news & events

I love to do book signings, speaking events, and school visits! Due to my day job and family obligations, my availability is somewhat limited, so as much advanced notice as possible is appreciated.

  For groups of writers, I offer the following presentations, as well as a couple more not listed here:

I Heart Revision and You Can Too—The real book is written during revision, but it can often be overwhelming tackling all the elements of a novel. We'll break down the process and you'll take home a checklist that can be helpful. I’ll also share some examples of how my novel changed revision after revision after revision.

The ABC's of Writing a Good Picture Book—We'll go over the crucial elements of writing a picture book focusing on Action, Brevity and Conflict. It can be difficult to successfully combine those three elements, but it's crucial if you want a fun, engaging picture book that kids will want to read again and again. We'll discuss how to do it and look at picture books that do it well.

Writers Wobble But We Can't Fall Down—An upbeat talk on how to keep going in the face of rejection, and a top ten list on how to increase your chances to get your book published. We'll look at actual rejection letters and learn how important it is to take advantage of any open door, and talk about why you can't take rejection personally.

  If you are a teacher or librarian at a middle school or high school, I would love to come to your school and talk about writing. I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME is appropriate for kids ages 13 and up and for high school visits, a book signing can be combined with the presentation. At school visits, I can talk about creating characters, writing poetry, the revision process, and more. If you have something in mind, or would like a proposal in detail, let's talk! Go to the CONTACT ME page and drop me an e-mail for available dates, fees, and other necessary details.