Question and answer sessions are a big feature with many of these speakers. A sale of books in conjunction with the author's appearance would be very desirable when possible.

With a school audience, it is expected that a teacher or other responsible adult will remain with the children throughout the speaker's appearance.

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I can speak on the following subjects:

1. The writing process, especially research, plotting and character development
2. Using history as a basis for creative writing
3. Writing personal essays -- brainstorming, outlining, revising
4. Living and teaching in Asian cultures

My talks involve lots of Q and A, and lively discussion. When I discuss my books, I bring in different versions of my cover art, and the Civil War photographs that inspired me. I emphasize the role my now-teenaged sons played in giving me ideas for children's books, and the importance of the pre-writing stage -- the ways in which I brainstorm, research, and outline my plots before I begin writing.

Books for young children include a series of nine beginning readers on community helpers, and Busy Toes, a multiethnic picture book for ages 3-7 written with Claudine Wirths and Wendie Old under pen name C. W. Bowie. Busy Fingers is in press.

An interview is one of the best ways to get information about the subject of a biography. During the second part of our presentation we challenge students to come up with probing interview questions. Then we pair them off and allow time for them to practice interviewing one another. Afterward, volunteers demonstrate their interviewing skills for the group.

If time allows, we discuss possible ways to begin a biography (for example, with an anecdote). Afterward, we encourage the students to practice writing an opening paragraph and to read their work aloud.

If requested, we will consult with teachers to adapt our presentation to their curriculum needs.

Middle Schools: Fees start at $600 for a one-hour book talk; $800 for two; $1,000 for three talks, all day at school. Please contact the author for out-of-state visits and rates.

Middle School and High School: How I became a writer and how I research reality and write my novels. Can focus on one particular novel or a more general talk on all.

Henry Cole's books not written by Pam Edwards: Zipping, Zapping, Zooming Bats; Jack's Garden; Moosetache; I Took a Walk; Little Bo.

• The Schoolchildren’s Blizzard (about the horrific blizzard that swept across Nebraska in 1888 and how teacher Minnie Freeman led her students to safety during the storm).
• Saving the Liberty Bell, Spanish edition--Salvar a la Campana de la Libertad (how eleven-year-old John Mickley helped prevent the Liberty Bell from being melted down for ammunition by the British during the Revolutionary War).
• Washington is Burning! (about the burning of Washington during the War of 1812 from the view point of Paul Jennings, James Madison’s 15-year-old African-American slave and personal valet. Paul Jennings later wrote the first White House memoir).
• Prisoner for Liberty (about 15-year-old James Forten, African American Revolutionary War hero) will be published March 2008.

Ms. Green's presentations have included The Art of Writing for Children, Multicultural Publishing, Freelance Writing, and Entrepreneurial Publishing.

1. The Writing Life--What's it really like; where do ideas/inspiration come from; how do characters come alive. Includes writing exercises and brainstorming techniques.
2. Writing Family Stories--How to begin; tools and techniques.
3. Writing and Researching Historical Fiction--Demonstrates how research is more than dusty library shelves and Internet searches. Includes archival photos and artifacts.
4. Getting Published--overview of the publishing process including researching markets, query letters and book proposals, working with agents, contractual matters, marketing.
5. Shameless Self-Promotion--Seasoned authors and illustrators know that when it comes to promoting a new book, the publisher can't -or won't-do it all. Using "guerilla marketing" tactics, Michelle Y. Green shares strategies she used to create considerable "buzz" around her book, A Strong Right Arm.

Here's how to make your author visit a rousing success:

• Request a visit several months in advance, especially for busy times such as National Children's Book Week in November, Black History Month in February, or during peak summer conference times.
• Please specify all details in writing so there are no unpleasant surprises. Cover transportation, accommodations, fees, ages and sizes of groups, length and number of presentations, and topic requested. For a quick response, E-mail is best!
• Are book sales permissible? Let us know so there will be a sufficient quantity on hand. For large quantities, we can prearrange autographing to avoid long lines. We can also make sure there are multiple copies available for check out in school and local libraries.
• Sessions are more engaging if children, in particular, have the opportunity to read the book/books first. To build anticipation and interest, post a photo and bio. Assign a related project before the visit. Prepare students for a Q&A session. Have students visit www.michelleygreen.com
• For everyone's enjoyment, please make sure that a responsible adult will be present and actively involved during the entire presentation.

In addition to being an author, Ms. Hart has a masters degree in Communicative Disorders from Johns Hopkins University. She taught elementary school and is currently an adjunct instructor in Developmental Reading and Writing at Blue Ridge Community College, specializing in improving reading and writing skills. She would love to develop a program specifically for your school or group. All presentations are interactive and designed to get kids (and adults!) excited about reading and writing. Topics have included:

1. Bringing History to Life-The author's love of history shines through in all her presentations whether it's Readers Theatre, Writing Historical Fiction (ages 9 and up), Historical Fiction in the Classroom (professionals), or Take a Field Trip Back in Time (all ages).
2. The Case of the Missing Necklace-Mysteries are a sure-fire way to get kids engaged in reading and writing. A variety of interactive presentations are offered for young through adult mystery lovers.
3. Creating a Book: From Idea to Cover-The author's work is used to demonstrate how a novel is crafted from the idea to the cover. By the end of the presentation, students will realize that all writers-from second graders to (gasp!) J.K.Rowling-- use the same process to create a story.
4. A Basketful of Ideas-Authors are always on the hunt for new ideas and-guess what-they're everywhere! Young (and old) writers will discover the secrets of collecting a basketful of ideas and then spicing them up with imagination for the start of a great story or essay.
5. Boost Those Writing Scores-For schools/teachers who are grappling with SOL's and Writing Literacy Test Scores. This is a two-day to three-day workshop (depending on number of classes and grades) involving teachers and students. Advanced planning to meet the needs of each school is necessary.
6. The Writing Life-designed for older students/adults. Writing careers from technical writing to journalism as well as the importance of strong writing skills for all careers is explored. In addition, the reality of 'the writing life' of an author is discussed.
7. The Magic of Writing-No rabbits appear, but students use their imaginations and 'five senses' to create fantastical characters, settings and plots and in the process realize that writing is truly magic!
8. Writing 911-Workshop for writers designed to pin point areas that need strengthening as well as remedies/ideas to help them on the path to publishing. Interactive and informative.

1. The writing (and rewriting) process, geared for different age groups.
2. What happened to the Presidents: photos and stories of 11 attacks on 10 U.S. Presidents.
3. Teaching writing: an inservice for teachers. An experienced writing instructor and editor, the author received the Excellence in Teaching Award from the University of Maryland University College and the Outstanding Faculty Award from the National Universities Continuing Education Association.

My No English program is for second through fifth graders. This program features activities and discussion about friendship, tattling, and making newcomers feel welcome. In addition, I am an award winning poet whose poems have appeared in Cricket, Cicada, Christian Science Monitor, and numerous literary magazines and anthologies. I can talk about the writing process, from getting ideas through multiple revisions, particularly where it pertains to poetry. To learn more about me, please visit www.jacquelinejules.com.

To book a visit, contact Jean Dayton, at Dayton Bookings.

1. Privacy in the 21st Century: I provide a topical overview of the privacy debate for students. We will explore:
   • Who owns personal data?
   • What right does the government (or a private company, a hospital or a school) have to retain your personal data over time?
   • What are the appropriate restrictions on use of personal data?
   • We will discuss privacy in relation to new technologies (RFID chips, retinal scans, GPS, etc.) and look at the unique attributes of privacy policy in several domain areas such as schools and the workplace.
2. Space Race USA!: This fun, fast-paced, highly-visual presentation introduces the early space program, from Sputnik to Apollo 11, and discusses the cultural and social impact of the space race.
3. Women in World War II: On the home front and on the battlefields, American women played a vital role in the war. My presentation relies largely on first-person accounts and identifies some of the women who played crucial roles.

1. Children-- Presentations cover: a) the writing process - where to find ideas, how to shape ideas into a story, story structure, and writing tips and techniques. I show notes, outlines, rough drafts and final manuscripts, and describe the satisfaction of staying with a story over time and improving it along the way; and b) the publishing process - I show how a manuscript becomes a book, using many materials including sketches (by the illustrator), proofs, and a picture book "hot off the press" which doesn't look at all like a book, and never fails to spark discussion.
2. Adults-- Presentation includes: how to find a publisher, how to present your manuscript, what you need to know if you are not an illustrator, start-up exercises, and the unique challenges and techniques involved in writing successful picture books.

1. Songs and Tales of African: American Folklore and Other Tales. Alice McGill draws from a repertoire of over 200 stories, chants, songs, and rhythms to illustrate the commonality of folk traditions in many ethnic groups as well as in the African-American culture. Teacher's guides are available. Audience limit: 350 per program. Grades K-12
2. The Five-Step Story: This introductory workshop is designed to illustrate the writing process through the use of original short stories author's books. Students are encouraged to identify time, setting, problem, plot (or series of events), and solution (or outcome). Teacher guide and handouts to students are provided. Grades 3-5, student limit: 75 per workshop
3. Sojourner Truth Speaks: An historical event. Alice becomes Sojourner Truth, an ex-slave who became a powerful speaker of the 19th century. This program does not view slavery as necessarily a black issue but in the broader sense--that many ethnic groups of the world have experienced slavery. Sojourner Truth Speaks provides a glimpse into the pre- and post- Civil War periods of American history through monologues based on Truth's narratives. Audience participation is encouraged. Teacher guides are provided. Grades 4-12. Audience limit: 350 per program.

1. "How Ten Timid Ghosts Came To Be"
   In this lively presentation, I discuss the creation of the Ten Timid Ghosts counting books from the first spark of an idea to selling the idea to a publisher and working with the editor and art director to produce the final text and art. I discuss the key elements that are found in good picture books and show my beginning sketches, dummy books, revisions, final sketches and paintings. I also explain the color separation process used in printing by showing a set of one color transparencies that, when held one on top of the other, magically form a full color picture. Toward the end of the talk, the children direct me as I draw and together we create our own humorous but scary creature and setting. We then have a quick, fun brainstorming session to create a story about our new character. The drawing is left with the school and the children are often inspired to finish the story later or create new ones about our character!
2. "A Garden of Whales —An Adventure in Illustration"
   In this fun filled interactive talk, I show how A Garden of Whales was created by a whole team of people working together. I discuss the role of the author, publisher, editor, art director and printer, concentrating on my job as the illustrator. I share sketches (including some that were rejected), dummy books, and final illustrations as well as a set of transparencies that explain the color separation and printing process.

   While playing a CD of the music that inspired me when producing the paintings, I create a large pastel drawing of several different whales (which stays with the class). I share some fascinating facts about whales and ask the children how big they think a newborn baby blue whale is. It's 23 feet long but don't tell! I unfurl a life size canvas painting of this animal. The program is followed by a question and answer session.

3. Workshop: "Let's Create A Picture Book!"
   I begin this exciting workshop by briefly showing my books and explaining my process of creating and illustrating stories and characters. I also discuss the key elements that are found in good picture books. Then each child is encouraged to think up a character and draw it on the cover of his or her own book. We all have fun brainstorming together with my "idea grab bags" and in no time everyone is writing and illustrating their own books!

   All children work differently. They can do as much or as little as they feel comfortable doing. Everyone will put together their books with brass fasteners and hole punched blank pages. Then the work in progress can be finished in class or at home.

1. Bringing Dead Guys to Life: Biography doesn't necessarily mean boring. Biographies are the stories of real people and how they did things. But more importantly, biographies are the stories of why they did what they did. The Wright Brothers and Flight . Why did they succeed when others failed? George Washington and Leadership. Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington and Jazz. How and Why. The search for the character of these people. Biographies can be read for fun by both children and adults; or they can add an extra dimension to reports and the study of history. They are windows we peek through to see how other people lived. They bring dead guys to life.
2. How a book is made: From idea to finished product. Concentrating on picture books for younger readers and on biographies when talking to older readers.
3. Help me write my next picture book. We've done Toes and Fingers. What should we write about next and how should it sound? Children help me create a picture book with rhythm and bounce. (Teachers could prepare them by asking them to illustrate things that toes or fingers could do.)
4. Tell me a story: Children act out a familiar (or not-so-familiar) folk tale. Best done in small to medium-sized groups.
5. The Best Books for Kids -- and why kids like them.
6. So you want to be a writer: The ins and outs of the publishing world. Helpful hints for writers young and old.

1. Lively illustrated lecture and artwork exhibit-with much audience participation- of the process of writing and illustrating picture Books. For grades K-6 or for teachers, media specialists, parents and students together;
2. Two-projector slide talk on the history of illustrated Books. "From Parchment to Picture book: The Splendid Journey of Gina Farina." For high school or adults.