Dear Educator,

           

After conducting author visits around the country for the last decade, I have discovered that students uniquely benefit from meeting a "real" author, especially after reading their books. Where else can you learn about the personal details of an author's career and writing habits, as well as what inspired them to create this character or choose that particular setting?

 

The questions I love the most are what I call "writerly questions," such as, in Saving Wonder: Why did you decide to give Papaw a heart attack? [...because it adds tension and causes the protagonist, Curley, to have to act on his own. Spoiler: Papaw survives!] I also get to ask my readers questions, such as, "Do you consider the tree to be a character?" One boy's answer: "Yes, because the children love him."

 

Writing comes alive when students meet the person behind the words. And they begin to see how writing a story is an exciting possibility.

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If you’re interested in my visiting your school or arranging a Zoom visit, please contact me here. 

 

Whether it’s meeting with large groups, smaller classes, teachers, book clubs—or ONE BOOK, ONE SCHOOL celebrations—I'm happy to create something that works for everyone.

                                                                                         Mary