Author Visits

Encouraging readers and writers is one of the best parts of this job! I’ve brainstormed adventure quests with second-graders, helped ninth-graders spot the connections between Olivia and Romeo & Juliet, and mentored dozens of grownup authors refining their beloved manuscripts.

My number-one goal is to always leave participants with a cache of practical, effective tips that will make their next steps into the world of writing—whether that means querying an agent or writing a paragraph about what they had for breakfast—easier, more fun, and more effective.

Hoffman Center Presentations:

Youth Writing Class
Adult Publishing Class

FREE Reader/Classroom Guides:

NEVERENDING PILLOW FORT
THE LANGUAGE OF SEABIRDS
CATCH THAT DOG

MENU

  • Single Presentations (Grades 3-12) 45-60 minutes
    • Suitable for small group, classroom, or assembly visits.
    • Presentations are Common Core-aligned and include visuals, exercises, optional handouts, and Q&A.
    • Signed book swag available for all participants.
    • After-event book signing option at no extra charge.
    • $300 +travel in person. $175 virtual.
      • HOW BOOKS GET MADE Author life and the writing process, with emphasis on the messy fun and importance of revision. Showing the link between classroom work and the real world.
      • HOW TO TELL A STORY Finding characters, settings, and questions; building the layers of the story sandwich; putting it all together.
      • HELP, I’M STUCK! Practical, easy tools for getting around the corners when you’ve got to write–for school or for fun–and the words just aren’t coming.
      • CUSTOM A program just for you, designed to fit the specific needs of your school!
  • Half- and Full-Day Combos 
    • Half-Day (two back-to-back events)
      • $550 +travel in person. $325 virtual.
    • Full-Day (three or four one-hour events)
      • $1,000 +travel in person. $600 virtual.
  • Writing Groups/Book Clubs (All Ages) 45-60 minutes
    • $200-$400, variable by group size and requirements.
      • WRITING SECRETS Top-shelf tips and tricks for getting from fresh idea to polished manuscript, with exercises, games, and take-home worksheets.
      • PUBLISHING DEMYSTIFIED How traditional publishing works, with suggestions, tricks, encouragement, and strategies for getting your foot in the door and your book on the shelf.

— Please CONTACT me to chat about visits! I’d love to hear from you! —

A Clarifying Note About Pricing: As self-employed small business owners, authors pay an average of 35% of all income directly to taxes. Setting aside a further 10% for business expenses, that means almost half of all writing and event income is already spoken for. I encourage anyone who may be curious to check out a variety of authors’ websites to get a sense of standard pricing across the industry.