Tips for Teachers: Author Visits Part Two – Choosing an Author
How you choose an author to visit your school is entirely up to you. You should make a wish list of authors that you’re interested in. Maybe there’s a book that the students have been studying in class or for projects or perhaps an author has just received an award for their latest novel? Perhaps the author is a prolific writer of nonfiction on topics such as volcanoes, earthquakes and other natural phenomena and this fits in well with what the children in a particular grade have been studying? Maybe you’re looking for an illustrator to talk to the younger grades about picture books? Your reasoning might even be related to those books that are always very popular in your school library. Perhaps you’re considering someone who has written books about local history or culture? In the past, a school has contacted me following a referral from another school in the same district. On other occasions, teachers have moved to a different school and recommended me to their new principal or librarian.
My own books are in the science fiction and fantasy genre, but also deal with history, with The Sorcerer’s Letterbox and The Heretic’s Tomb set in the Middle Ages, which fits in with the curriculum at many schools that are covering the medieval period in certain grades. The Emerald Curse involves the superhero gene and some schools see a good connection with children who are learning about heroes and villains. The Doomsday Mask features the legend of Atlantis and ancient artifacts and this fits in with classes where children learn about civilizations such as Greece, Rome and Egypt. The Clone Conspiracy involves scientific experiments and some schools have adapted this for science classes, while The Alchemist’s Portrait features art galleries and museums. Some teachers have found useful when running classes about fine art or organizing field trips to local museums and galleries.
Both girls and boys enjoy my books, but some teachers and librarians also use my novels as excellent resources for reluctant boy readers and this is sometimes a factor in my securing bookings as well. Whatever your motivation and preferences, there’s usually an author out there who’ll fit the bill that you might consider inviting to your school.
