Crafting Successful Author & Illustrator Visits 2019

What You’ll Learn

This workshop offers a unique learning experience:

1. Faculty will help you develop or refine your presentation.
2. You will visit a school and deliver your presentation, which will be videotaped.
3. Afterward, faculty will review your presentation with you and give you specific feedback.

You will:

• Learn the fundamentals of public speaking.
• Prepare materials for your presentation.
• Receive one-to-one feedback about your presentation.
• Deliver an on-site school visit, accompanied by faculty.
• Review, with faculty, video of your school visit.
• Discover how to approach schools to arrange visits.
• Get an overview of other marketing techniques, including social and traditional media.

The faculty talks about what to expect in this video.

Who Should Attend

• This course is open to authors and illustrators of all levels.
• Any author or illustrator who would like to develop or refine their school presentations.
• Authors or illustrators who would like the opportunity to work closely with experienced faculty to build a presentation and then to receive specific feedback after making an actual school visits.
• Debut authors or illustrators who are new to the world of school visits.

Agenda

Day 1

• Arrival, check in, orientation
• Appetizers & dinner
• After dinner: Introductions, overview of the week, short kick-off exercise

Day 2

• Connecting With Your Audience, Carmen Oliver
  Writing exercises will be used by attendees to help craft their school visit program content.
• Incorporating Your Book Into your Presentation & Visual Aids/PPT, Jan Cheripko
  Discussion, examples, practices, of what works and what doesn’t when you weave in a reading, use supporting material, and/or a power-point in your talk.
• The Business Side of School Visits & Building your Brand, Carmen Oliver
• Author Visit in Action (with followup critique), Aram Kim
• Create an Outline for your Presentation with Examples, Carmen, Jan, Andrea

Day 3

• Review Outlines with Carmen, Jan and Andrea
• Individual work time and meetings with Andrea, Carmen, and/or Jan
• Optional Small-Group Peer/Faculty Reviews of 30 minute sessions
• After dinner: Final touches

Day 4

• School Visits!
• Big Sigh of Relief and then Lunch!
• School Visit Critiques
• After dinner: Opportunities outside the classroom: conferences, Skype, libraries, and more with Carmen, Jan, and Andrea.

Day 5

• School Visit Critiques continued
• Panel Discussion, Carmen, Jan, Andrea, and Aram
• Lunch & Farewells

Resources

Peter Jacobi: On Conducting Interviews
Day 4: The School Visit
Jan Cheripko–The Key to a Successful Presentation: Listen to Your Audience
Peter Jacobi: 3 Myths That Published Writers Need to Banish
Faculty Interview: Carmen Oliver
Peter Jacobi: Five simple rules to minimize the dangers of public appearances
Student Spotlight 2017: Author Visits

You can watch videos from some of the workshop’s alums here.

Testimonials

Watch video testimonials from previous attendees:
Author/illustrator Aram Kim
Author Andrea Loney
Author Julie Dao
Author Leah Henderson

“The synergy and positive energy from three faculty members were almost unbelievable.”

“Very knowledgeable instructors with lots of wisdom and experience to share. We all learned a great deal from them.”

“This truly was an essential ‘boot camp’ for debut authors!”

“The workshop was small and intimate, which kept me focused and allowed the instructors to do a deep-dive into the information.”

“Through learning, delicious meals, shared purpose we bonded as a group. I met amazing people I’d never have met otherwise.”

“The faculty’s deep belief in what they’re sharing, their knowledge, their commitment to helping us connect with kids and spread the joy of books.”

“The people that attended were so supportive and it was like we were family by the end of the week. The faculty was genuine, down to earth, caring, and humorous. I am looking forward to a time when I can come again.”