| School Visits & Appearances |
| Ellen with some of her friends |
| One of my very favorite things to do is visit schools and work in the classroom. Assemblies are also possible. I can speak on the writing process, book production and life as an author, nonfiction adventures and journalism as a career, or do creative writing and poetry seminars and workshops. I also often talk about the "stories behind the stories" in my books. A major goal is reaching out to young adults through my novels, letting them know they're not alone in their problems and discussing ways to make better decisions than my protagonists often do. There is help for kids caught up in drugs, abuse or thoughts of suicide. I have become a voice for this generation and appreciate the opportunity to speak to groups of young adults. Because appearances vary by length and demand, fees are negotiable. Please contact me to discuss budget and scheduling requirements. |
| Beyond school visits, I am a seasoned speaker and often conduct workshops at conferences; college level classes; teacher and librarian events; PTA and parent events; and other writing- related programs. I also enjoy giving poetry readings, working with at-risk and prison populations. |
| You Might Catch Up With Me: August 7-10, 2009 SCBWI Los Angeles August 25, 2009 TRICKS LAUNCH PARTY 7 p.m. Barnes & Noble Reno NV August 27, 2009 Grassroots Books Reno NV September 18, 2009 Lake Tahoe Writers Club September 22, 2009 Norman OK September 23, 2009 7 p.m., Carpenter Branch St. Louis Public Libraries St. Louis MO September 24, 2009 DeSoto High School DeSoto MO September 24, 2009 7 p.m., Barnes & Noble Fenton MO September 25, 2009 Lake Forest HS Lake Forest IL September 25, 2009 7 p.m., Borders Orland Park IL September 26, 2009 Anderson's YA Conference Chicago IL September 27, 2009 2 p.m., Barnes & Noble Oak Brook IL September 28, 2009 7 p.m. Joseph-Beth Booksellers Lexington KY September 29, 2009 6:30 p.m., Schuler Books Okemos MI September 30, 2009 7 p.m., Borders Ann Arbor MI October 1, 2009 7 p.m., Barnes & Noble Portage MI |
| Please Note: Due to heavy demand for my time, I am limiting school visits for the '09-'10 school year. Please contact me as early as possible to arrange a visit. Teleconferencing opportunities are available. |
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