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:
FREE Reader/Classroom Guides:
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- 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.
- Half-Day (two back-to-back events)
- 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.
- $200-$400, variable by group size and requirements.
— 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.