Our Members
Visiting Authors
Visiting Illustrators

Visiting Authors

SCBWI members are working writers and illustrators with a special soft spot for kids and the education they receive.

Many members volunteer their talents to schools and other organizations from time to time. However, working artists depend on income from speaking and teaching services to supplement small and sporadic income from advances and royalties. Requests for gratis presentations represent a considerable investment by a writer or illustrator. Rates of $100/hour or more are not unreasonable compensation for sharing the skills and insights acquired from decades of professional experience, so asking for the commitment of a day or more of their time can be equivalent to an $800+ donation. Please be aware of this when you approach a writer or illustrator and don't be offended if they are unable to comply with your request.

Thanks for your interest in kids and what they read! We are pleased to be partners in getting kids excited about reading, learning, and experiencing the world around them.

Authors Available for School Visits and Other Presentations

Linda can be reached at bluerabbit@bwn.net. Her web site is at http://www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/1662/index.html.

I love talking with classes when I am able. Adults who are interested in scheduling a visit are asked to contact me at mbartek@marybartek.com. Recent visits have included discussions about characterization, revision, and putting life experiences into writing. The target audience is grades 4 through 8.

Jessica Bass is a first grade teacher at Lowry Elementary in Denver Public Schools. She has self published one book titled, Do You Know What Teachers Really Do After School, and is working on her second book in the 5 book series. Jessica loves taking the time to visit schools all over the state of Colorado to discuss the writing process, including the boring editing parts!!! She has hands on activities for the primary age students as well as question and answer time for older students. The kids always have fun hanging out with Chloe, the main character from the book who always travels with Jessica. Visit Jessica's website at http://www.mylittlecoconuts.com or contact her at Jessica-ann07@comcast.net

Award-winner Holly Bea is the author of seven children’s books, including Lucy Goose Goes to Texas. It’s based on the actual migration of Canada geese and teaches the importance of teamwork and the value of cooperation. Her six six spiritual books for children include Where Does God Live? and God Believes in You. She provides interactive classroom presentations for pre-K through 4th grades. She is also an advertising copywriter (commercials, websites, naming flavors of Doritos) and magazine feature writer, and can provide information about career opportunities in writing, as well as Author for a Day presentations. Enthusiastic references available from educators from California to Florida. Visit Holly's website at http://www.hollybea.com or contact her at hbweaver@ix.netcom.com

Visit the author's website at http://www.jeffreybennett.com, and read Max Goes to the Moon on-line at http://www.bigkidscience.com/readmax.html.

Books: Wild Wonders Series (6) and Wonder Series (3) from Denver Museum of Natural History Press (Denver Museum of Nature & Science Press).

Contact: wordswild@att.net

Check out her website www.BeckyClark.net, for all the details and programs available.

Debbie Dadey is a former teacher and librarian. She is the author and co-author of 108 books, including The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids and Barkley School For Dogs series. You can find out more about her books and presentations on www.debbiedadey.com and www.barkleyschool.com. School visits are arranged through swimmer@scholastic.com.

Julie's books include, Margaret's Magnificent Colorado Adventure, Westcliffe Publishing. (Winner of Colorado Book Award 2000). First Day Jitters, Charlesbridge, 2000. (Listed in December 11, 2000 Newsweek, "Books of Wonder" and a 2002 Finalist for the Colorado Children's Book Award). Amidst the Gold Dust, Fulcrum Resources, 2001.

Stump & Toad Stools is about the adventure of an adorable little creature named Stump and her friends quest to reclaim the forest, after it was nearly destroyed by over logging.

Contact Lawrence Epps at witchesquest@msn.com

Sandy Ferguson Fuller is available for school visits. Please contact her at sffuller@alparts.com for more information.

Mary is the author of nine books of fiction and non-fiction. She loves to visit schools to present book talks and writing workshops for children and adults, including "Teachers As Writers" workshops. For more information, visit her website, http://marypeacefinley.com.

Holly Huppert-Winter is the author of the middle school hi/low novel (high interest, low level) No Pay, No Way. Many local schools in the Denver-Boulder area use this book in their remedial reading programs. Since she has experience teaching high school, middle school and elementary school, her presentations, The Story in You, are innovatively directed to each grade level; no two presentations are alike. For more information on school visits, The Story in You, or to ask where to mail letters from student readers, e-mail Holly at coldwinter@sprintmail.com

Danlyn Iantorno, is an artist with over 25 years of professional experience. School visits range from 20 minutes to full day and include a PowerPoint presentation packed with humor and samples. Danlyn is also available for conferences, offering professional development workshops. Courses include Production for Licensing, Marketing - Out of the Closet, Digital Color - HELP! The Printer is Speaking Geek! and Digital Illustration for Traditional Artists. Portfolio and Manuscript critiques are available with homework and follow-up included. Details are available at http://www.Danlyn.info 720-872-6621.

Author and former elementary education teacher Amy Krakow has written three children's books, The Mutt And The Monster and her most recently published bilingual book, The Mutt And The Monster Go To Mexico. Both books tell the comical tale of canine sibling rivalry. From first drafts to marketing Amy's interactive presentations discuss the writing process culminating in a read aloud. Teachers receive a follow up Mutt And Monster activity packet and all students receive a Mutt And Monster color-in bookmarker. Each presentation is modified to accommodate different grade levels.

The Mutt And The Monster Go Skiing and Snowboarding is the third book in the Mutt And The Monster series. Kissing trees and dodging snow snakes, the Mutt and the Monster howl their way through some of the best terrain in North America competing for Lucy's attention every second.

For more information on school visits e-mail Amy at a.krakow@yahoo.com

Wagging Tales Publishing
Box 691
Carbondale, CO.81623

My name is Hazel Krantz and I enjoy visiting schools. (Fort Collins & Loveland only, please). For twelve years I taught elementary school, mostly third grade. I helped out as a volunteer at Putnam Elementary for five years, including a creative writing class where we published a school magazine. I have had twelve (is that my magic number?) books published. The most recent was WALKS IN BEAUTY, about a Navajo girl. Books I have written but have not had published are:TANGLES, A Young Adult story about a boy with ADHD who gets into trouble with the law; LAKE OF THE BLACK SWANS, a middle-grade, about a Maori girl in New Zealand; RIDE THE APPALOOSAS, about a Nez Perce boy with dyslexia who belongs to the Mounted Scholars, kids who get tutoring and take care of the Appaloosa herd (the book is not about dyslexia, but more about a boy and his vision quest),THE DOUBLE MIRROR, Young Adult, about a teenage girl, born in Korea and raised by Caucasian parents, who has an identity crisis, IN THE GARDEN OF THE CALIPH, middle grade about two twelve year old girls living in the Golden Age of Spain Cordoba who long to see the Caliph's magic ruined garden. I can be reached at hkrantz600@aol.com.

Frank Lloyd Kramer's poetry is widely published in the children's literature and educational markets - his upbeat, humorous and entertaining poetry is inspiring for adults as well as kids. His programs are suitable for elementary and middle grades and include performing his published and unpublished works and a workshop format for encouraging kids to write poetry. Frank is a former corporate financing consultant and currently a practicing poet and story teller. For more information on school visits e-mail Frank at CajunPoet@aol.com

Author of: Searching for Chipeta--the Remarkable Story of a Ute Woman, Cucumber Soup, Hiking Through Colorado History, and Illustrator of: From the Theater of My Mind -- A Collection of Children's Poetry by Frank Lloyd Kramer, Taming the Tornado Tube by Steve Spangler, as well as author of numerous articles and short stories for Highlights for Children Magazine, Wild Outdoor World, and Kid City Magazine (Children's Television Network). Vickie teaches students how to draw using her infamous ABC Draw With Me methods, other programs include the Young Authors and Illustrators Writing Program, and the Ultimate Garden Party-based on Cucumber Soup. Call: (303) 469-2223 or email Vkrudwig@aol.com or www.members.aol.com/vkrudwig

Justin Matott has visited over 400 schools internationally. Check out his school visits page at: www.justinmatott.com/school.htm Within these pages you will find information about how to book Matott for your school, read testimonials from schools, see pictures and download forms for school administration.

For more information about Justin Matott, visit: www.justinmatott.com

Award-winning children's writer Claudia Cangilla McAdam is the author of the local best seller, The Christmas Tree Cried the story of the White House Christmas tree. Her newest book for kids is Do You See What I See? which features the photography of Colorado's premier nature photographer John Fielder. A slide show or PowerPoint featuring her books, illustrations or photography accompanies readings and allows a large group to enjoy the pictures. Claudia takes audiences through the writing process from idea ... to research ... to drafts ... to the "dummy" book stage ... to completed work. Discussion topics include "The Differences Between Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction", "Where Do You Get Your Ideas?", "How a Story Becomes a Book", "Research - It's Fun!", and "The Steps to Publishing a Book". In conjunction with Do You See What I See?, she also conducts workshops where students do what she did for the book: look at a small portion of a nature photo and write three lines of a stanza about it, completing the fourth line when the entire picture is revealed. When her books are sold at speaking events, a portion of the proceeds is applied to her fee, and once that is met, 20% of the proceeds is retained by the hosting group.

Contact: TwoSonsPress@aol.com or phone 303-346-3003. References at web site: www.TwoSonsPress.com

In my standard presentation for grades 3-6 (45 minutes), I begin by sharing some of my own childhood writing (all extremely autobiographical) and then showing how I now take the real events that happen in my own life and shape them into stories that may take a very different form. I spend a lot of time on the process of writing, tracing a book from idea, through successive drafts, two stages of critique from my local writers' group, and finally, the devastating critique from my editor. I want the students to see that all authors revise in response to criticism, that we all find criticism excruciatingly painful, but that we all end up being grateful that we were lucky enough to be given suggestions that could make our work better. For younger grades (K-2), I give a simpler and shorter presentation, focusing on my GUS AND GRANDPA easy-reader series. For older grades (7-12) I work with students who are in the process of shaping their own stories. Here I present workshops on plotting, developing character, and crafting the picture book.

My fee is $300 a day for local school visits (Boulder/Denver area), including up to four presentations. I can be reached at 303-499-8638, or by e-mail at cmills@colorado.edu.

Marianne Mitchell has authored eight books and over ninety stories and articles in children’s magazines. Her picture books include the award-winning Joe Cinders, a cowboy Cinderella tale and the bilingual story, Maya Moon. Other works include mid-grade mysteries, historical fiction and Say It in Spanish! a teacher resource book. School presentations target grades K-6 and can be bilingual. Topics include "The Writer’s Life", "Saving Family Stories", and "Tips for Young Authors". Marianne is also available for library talks and book fairs.

Please visit her website: www.mariannemitchell.net

Marjorie is the award winning author of five books - JASPER'S DAY, ICE CREAM EVERYWHERE!, HELLO, SCHOOL BUS!, HELLO, FIRE TRUCK! and HELLO, FREIGHT TRAIN! - as well as many soon-to-be-published titles. She loves to talk about being a writer almost as much as she loves being one. Her school presentations include CREATING BOOKS (grades 1-8) and PLAYING WITH POETRY (grades 3-8).

For details on each of her presentations, visit Marjorie's web site at: www.marjorieblainparker.com

"I'll Never Leave" follows "Little Leaf" through the seasons as she works hard at her job and flatly refuses to leave when fall arrives. Little Leaf learns she's still needed and an integral part in nature's cycle. Fascinating leaf facts and activities are in the back of the book.

Elaine Pease presents primarily to pre-school - 4th grade. Children help with the repetition of "I'll Never Leave!", search for ladybug and the other characters, and learn about writing , printing and illustrating aspects. Tattoos of Little Leaf given out.

Kathleen T. Pelley, author of "The Giant King", and and two more upcoming picture books, is a former elementary school teacher and a native of Glasgow, Scotland. She is available to speak to groups of children from Kindergarten to 6th grade.Her presentation includes: some fun facts about Scotland, a reading of her story, and some insights into how "The Giant King" grew from her own real life story. For more information, visit her website at - www.kathleentpelley.com.

Children's book author Phyllis Perry loves to visit schools and Book Fairs. Each presentation is 50 minutes. Her NONFICTION PRESENTATION draws examples from her animal books including: Fresh Water Giants; Coyotes, Foxes & Wolves; and Animals That Hibernate. In her FICTION PRESENTATION, she uses her Fribble Mouse Library Mystery Series. Her COLORADO HISTORY PRESENTATION includes a slide show and discussion of her newest book, Tales of Colorful Colorado.

Contact Phyllis at dpperry@att.net

You can reach him at GrahamBios@aol.com or write to: P.O. Box 399, Wellington, CO 80549-0399. Also visit http://www.biostration.com

George C Richardson is an Author specializing in historical fiction, particularly American history. He has worked with writing coaches in Jefferson County schools.

George is the author of two historical fiction novels Drummer an inspiring story of courage about a young slave during the civil war who runs away to join a Yankee colored infantry unit. American Privateer The story of a young orphan Patrick Harrell who goes to sea on the privateer Freeport to raid British shipping and aid George Washington's army during the American Revolution.

For more information, please visit http://www.georgecrichardson.com

Young adult novelist S.L. Rottman is a Coloradan through and through. Rottman grew up in Aurora and graduated from Overland High School before continuing on to Colorado State University. While working toward her teaching certificate at CSU, she received a scholarship for doing what she loves: creative writing. She wrote her first award-winning YA novel, Hero, when she was just 24. The primary presentation is an overview of the writing, editing, and publishing process, and takes approximately 30 minutes, leaving time for Q &A at the end of the hour. Rottman will show and discuss the seven different drafts that one of her novels went through before publication. It's best for groups of no more than 125 at a time, because it gets difficult to see the manuscripts from far away. Of course, the smaller the group, the better the interaction. An alternative presentation is a creative writing workshop. For groups of no more than 20, Rottman will take students through a creative writing exercise and discuss their work. This workshop takes approximately forty minutes. Books: Hero, Rough Waters, Head Above Water, Stetson, Shadow of a Doubt, Slalom

Christina Semmens is a writer specializing in social studies, particularly American history. Her school presentations address writing and social studies topics especially appropriate to upper elementary and junior high audiences. She can discuss the writing process in "The Writing Process Unmasked," or discuss the importance of history in daily life in her "Making History Come Alive" presentations (A Time for Courage, 1st Books, 2001 and March to Canada, 1st Books, 2001). You can reach her at christinasemmens@christinasemmens.com or contact: CS Development Group, 5710 Daltry Lane, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, (719)540-2828, fax (719)538-8337. For further information you can also visit http://www.christinasemmens.com.

Wendi Silvano is the author of What Does the Wind Say? Just One More, Hey Diddle Riddle, Counting Coconuts, and more than 30 early readers, educational titles, magazine stories and goofy poems. Her writing has won numerous awards, including the Children's Choice Award, the Paul A. Witty Short Story Award, and the EdPRess Award. Her school visits include readings of her books, a slide show on Peru and the jungle (the setting of several of her books) and a question and answer period about writing and being an author. She can be reached at wsilvano@hotmail.com

Diane Nelson Spickert, author dspickert@cmegateway.com

Diane Nelson Spickert is a geologist and the author of Earthsteps: A Rock's Journey through Time, an illustrated children's book about one rock's adventure. Beginning 250 million years ago and progressing to the present, the book exposes the reader to the sights, sounds, and smells of the prehistoric world. Geologic processes such as erosion, transport & deposition are introduced along the way. Diane is a field trip leader at Dinosaur Ridge in Morrison, Colorado. She speaks to groups of elementary and middle school students about geology and the process of writing nonfiction children's books. She can be reached at dspickert@cmegateway.com.

Ravay Snow, author/illustrator

Ravay Snow is an award-winning writer, illustrator and publisher of picture books for grades K-5. Her dynamic school presentations include reading from one of her books and student art and writing exercises, along with Q&A time! Ravay’s unique status as an education expert (she formerly taught writing and holds a doctorate) and a publisher allows her to tailor school presentations to curricular needs in a variety of ways. She also has developed a book fundraising package for schools.

To contact Ravay about visiting your school, please email her at ravay@snowboundpress.com or write her at Snowbound Press, P.O. Box 698, Littleton, CO 80160.

For more information about Ravay, please check the author website at: http://www.snowboundpress.com/abt-author-rsr.html

For more information on school visits or on Snowbound Press’ school fundraising package, please access: http://www.snowboundpress.com/school-H.html

Peggy Tibbetts is an author/editor. Currently she is a Contributing Editor for Writing-World.com and WP World Muse. Her children's mystery novel, Carly's Ghost is set in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. This 98-page novel is recommended for 8-12 year olds, however readers as young as 6 years and as old as 14, have also enjoyed the story. Her in school presentation centers around the topic, "Where do ideas come from?" She teaches "clustering," a form of hands on brainstorming, to illustrate how a story can begin from one word. As an online editor for Writing-World.com, Tibbetts publishes a monthly column for writers, "Advice from a Caterpillar." She teaches students how to use the Internet for research and offers a wealth of online resources especially for young aspiring writers. She can be reached by email: peggyt@siltnet.net or write to: PO Box 129, Silt, CO. 81652. Also visit her web site: http://www.carlysghost.net

Denise Vega, author
Denise is the author of Click Here (To Find Out How I Survived Seventh Grade)offers a number of presentations to schools and other groups. These include: What is Voice?, Journey of a Writer, How Does a Book Become a Book? and Blogging and Internet Safety, presented in conjunction with her novel Click Here (To Find Out How I Survived Seventh Grade). Denise also offers small group workshops on writing, as well as a Revision Workshop, Writing the Short Story, and Bringing Literature to Life, where Denise shows students how to write and perform their own Reader’s Theater scripts from stories and novels they are reading in class. For more information and a fee schedule, please visit the Meet 'n Greet page of Denise's website or e-mail her.

Working with children in elementary schools for the past twenty-five years, the author of the rollicking read-aloud, ALL AOUND CATS, continues to enjoy bringing the power of poetry and prose to children. Her interactive and motivating presentations are geared to helping both students and teachers use the "1-2-3 Punch" power of language of words. Her Full Day workshops often include six small group sessions in libraries and classrooms.

Linda, a Christopher Award winning author writes both fiction and nonfiction for children and adults. A popular speaker and teacher, she addresses conferences, workshops, schools and libraries. As co-owner of Children's Authors' Bootcamp (www.wemakewriters.com) Linda travels the country helping writers of books for children improve their skills.In her school presentations, Linda gives students insight into the writing -- and reading -- process. Students meeting a "real author" begin to understand that books come from inside - inside real people just like them. Favorite topics for children include: What it's like to be a writer; where ideas come from; how stories get from idea to book. Some of her well-known books and their recognitions include:

TOO MANY PUMPKINS (ABA Pick of the List; Bank Street College, Best Children's Books of the Year; Children's Choice Book; Amazon.com's 10 recommended Halloween Books for Kids)

COMES A WIND (ABA Pick of the List book; NYPL's Best 100 Books book for Reading and Sharing; Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Children's book; Children's Literature Choice featured book; Colorado Author's League Top Hand Award; Storytelling World Awards Honor

I COULD DO THAT (Christopher Award; Junior Library Guild selection; Starred reviews - School Library Journal and Booklist; Bank Street Book College Children's Book Committees' monthly pick; Oppenheim Toy Foundation Gold Book Award ; Book Sense Winter 2006 Selection; ALA Booklinks Lasting Connections Book; ALA Booklist Editor's Choice Book; NCSS-CBC Notable Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies; Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books recommendation; New York Times Book Review; CCBC Choices 2006, best of the year book list; Amelia Bloomer Project 2006, American Library Association; Colorado Authors League Top Hand Award

Linda can be contacted through e-mail at LindaArmsWhite@msn.com