Preparing for an Author Visit

J.L.Panagopoulos

Author@prodigy.net

Having been invited to many schools throughout the United States, I am often amazed when I arrive at a school to discover they are not prepared for my visit.  I have spoken to many authors who have found themselves in the same circumstances.  They are invited to a school, weeks or months in advance, the date is set, the number of children and program content agreed upon, the contract signed.  When the author arrives, however, it seems as if no one has told the teachers or librarian/media specialist anything about the visit.

I have arrived in schools where I have been questioned by the secretary asking, ”Are you sure you are suppose to be at our school?”  As it seems, the program didn’t make it on the school calendar for one reason or another.  I have also been originally booked for two 60 minute history programs only to have them suddenly change to two 120 minute writing programs.  I have been booked for a Question and Answer session only to discover the children have not been introduced to the books, have not read the books, nor do they have any idea what the program is about. All of these scenarios make my work difficult and unfulfilling for the students.  I have even heard the nasty remark when the coordinators were questioned about the change, “ Don’t worry you’ll get paid!"

This is not how I work.  Actually, I keep my prices low so schools are in a better position to afford an author visit for their students. I do take time and make an effort to create a designated program for your students so they feel they are individually addressed and their needs are met.  I do this to help motivate students to love to read, write, discover history and learn about the importance of libraries and research.  I try to avoid, at all cost, “canned” programs that can be “plugged” into empty time blocks, so it is important that all programming decisions are discussed with teaching colleagues before booking and if any changes need to be made afterward, I am contacted 30 days in advance to plan for the changes.

Please help me make my visit to your school a successful visit.  If this is your first time coordinating a program like this, please allow others who have done this before to share their knowledge.  If your teachers do not have time to complete a requested writing project with their students, we can create a program that will fit their needs. (I, however, need to be prepared for this.)

I want your school/teachers/district to be pleased with my visit and your program and more importantly, your students to be motivated to read, write, research and discover history. 

Please, if you have any concerns or questions on how to make your program a success, contact me and we will chat.