Author Visits
About My Author Visits
I enjoy visiting schools to talk about my books and the field of illustration.
If you're interested in having me visit, please contact
me to discuss details such as pricing, scheduling, etc. Below is a
rough description of how my school visits typically work.
Program Description
In my programs I talk about the process of writing and illustrating picture books, with a special emphasis on my current projects. Since much of my work is done digitally, I bring a computer along to help with my presentation. Typically, a program will go something like this:
Reading
I'll start off by reading one of my books. To make it easier for all students to see, I have all the illustrations on the computer and project them onto a large screen behind me. (It's important that all the students can see the illustrations clearly, because we'll come back to them in a moment.)
Brainstorming
Next, we jump back in time to a point before the book existed. We'll talk about how authors and illustrators get their ideas, and how a manuscript is first presented to a publisher. Along the way, we'll introduce the main characters in the bookmaking process including the author, the illustrator, the editor, the publisher, the salespeople, and the customers.
The Process
From there we'll get into the main part of making the book—the hard work. I'll show how a picture develops, starting with rough sketches, then to tight sketches, and finally to pencils and finished art. I use the computer quite a bit in my illustrations, and I demonstrate a number of my techniques live for the students. In addition, I'll tell a few "secret" stories about what goes on behind the scenes.
Making the Book
The final stage is about the construction and distribution of the book, once all the artwork and pictures are finished. I'll talk a little bit about the printing process, and explain why almost all picture books have exactly 32 pages.
Questions and Answers
I always try to save at least ten minutes at the end for questions from the students. (This is my favorite part of the program.)
Program Details
A Typical Day
I can do up to 4 presentations in a day. Sometimes, a school will want to do something over lunch (for example, a visit with a small group of students who are working on a special bookmaking project, lunch with the faculty, etc.) and I'm more than happy to oblige. I'll sign as many books as you want, although I prefer not to do it while the students are waiting (see below). If you can think of something else for me to do, I'll be more than happy to help out. I'm basically yours for the day.
Equipment Requirements
I don't need much, but I do need a video/computer projector. This would be something I could plug my laptop into to project onto a screen behind me. (Come to think of it, I suppose I'll need a screen, too. And a couple electrical outlets nearby, and a small table, and a chair. But other than that, not much.)
Program Length
Each program runs approximately 45 minutes. (30 minutes for Kindergarten) I'll need at least 10-15 minutes in between each program to get set up again.
Program Location
Because my presentation uses a lot of equipment, it's important that I can set up in one location and stay there the entire day. Libraries tend to work very well, because they're relatively intimate. Large auditoriums seem to be the worst, so if we have to use an enormous room it really helps if we can arrange the chairs so that they're pretty close to the front, ideally in a sort of U shape around me.
Program Size
Generally, my programs work best with a relatively small group. 3-4 classes at a time seems to be the ideal size, although I can make exceptions.
Age Group
I adapt my program to accommodate all grades from K-6, although the programs for Kindergarten and First Grade tend to run a little shorter than the rest (about a half-hour, as opposed to 45 minutes). If I'll be presenting for an entire school, it seems to work best if we break it down into groups of two grades at a time (for example K-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6)
Signing Books
I'll be more than happy to autograph as many books as you like with a signature and a small drawing. As I mentioned above, I prefer not to do the signing while the students are waiting. (It takes too long, and they tend to get impatient.) However, I'll be more than happy to stick around after school to finish any I didn't get to during the day. Signings seem to go best when you have the students fill out a small slip of paper with their first name, which you then insert into each book, like a bookmark. That way, I can read the name off each slip and personalize the autograph accordingly.
School Contact
The programs always seem to go smoothest when there's someone at the school who will be available throughout the day to answer questions and to help me find my way around.
Preparing for the Visit
The visits are so much better if the teachers and students are familiar with my books. Please make sure everyone has read as many of them as possible. (If you're having trouble getting a hold of a particular title, I can arrange to send you a copy ahead of time.) Try to start preparing the students at least a few weeks before the visit, and encourage them to think of questions that they can bring to the presentation. Once you've scheduled a visit with me, I'll contact you with detailed instructions on how to prepare.
Additional Questions
If you have any additional questions, or have an idea for something not covered here, please feel free to contact me any time.