Fall for the book festival
October 3, 2015
It began as a two-day event in 1999, organized by George Mason University and the City of Fairfax, VA. Now Fall for the Book is a week-long, multi-venue regional event with tons of authors and readers everywhere, and this year, I'm invited! If you happen to be near Fairfax on October 3rd, Winifred Conkling (a wonderful non-fiction writer, also a fellow Algonquin Young Readers author) and I will be talking about how we figure out what to write (!) at 2pm in the Mason Hall tent. I'll be reading from Anton and Cecil: Cats on Track and discussing how we came up with the names for those ornery bison... Hope to catch you there.
Gaithersburg Book Festival
May 17, 2014
The Gaithersburg Book Festival in Maryland attracts 18,000 book-loving people every year, and both Valerie and I will be at this year's event! We'll be taking part in a panel on sea-faring children's fiction and signing books as well. Hope to sea you there!
Virginia Festival of the Book
March 19-23, 2014
I'll be participating in the 2014 Virginia Festival of the Book right here in my home town of Charlottesville, VA. Can't wait to visit schools and meet lots of students and other great people! Visit my contact page if you'd like to be added to the schedule. See you then!
Meriwether Lewis School in Charlottesville, VA
March 20th and 21st, 2014
Three great grades over two days at the wonderful Meriwether Lewis School in Ivy on the west side of Charlottesville. I'll be talking with the 3rd and 4th graders on Thursday and the 5th graders on Friday about Anton & Cecil and what makes a compelling story. Looking forward to meeting the Bluebirds!
World Read Aloud Day
March 6th, 2014
Every year on the first Wednesday of March, LitWorld's advocacy campaign for the human right of literacy calls worldwide attention to the importance of reading aloud and sharing stories. Authors and other guest speakers team up with Skype and LitWorld to arrange classroom read-alouds in celebration of this day. I'm honored to be visiting with 3rd, 4th and 5th graders all over the world to share the story of Anton & Cecil!
The Peabody Panthers in Charlottesville, VA
February 25th and 28th, 2014
We're chatting about writing in the 3rd, 4th and 5th grades at the Peabody School in February. We'll think about how to revise one's work to add fresh adjectives and drive out old stale phrases. Can't wait to hang out with the young Panthers!
Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, VA
November 3, 2013
I'll be zipping over to Richmond to the famous Fountain Bookstore for a launch party and book signing at 2pm. Come on over, it'll be so cool! Plus: inside secret = It's my birthday.
NYSRA Conference in Albany, NY
October 27-29, 2013
I'll be heading up to Albany, NY for the New York State Reading Association Conference, as a guest of the wonderful Merritt Bookstore in Millbrook, NY. Can't wait to meet everybody and listen in on some author talks, plus I get to do a panel with the great Jacqueline Davies about researching the details in children's books!
Over the Moon Bookstore and Artisan Gallery in Crozet, VA
October 20, 2013
We're having a launch party at the lovely Over the Moon Bookstore and Artisan Gallery in Crozet, right across from the (old) library. Drop in for the fun! Hope to see some of my new friends from Brownsville Elementary -- you guys are awesome.
The Brownsville Bees in Crozet, VA
October 18, 2013
Cannot wait to meet and chat with ALL of the 3rd graders at Brownsville Elementary in Crozet! We're talking about writing, beginnings and middles, inspirations, and knowing your stuff. I'll be a Bee for a day!