Author Visits Part Five – Virtual Author Visits
Children are almost always inspired when they meet a real author or illustrator, but it may not always be possible to have an author visit your school.
However, why not put technology to work for you? Now you can arrange a virtual author visit via video using Skype. These can be conducted with large groups in a library or gym or with individual classes. You can get an idea of what a virtual visit looks like by viewing my videos in which I talk about my books, my workshops for adults and schools, plus my various services for writers.
To host a virtual author visit, it’s necessary to download and install Skype, which is available for both Windows and Macintosh, and have a webcam. There are also other platfoms that might be used, including Facebook and Google. Schools also need a projection screen and speakers in the library, gym or wherever the virtual visit takes place. For individual classes, it’s possible to connect via laptop computers. A technical run through a few days prior is also advisable, to ensure that everything runs smoothly on the day of the visit.
Ideally, in preparation for a virtual author visit, students should have read at least one of the author’s books prior to the visit. Personally, I suggest the children familiarize themselves with my work by undertaking the Super Scavenger Search on my website. Teachers may also wish to download the word search puzzles related to each novel.
Study guides are available for all my novels and each book can provide teachers with a wide variety of ways to explore projects with their students and class sets of books are available too.
I offer presentations, readings, author in residence programs and conduct workshops for children at schools and libraries. Please contact me directly for details of fees and availability.
