My stipend has increased over time. When I began, I charged $300/day. That included 4-5 programs of 45-minutes each, plus autographing and lunch with selected students. Over time, I raised my rates – usually by $50-100 each year. Today, with 9 books in print and a decade of experience as a visiting author, I average…

In addition to creating a program, there are other things authors should do to prepare for a school visit. I usually exchange at least 4 emails or phone calls with the person who is arranging my visit… I ask to see the day’s schedule so I can make suggestions, like grouping children by age/grade and…

As soon as my first book was published, I began visiting classrooms, schools, and libraries to talk to young readers about writing. I’m a former teacher and a mom, and my colleagues – as well as my children’s teachers – invited me to speak to their students and library patrons. At first, these visits were…