Dear Teachers,

One of the things I like best about being a children’s book author is coming to schools and speaking to kids about writing.

I like to work with teachers and librarians to tailor programs to the needs of your schools or groups. I have taught writing and children's literature at Goucher College for ten years, and my presentations draw on this experience as well as on my own writing. All my programs include lots of humor, audience participation, and power point or overhead projector slides.

I have several different formats:

• A general presentation for large groups (up to 200) which includes getting ideas, a discussion of the writing process, research, how a book is made, tips for young writers, and a question and answer period.

• For smaller groups (up to fifty) the kids create a story concept and volunteers role-play as characters.

• I will also work with very small groups (up to fifteen) in a workshop forum in which writers share their own work. These presentations can be used in combinations to accommodate a variety of needs.

For teachers who are interested in writing for children, I teach an online course through the Goucher College Teacher’s Institute called Writing Books and Stories for Children and Young Adults. I also teach a course in Children’s Literature, in a traditional classroom or online, through the Goucher Teachers Institute. This is a post-graduate program, and you will receive post-graduate credits for these courses. For more information, please contact me or go to the Goucher College website at www.goucher.edu