In-Person Author Visits
To arrange for Roni Schotter to visit your school (In-person, or Virtually), you can email Roni directly, or for an add-on fee: contact Allyson Hickey at Booked Authors: https://bookedauthors.com/contact-us. Allyson can organize the visit, contact publishers, etc. and save time by doing the necessary “leg work.”
Here is what Roni says about her school visits:
“I enjoy writing for children and love sharing my books with them. I speak to children as fellow writers. I try to demystify the writing process by explaining how my ideas come from everyday events, from feelings and fears, from the wonder I feel at the world. I try to empower children, to help them recognize the events and ideas in their lives so that they can use them for their stories. I show them my notebooks--the mess I make when I write, how I change my mind constantly, how I cross out and rewrite. I want to emphasize that grownups who write books are no different than they are. We struggle and change our words too. We don’t write perfectly the first time! I encourage children to tell their own stories without fear of failure. I emphasize the importance and pleasure of adding detail, action, metaphor and more to their own writing. In addition, I show the whole process of writing a book--from daydreaming to notebooks, to bigger notebooks, to sketches from the artists who illustrate my books, to printed sheet right off the press, to folded & gathered sheets, to binding and, finally, bound books. To me, the whole process is magical. I try to communicate that feeling of magic to children. I love books. I love writing. I love children. I communicate that enthusiasm to the children with whom I speak. My goal is, that after I leave, students will want to work on their own stories.”
FAQ
What is the length and content of my Author Visit Program?
45-60 minute presentations, except for kindergarten which is usually shorter. Content is as above, except for kindergarten which is far simpler, with each presentation tailored to a particular grade depending on which particular books of mine they have read in advance of my visit. I show objects which have inspired me. With 2nd grade up, I also do a couple of exercises with the children to show them how they can use similes and metaphors in their writing, as I do in mine. I leave the last 10-15 minutes of each presentation for questions and for whatever children want to tell me about their writing or love of books. I do up to 3 presentations a day, plus signing, meeting and chatting with teachers, students, etc.
What do I need?
As intimate a space as possible, preferably the library. Because I bring many things with me to show to the children, I need to stay in one place and have the children come to me, rather than move from classroom to classroom. I need a large table--large enough to display all my books and to rest the things I want to show the children. I would love a glass of water or a cup of tea. If I’m speaking to a large group--over 75--I need a lapel microphone (I move around a lot). I prefer not to speak on a stage or platform. (I don’t like to be separated from the children).
Fee:
For 1, 2, or up to 3 one-hour presentations, contact me directly to discuss prices.
Bookbuying Options:
I can direct you to individual publishers for ordering books for sale, and am happy to sign and personalize them, as part of my appearance. (Some schools choose to purchase one copy of one of my books for all students).