Spring seems to be the busiest time for author visits, and since I’m both a coordinator of visits for my school and an author who visits other schools, I thought a special Friday Five was in order…
1. My students were lucky enough to have not one but two great author events this week! The first one was a live-and-in-person visit from Rebecca Stead, the author of WHEN YOU REACH ME, winner of this year’s Newbery Medal. Here’s Rebecca talking with our seventh graders.
She was lovely and wonderful, and I’m actually in the process of putting together a much more in-depth blog about everything an author can learn about school visits from watching her go through her day.
2. Yesterday, our advanced creative writing class had a Skype visit with Deva Fagan, the author of FORTUNE’S FOLLY and the forthcoming THE MAGICAL MISADVENTURES OF PRUNELLA BOGTHISTLE. (She showed us an early copy of that one!)
We talked with Deva about books and writing in general, but with a special focus on beginnings. The kids in our group are in the early stages of new projects right now and loved having the chance to ask about outlining and brainstorming and those stops and starts that often go along with starting something new. Deva compared it to making soup…the gathering together of lots of ideas that start out looking like a big mess but eventually simmer into a lovely, coherent stew. I like that.
3. On the author end of school visits, I’ve had a few requests for in-person events lately and should probably announce officially that I can’t book any more visits for this school year. In May, I’ll start scheduling next year, so if your school is interested, just drop me an email from my website contact page any time between now and then, and I’ll be send out a note when I’m beginning to schedule 2010-2011.
4. I’m still doing Skype chats with classes and book clubs that have read THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z. and those are much easier to schedule, so I’ll be continuing through the school year.
5. Here’s where I’ll be over the next few months:
School Visits:
March 19 – Mooers, NY Elementary School (AM)
March 19 – Highgate, VT Elementary School (PM)
April 7 – Colchester, VT Middle School
April 8 – Saranac, NY Elementary School
Conferences: I’ll be giving workshops on Skype author visits at both of these!
April 25-27 – International Reading Association
May 14-16 – New England SCBWI Conference
There’s also a good chance I’ll be signing ARCs of my skating book, SUGAR AND ICE, at ALA in Washington D.C. at the end of June. Please drop me a note if you’ll be at any of these conferences, as I’d love to say hello!
Thanks for the run-down, Kate. I’m so hoping to make the New England conference this year (my first time w/this conference) and to your talk on Skype visits.
I look forward to your longer post on Rebecca Stead.
I think I’m going to actually have to learn something about Skype. I don’t want to . . . but I should.
I forgot to say, I’ll be at ALA too! Signing at the Sterling booth on Saturday. Maybe we can meet?
Skype Visits
I recently did my first Skype author visit. I was delighted but surprised at the reactions I got from the teachers and students. It felt so much more confining to me to stay in front of a camera, but the comments I received were similar to the ones I get in person, including ones about how I interact with kids and my group control. We had a blast. How amazing! What were your initial surprises? Thank you so much for promoting this opportunity for kids and teachers everywhere. I’m looking forward to your tips!
Thank you so much for having me, Kate! It was really fun speaking with the students in your class.
Thank YOU! The kids loved talking with you, and they’re inspired to get back to their own beginnings!
You’ll love the NESCBWI Conference if you do make it – it’s a great event. Hope to see you there!
You know…as much as it’s been great for me, I can totally see how it’s not for everyone, so I wouldn’t necessarily stress about it if it doesn’t feel like something you’re drawn to do.
Oh, I would love that! When the schedule comes out, I’ll put your signing on my to-do list for sure!
Re: Skype Visits
Like you, I think I was surprised by just how much of my regular school visit interaction I could still accomplish via Skype. On some levels, it will never be the same as being there, but it does come close. Glad it’s working out so well for you!