I would be delighted to come to your school and share my love of children’s books with your students. My goal is to inspire students to get excited about reading and writing. I like to compare how I write to how students write. We are all working hard to create an interesting story for our readers. I usually talk about my life as a writer, how I got started, the writing process, how ideas are generated, and tips to improve writing.
I often use a Powerpoint presentation along with visual items, such as rough drafts, illustrators’ sketches, galleys, and lots of editors’ rejection letters. My rejection letters let students know that real writers experience failures and frustrations but keep on working and rewriting until they 
get it right. I might share a newspaper I wrote at age 10 which later inspired The Best Bet Gazette, or my first handwritten, cloth bound book titled The Strange Land.
It is always a good idea for students to become familiar with at least one book before I arrive. This way the presentation will have more meaning for them and they will come better prepared with questions. Either students should have a chance to read a book themselves, or they should have one read to them by teacher or librarian.
GRADES
Kindergarten – 6th Grade
AUDIENCE SIZE
Students should be grouped by grade level. Since I use a Powerpoint presentation for most of my programs, it is best to limit the audience to 100 students or less at a time. This also allows for better group interaction.
LENGTH
40 – 50 minutes, depending upon grade level. Time for questions and answers is included. I will give up to 3 presentations per day.
SCHOOL PROVIDES
* A microphone if size of room and audience requires one
* A large screen or white wall
* A table for books and visual materials
* A cart with hookup for projector and laptop
* An extension cord
SPEAKING FEES 
$450 One day (up to three 40-50 minute programs) I am available for areas within a 50 mile radius of Richmond, TX. Richmond is just southwest of Houston, near Sugar Land.
$150 One 40-50 minute program, available for libraries, schools, and other groups in the Rosenberg/ Sugar Land area only.
The following programs are available, most with Powerpoint, book readings, author talk, and Q & A time:
1st-3rd grade
MY LIFE AS A WRITER
How did I go from Mrs. Newport's 2nd grade class to becoming an author of ten books?
How can students become better writers?2nd - 5th grade
WHERE DOES A WRITER FIND IDEAS FOR STORIES?
How do I get ideas for my books?
How can student writers get ideas for their stories?
2nd – 5th grade
TEN TIPS FOR BETTER STUDENT WRITING
How can students make their writing stronger using sensory language, strong verbs, dialogue, word pictures, and more?
How can students improve their writing by revising and rewriting?
How can writers jump start their stories with "What if?" questions?3rd - 5th grade
PLOT, CHARACTERS, AND SETTING: THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF FICTION WRITING
What does a writer need to build a great story?
How did I develop the plot, conflict, characters and setting of Camp Kickapoo or Brutus the Wonder Poodle?3rd - 6th grade
THE PROCESS OF WRITING - FROM IDEA TO FINISHED BOOK
How does a book evolve through stages of thinking, planning, writing, revising, and editing?
How does a writer work with an editor and illustrator?3rd - 6th grade
THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION
Why did Thomas Jefferson send Meriwether Lewis and William Clark into the uncharted lands of the American West in 1804?
What incredible adventures did the Corps of Discovery experience as they explored Louisiana Territory and Oregon Country?
Who was Sacagawea?4th - 6th grade
THE BOSTON TEA PARTY
Why was the Boston Tea Party of 1773 a turning point in American history?
What exciting events led to the American Revolution?4th - 6th grade
WRITING NONFICTION -- STORIES FROM REAL LIFE
How did I write Where Did Sacagawea Join the Corps of Discovery? And Other Questions about the Lewis and Clark Expedition?
How can students research and write nonfiction reports for school?4th - 6th grade
THE FOUNDING OF THE CALIFORNIA MISSIONS
Who was Junípero Serra, the Franciscan friar who opened the first California missions that became the cities of San Francisco, San Diego, and others?Kindergarten (15 - 20 minutes)
INTRODUCTION TO AUTHORS AND BOOK WRITING
Author talk and a reading of my Strawberry Shortcake picture book, The Strawberryland Choo-Choo
SIGNING BOOKS
I would be happy to sign books on the day of my visit, either before school, between sessions, or after school. I prefer to meet and greet each student as I sign his/her book, but time does not always allow for this. It is a great help to have a slip of paper in each book with instructions on what to inscribe.
Three nonfiction books are available through publishers and book stores:
- HOW DID TEA AND TAXES SPARK A REVOLUTION? AND OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BOSTON TEA PARTY
- WHERE DID SACAGAWEA JOIN THE CORPS OF DISCOVERY? AND OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION
- JUNÍPERO SERRA: FOUNDER OF THE CALIFORNIA MISSIONS
A fourth book, CAMP KICKAPOO (fiction), is out of print, but still available through the author.
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Three books which will prove helpful as you plan your Author Day are the following:
- Terrific Connections with Authors, Illustrators, and Storytellers by Toni Buzzeo and Jane Kurtz (Libraries Unlimited, 1999)
- ABCs of an Author Illustrator Visit by Sharron L. McElmeel (Linworth Publishing, 2001)
- Author Day Adventures: Bringing Literacy to Life with an Author Visit by Helen Foster James (Scarecrow Press, Inc., 2003)
I would love to hear your comments or questions.
CONTACT ME at: LindaGondosch@gmail.com