Note: Please note that due to the pandemic and lost income, many authors have had to limit or suspend free Q&A sessions and are instead offering paid visits or low-cost author visit webinars. Please reach out to individual authors to request current information!
Welcome to the Authors Who Skype with Classes & Book Clubs List! I’m Kate Messner, the children’s author and educator who maintains this site. I started it because I’ve found that virtual author visits are a great way to connect authors and readers, and I realize that many schools facing budget troubles don’t have the option of paid author visits. With that in mind, this is a list of authors who offer free 15-20-minute Q and A sessions with classes and book clubs that have finished reading one of their books.
How does a Skype virtual visit work? Click here to read a blog entry about my students’ virtual visit with the fantastic Laurie Halse Anderson. It includes an overview of how a virtual chat with an author might work, as well as tips for teachers, librarians, & book club organizers to help your virtual visit run smoothly. You can click here to read my first School Library Journal technology feature on virtual author visits, called “Met Any Good Authors Lately? Classroom Visits Can Happen Via Skype” and this follow-up SLJ feature, “An Author in Every Classroom: Kids Connecting with Authors via Skype. It’s the next best thing to being there.”
Authors Who Skype With Classes & Book Clubs (for free!)
The following authors offer free 15-minute virtual chats with book clubs and classes that have read one of their books! (Most also offer more in-depth virtual visits for a fee.) To arrange a virtual visit, check out the authors’ websites for book choices and contact information. Then ask for their books at your favorite bookstore or visit IndieBound to find a store near you!
For Picture Book & Young Chapter Book Readers
Marsha Diane Arnold Sarah Aronson Mike Artell Louise Borden Donna Janell Bowman Larry Dane Brimner Leslie Bulion Rachelle Burk Nancy Castaldo Tracey M. Cox Katie Davis Keila Dawson Erin Dealey Lori Degman Elizabeth Dulemba Kathy Duval Carol Gordon Ekster Jonathan Emmett Jill Esbaum Carol Gordon Esker Julie Falatko Terry Farish Alison Ashley Formento Julie Fortenberry Sonia Clark Foster Josh Funk Laura Gehl Kristin L. Gray Jenna Grodzicki Susan Hood Laurie Jacobs Lisa Jahn-Clough Shelli R. Johannes Rebecca C. Jones Jacqueline Jules Jess Keating Jane Kohuth Jane Kurtz Kevin Kurtz Lindsey Lane Heather Lang Kara Lareau Tara Lazar Gail Carson Levine Nancy Tupper Ling Deb Lund JoAnn Early Macken Wendy Martin Sarah Jane Marsh Jamie Michalak Kate Narita Christopher Silas Neal Judy Carey Nevin Kim Norman Debbie Ridpath Ohi Wendy Orr Ammi-Joan Paquette Erica Perl Gina Perry Annette Pimentel Sally J. Pla J.L. Powers Candice Ransom Elizabeth Raum Jean Reidy Mara Rockliff Madelyn Rosenberg Barb Rosenstock Michelle Schaub Jody Jensen Shaffer Michael Shoulders Amy Sklansky Margo Sorenson Ruth Spiro Sarah Sullivan Jane Sutcliffe Jennifer Swanson Debbie A. Taylor Holly Thompson Laurie Ann Thompson Carmella Van Vleet Nancy Viau Stef Wade Laurie Wallmark Jennifer Ward Lee Wardlaw Dianne White Robin YardiFor Middle Grade Readers (Ages 8-12)
Sara Lewis Holmes Amanda Hosch Jacqueline Houtman Lynda Mullaly Hunt Michele Weber Hurwitz Mark Jeffrey Janet Johnson Terry Lynn Johnson Rebecca C. Jones Jess Keating Lynne Kelly Derek Taylor Kent Rose Kent Morgan Keyes Kristen Kittscher Jo Knowles Jane Kurtz R.L. LaFevers Irene Latham Jessica Leader Lindsey Leavitt Claire Legrand Jarrett Lerner Gail Carson Levine Debbie Levy Joanne Levy Cynthea Liu Nikki Loftin C. Alexander London Dayna Lorentz Eric Luper JoAnn Early Macken Wendy McLeod MacKnight Diane Magras Andrew Maraniss Leslie Margolis Nan Marino Sarah Jane Marsh Laura Williams McCaffrey Stephen McCranie Robin Mellom Laurie Morrison Rita Murphy Mahtab Narsimhan Richard Newsome Wendy Orr Alexandra Ott Ammi-Joan Paquette Mitali Perkins Erica Perl Jen Petro-Roy Sally J. Pla J.L. Powers Sarah Prineas Katie Quirk Candice Ransom Elizabeth Raum Laura Resau Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich Yolanda Ridge Anica Mrose Rissi Mara Rockliff Dee Romito Madelyn Rosenberg Susan Ross Dianne Salerni Augusta Scattergood Laura Schaefer Lisa Schroeder Heidi Schulz Rachel Searles Adam Selzer Liesl Shurtliff Shari Simpson Laurel Snyder Margo Sorenson Tricia Springtubb Anna Staniszewski Nanci Turner Steveson Amy Stewart Catherine Stine Sarah Sullivan Jane Sutcliffe Jennifer Swanson Elly Swartz Erin Teagan Holly Thompson Laurie Ann Thompson Melissa Thomson Jennifer Trafton Anne Ursu Greg van Eekhout Carmella Van Vleet Nancy Viau Rob Vlock J and P Voelkel Beth Vrabel Lee Wardlaw Cynthia Willis Dianna Winget Barry Wolverton Barbara Wright Robin Yardi Karen Romano Young Tracie Vaughn Zimmer
For Teen Readers
(Also check out the list of adult authors below; many also work with teens.)
For Adult Readers
(Also check out the authors listed above; middle grade & teen novels can be great book club selections!)
For Authors & Illustrators: If you’re an author or illustrator of a traditionally published book who would like to be added, please email me (katemessner books at gmail dot com) with your name, website, and publisher, and whether you write picture books, MG, YA, or adult. For the sake of being clear, traditionally published means published in print by a widely recognized children’s book publisher. I recognize that e-books and self-published titles are also part of the publishing world, but a list that encompasses all of those would simply be too overwhelming for me to maintain. If someone would like to start a list of ebook and self-published authors who Skype, I think that would be great, and I’ll happily link to it here. So again…this is a list of traditionally published authors who offer FREE 15-20 minute Skype chats with classrooms & book clubs that have read one of their books.
If you’re a bookseller or book club member, teacher, or librarian, thanks for stopping by – and feel free to comment with any questions!
Kate,
What fantastic photos! How close were those gators?! You are brave, girl!
Danette
I think I would probably be a big-leaf maple… I’m on the tall, sturdy side, and love growing slowly above the other trees so I can see the sun. Moss shawls drape my arms. Writers like to sit beneath my shade.
Skype
Thanks for putting this on the list serve and pulling it together.
YA Librarian
Re: Skype
Thanks for your comment – I’m so glad you find it helpful!
Re: Skype
Many thanks for such a wonderful resource. Live author talks are so expensive.
Victoria Merriman
The Athenian Middle School Library
Re: Skype
Thanks for commenting! I’m glad the list is helpful to you. In-person author presentations can be expensive, though in my experience, they’re worth every penny if you can swing it. (I’m the author visit coordinator for my school, and we’re lucky enough to have a line item in our budget for author visits, but we haven’t always so I know that it can be tough to pull together funding.)
I’m an Author using Skype
Hi Kate,
I have also used and will use Skpye with book clubs for readers of my book, MAGGIE: the dog who changed my life.
Thanks,
Dawn Kairns
Author of MAGGIE: the dog who changed my life
http://www.dawnkairns.com
Skype
Thanks Kate for a great resource! I hope you keep adding to the author list. With school and library budgets as tight as they are lately, this is a fabulous way for kids and authors to connect.
Carolyn del Rio
Loma Verde Elementary School Librarian
skyping
I wanted to use skype last year with my high school library book group, but I could not find an author willing to do it. I will use your list for the students to pick out someone whose books that want to read. We were not familiar with the work of many on your list. That is not a bad thing; we just need to broaden our horizons. Thanks, Elizabeth Kahn, Library Media Specialist, Patrick Taylor Academy
Re: skyping
Thanks for checking out the list, Elizabeth! Many authors are excited to Skype with students, so I do hope that checking out the YA authors on the list leads you to some great new writers to share with your students.
Re: skyping
Thank you so much for this list. I tried setting up a “virtual author visit” with a more well-known author last year, to no avail. So I jumped on it immediately when I read the article in SLJ, and we’re already planning a visit with another author widely read in our junior high. It sure helps to know the author is interested in Skype visits before sending that first e-mail!
I’ll be checking the list often — I hope many more authors will join the “virtual visit” movement.
Anna Watkins
JH & HS Librarian
Paideia School
Atlanta
Re: skyping
Oh, I’m so glad this worked out for you! I’d love to hear back after your virtual visit and find out how it went. And of course, if your junior high kids are ever reading THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z, I’d be more than happy to chat with them, too.
Best,
~Kate
Re: skyping
Please add me to your list of YA authors who will Skype. My book is Courage in Patience. Thanks!
Beth Fehlbaum
Re: skyping
Thanks for letting me know you’re available for this – I’ll add you next time I update the blog!
Author Visits
Hi Maggie,
I will be available for free 20 minute Skype visits for my picture books, Princess Justina Albertina and Zoe, the Misfit, and Young Adult, Stolen Voices, after the holidays. Also happy to do longer, paid visits. (Stolen Voices is good for Junior High School students, too, and is classed 10 and up.)
Thanks for getting this list together.
Ellen Dee Davidson
Author/illustrator Skype visit
Kate:
Please add me to your list of authors/illustrators who will do short, free Skype visits with students. In addition to sharing some of my 35 books with students (science books, picture books, joke/riddle/tongue twister books) I also actually show students how to draw cartoons. They’ll draw along with me as I draw on the screen. Great fun!
Mike Artell
http://www.mikeartell.com
mike@mikeartell.com
Re: Author Visits
Do you have a website, Ellen? How should people contact you?
That’s so great. Middle schoolers can be really volatile so it’s awesome to hear you had such a great experience.
Hi, Kate! Can you add me to your list for middle grade? I just joined the Skype An Author network and did my first Skype visit for a Literacy Book Fair a few weeks ago. You inspired me!
My Skype page is here: http://skypeanauthor.wetpaint.com/page/Sara+Lewis+Holmes
I also included your fab SLJ article as a link on that page so librarians and teachers could see what to do to prepare. Priceless advice.
Thanks!
Thanks for including me in this post, Kate.
I only came across it this morning, or I would have thanked you sooner!
Re: Thanks!
Hi Kate,
Your blog posts here and messages re: Skype on Verla’s have been ever so helpful; thank you!
Could you please add me to your list?
Helene Boudreau
http://www.heleneboudreau.com
http://skypeanauthor.wetpaint.com/page/Helene+Boudreau
KEEP OUT! (7-9 year olds)
ACADIAN STAR (8-12 year olds)
upcoming…
REAL MERMAIDS DON’T WEAR TOE RINGS (10-14 year olds)
Thanks again!
Re: Thanks!
Just added you, Helene – thanks for letting me know!
Thanks for putting this list of free resources together for teachers. My campus will be embarking on project-based learning model this coming school year and as the campus instructional coach I could use this in order to combine technology into the project that is created. Please join in on my blog or twitter with any helpful comments.
http://www.PBLjourney.blogspot.com
http://www.twitter.com/bbtcarter
Passed this one to my school librarian. I’d love to see some Skype visits for our students. Thanks for all of your work.
Thanks! So glad you found the list helpful!
Many thanks, Kate. Passing this on to our school librarian!
Thanks, Joanna!
Add Carol Cassella (author of Oxygen) to your list of FREE authors who skype with adult book clubs. We had a wonderful visit with her a couple of weeks ago.
Glad you had a great visit with Carol! To avoid confusion (and surprises!) I only add authors when they contact me directly to request it, though.
I enjoyed meeting you at NCTE 11. Thanks so much for this list!
It was so great to meet you, too! Hope the list is helpful!
I love this. Thanks for taking such good care of us, Kate.
Thank YOU for all you do for authors & books!