Audiences: ages ten and up

No recording of Skype Sessions without permission from the author.

Contact Information:owlkeeper@verizon.net

Affiliations:
Christine is a member of SCBWI and The Author's Guild; she has been an editor and a teacher of special needs children. Her next middle-grade book, THE GLASS PUZZLE, will be published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers in July 2013.

Melissa Guion

MelissaGuion — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:19:40 CDT

Author Website: Melissa Guion

Author Address: Brooklyn, New York

Genres: Picture Books

Presentations: Reading, Q&A, art demonstration

Audiences: Preschool, Kindergarten

Available Times: Thursdays & Fridays, 9am - 2pm

No recording of Skype Sessions without permission from the author.

No Cost Meet the Author Visit: 10-15 minutes

In-Depth Visit Length: 20 minutes

In-Depth Visit Cost: Contact me for details

Prerequisites: Students should be familiar with one of my picture books. Collecting student questions in advance is preferred, though not required. Chats will take place in English.

Contact Information: melissaguion@me.com

Affiliations: Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators

Katie Quirk

KatieQuirk — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 06:28:18 CDT

Author Website: katie-quirk.com

Author Address : Orono, Maine

Genres: historical fiction, female empowerment, multicultural, Africa

Presentations: A Girl Called Problem is a middle-grade novel set in Tanzania, East Africa. A synopsis of the book can be found here. Each of my Skype visits is tailored to a specific audience. Potential activities include:

· Looking at a map of Africa and sharing a few interesting details about East Africa
· Teaching participants some basic Swahili greetings and discussing why greetings are so important in Tanzanian culture
· Reading an excerpt from A Girl Called Problem
· Telling a Tanzanian folktale—likely one from the book
· Watching and discussing the short video a Tanzanian friend and I put together, depicting a day in the life of a Tanzanian teen
· Showing readers how to tie on traditional Tanzanian clothes—kitenge
· Looking at some of my pictures from Tanzania
· Discussing specific questions with your book club or class
· Sharing stories and pictures about the evolution of the cover art
· Talking about the real-life stories behind the book

Audiences: A Girl Called Problem is marketed to ages 10-14. I am happy to tailor my presentation to slightly older or younger readers.

Available Times: Variable (please email)
Please no recording of Skype Sessions without permission from the author.

No Cost Meet the Author Visit: 10-15 minutes

In-Depth Visit Length: 45 min-1 hour

In-Depth Visit Cost: $125/hr

Prerequisites: For free, meet-the-author visits, I ask for a group of at least 8 readers who have already read the book. For in-depth, paid visits, I am happy to talk with an audience who has yet to read the book.

Contact Information:

Affiliations: I am a former teacher and have worked with students K-12, so I have a sense of the attention spans and interests of different age groups. I love meeting and working with kids!