| 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: May 19, 2008 Hailey ID May 30, 2008 Book Expo America Los Angeles CA May 31, 2008 Houston Public Library Houston TX June 6, 2008 Booksigning, 3-6 p.m. Urban Think Orlando FL June 7, 2008 SCBWI Conference Orlando FL June 8-9, 2008 Chicago Public Libraries Chicago IL June 27-28, 2008 ALA Los Angeles CA September 31, 2008 Bumbershoot Seattle WA October 20, 2008 Nevada MO |
| Please Note: Due to heavy demand for my time, I am limiting school visits for the '08-'09 school year to Sep-Oct and Mar-Apr, and my calendar is filling. Please contact me as early as possible to arrange a visit. I am also currently looking into teleconferencing. This option may be available by next school year. |
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