Author Visit Information

I love doing school visits! Since 2006, I've visited dozens of upper elementary, middle, high school, and college level students, and received rave reviews. I am often invited back for return visits to the same schools year after year. My school presentations and workshops are available in Spanish or English, and fit beautifully with Reading, English, Spanish, and Social Studies curricula.

My Author Visit Packet (updated 2010) includes a timeline, checklist, fees, author visit request form, ideas for preparing your students for the visit, and other useful information. Please be sure to read through this packet if you are planning an author visit with me! If you'd like to invite me to visit your school, please email this form to author visit coordinator Lisa McClatchy at the email address given. Thanks!

Presentation

In my basic presentation, I discuss my inspiration for my books, my experiences as an anthropologist in indigenous Oaxaca, Mexico, and the process of writing and publishing a book. I can tailor the focus of the presentation depending on the interests of the students and teachers.

Creative Writing Workshops

I use examples from my books and writing journals as a starting point for student writing activities. I can adapt the workshops to your students' interest. My most popular hands-on workshop is Writing from the Senses: the importance of multi-sensory descriptions. Other workshops focus on craft elements including character, setting, imagery, and metaphors/similes.

[ More author visit details here ]

Presentation Feedback

I can't say enough great things about Laura's visits to my class. I've had her come for three years in a row. Not only is Laura extremely personable, but she also uses a multisensory approach that really engages the kids. In addition to reading, Laura has beautiful pictures of people, places, and events that inspire her writing… Laura also shares samples from her writing journals and shows how bits become incorporated into her novels. One of my favorite pictures is of her many drafts of What the Moon Saw all stacked side-by-side. It is a powerful visual to illustrate revision. The students truly get a sense of the writing process. A bit of background: I always have Laura visit my 6th-grade class after they finish reading her novel What the Moon Saw, which they invariably enjoy. So they eagerly anticipate her visit. However, I've been to two of her book signings, and she simply has a warm, engaging personality that connects with her audience. I highly recommend Laura for an author visit to your middle school.
-- Beth Knees, Sixth Grade Teacher

Your presentation on Tuesday was wonderful! It was AWESOME to hear about all your experiences... Many of the things you talked about touched me, and you helped me to realize an important point in my writing: it doesn't have to be perfect the first time!... I feel that I learned much from your presentation…. You are a very down-to-earth person with much to share and I'm glad I got to be a part of it…You are my inspiration!
-- Nina, high school student

Thank you sooooo much for coming in yesterday! The kids absolutely loved your presentation. Not only did they love the presentation, but also, all of them had some great connection to the content you were discussing. It was amazing to see some of the Hispanic kids come out of their shells and speak up about their experiences in Mexico. Thanks again for your time, and I would love for you to come visit again!
-- Derek Decker, Teacher, Putnam Elementary, Fort Collins

We loved having you at Harris. It was so great that you were able to speak Spanish to set up the scenes that you were reading in English. The students really loved it, and so did I.
-- Martha Petty, Media Specialist, Harris Bilingual Immersion Elementary, Fort Collins

Thank you again for the amazing visit. You were truly captivating. The kids are still talking about it!
-- Alexis Gerard, Media Specialist, Clemente Middle School

You really inspired me to read more books ((: Not only that but I've actually discovered that I have writing skills
♥-- Texas High School student

Thank you so much for the awesome presentation. The children really enjoyed having you here. The students from Ms. George's class that came from Mexico really had a connection to you, your book, and the smells that you passed around. One student in Mr. Decker's room mentioned that you talked a long time with her. She is a published author and is very excited about that and also about talking to you. Thank you again for coming to our school and doing such a wonderful job engaging our students in writing.
-- Karen McCoy, Putnam Elementary, Fort Collins

I enjoyed reading [the students'] journal entries [from the workshop]. The imagery was inspired, by you, I suspect!... I really appreciate your tangible approach using sensory stimuli to engage the students. Thank you again for a wonderful visit.
-- Diane Odbert, 6th grade Language Arts teacher, Bacon Elementary

Thank you for coming to our school and sharing your experiences in Oaxaca and your inspiration for some parts. The slide show was cool because then you could visualize characters in the book.
-- Kurt, 6th grade

[Your workshop] really gave me some more motivation, and I made my mother take me to Walgreens to buy my idea notebook that you mentioned. I actually wrote down a poem already on the first page because I felt like the first page of this composition book was a new beginning...
-- high school student in Texas

It was amazing to meet a real author for the first time
-- Tanya, 6th grade

You inspired me!
-- Andrea, 6th grade

I also enjoyed the fun creative writing assignment. I wrote a short narrative and poem about the mint leaves. Maybe someday I'll be an author or poet.
-- Ellie

It was very interesting how you came up with your ideas; now I want to go to Oaxaca!
-- Caitlin