I very much enjoy speaking to young people about writing. It's so fun to inspire the next
generation of readers and writers! I have non-religious, value-based
presentations for grade school, junior high, and
high school. Using PowerPoint and my picture
book,
The Secret of the
King (chosen for Book of the Month
by the Utah Governor's Commission on Literacy),
I show what a writer's life is really like, how
to come up with ideas, and the editing process. I
encourage both reading and writing and emphasize
the importance of using our talents to help
others. I tell them "It doesn't matter if you're
the most popular kid in school or the best
looking. You can be a student, a teacher, an
author, or the president of the United States.
None of that is really matters. What is
important is if you use your abilities to make a
difference in the lives of others." (Yes, I
explain how!)
At the end of my presentation, I call
a few volunteers up and together we'll begin a book that
teachers should then encourage all the children
to finish later in class or at home. All the
children receive a bookmark to take home. Grade
schools are usually divided into two assemblies,
K-3 and 4-6, but smaller schools can be done at
one time. I have provided a form at the bottom of this page
that you can use to contact me.
 
These
pictures show me at an assembly in March
at Copper Hills Elementary. I'm wearing
my hard hat as I plot a story with the
children. Click any picture for a larger
images. |
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  Left:
Children listen to my assembly.
Right: Sometimes I sign books afterwards
for students and teachers. |
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In the past I haven't charged for school visits because I know how tight
budgets are, and my love for children and my
desire to teach them to love reading has always
been of utmost importance. Unfortunately, the
more presentations I've done, the more time I
spend away from my paying work of writing. With
preparation, driving time, and the assemblies, I
basically have to write off the entire day. So I
have found it necessary to charge for a school
visits. I charge $100 dollars for a visit in
Utah Valley or Salt Lake Valley. Outside that
area but still in Utah, I also charge mileage.
If it's far enough away that I need to stay
overnight, the cost is an extra hundred dollars.
For out of state visits please contact me. These
rates are still low compare to most professional
author visits but will allow me to take the time
to visit more schools.
Some schools like to send home an order form for
students to pre-order my pictures books at a
discounted rate. This is an opportunity for
children to get a book signed and many become
very excited about it. However, this is also NOT
a requirement. Please let me know at least three
weeks ahead of time if you would
like to set up pre-ordering and I will let my
publisher know so they can organize it for you.
Thanks and HAPPY READING!
Please contact me for
availability. Use this form to schedule, or you can also
e-mail
me.
(All fields in this form are required.)
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