Author Visit Packet
When I talk to students I like to really listen because I think they have an awful lot to say. When my daughters first asked me to write a book with them, I was a little hesitant, after all I had spent many years writing television documentaries and the last few writing novels for adults, but I had never collaborated with a child before. How would I do that? It began with brainstorming and I’ll tell you what I found, after four stories my girls are pitching ideas, creating illustrations, talking to press, building websites, running excel spreadsheets and making their own video books; and they are only 7 and 10 years old. They just needed someone to believe in them and to show them how to get their ideas out of their head and into the world.
For the 2013-2014 school year I have added three new programs to our highly successful visiting author performance, which has also been revamped to include our most recent experiences in publishing and on television. Free Perks are still included as well asmarketing materials to promote the event. Also ask about special customizable PARPprograms. I have expanded our reach in New York and New Jersey and am looking forward to visiting schools throughout the United States this year. You never know when my daughters will join me and the students love to hear them speak!
Look for new features on the website including a whole new section dedicated to teacher's resources! Here you can find book group discussion questions, activities related to the stories and puzzle games to engage students using smartboards and computer lab. You can read the stories. You can even download these materials as a PDF.
My daughters and I are also working with publishers to bring you reviews of the newest elementary and middle grade offerings as well as creating a site section where your class can earn badges by becoming expert readers, writers, illustrators and reviewers. Finally, take a minute to share the Big Idea section of this site to inspire students to be the best that they can be.
To book a program you can contact me at laurahillbooks@gmail.com or book through ES BOCES by clicking on the titles below.
“The staff and students of our school thoroughly enjoyed the presentation. I believe it will have encouraged our children to be more adventurous in their writing and to take a chance on themselves to try something new. The website Ms. Timpanaro offers is an amazing way for the learning to continue and for the students and families to remain engaged. Very well done!” -East Islip School District
Visiting Author Programs For Grades: K-6
Full Day Sessions: 3+ presentations, plus perks start at $800
Half-Day Sessions: 2 presentation plus perks start at $450
Program Length: 45-50 Minutes
Audience Size: 100-200 or up to 500
Description: The Great Story World Mix-Up Author Visits The Great Story World Mix-Up Author Visit is an interactive, often hilarious, visiting author program that encourages students to get creative ideas out of their head and into the world. Based on the middle grade chapter book series where two girls mix-up all the non-fiction and fiction stories ever created, students learn how author, illustrator, filmmaker Laura Hill and her co-author daughters (7&10) made their series. When we show how we write, speak publicly, go on TV, students see they can do it too!
Work Shop Programs For Grades: K-6
Single Sessions: $200
Multiple Sessions: $150
Program Length: 45-50 Minutes
Audience Size: 20-100 students
Description: Writer’s Workshop, I’m A Winning Writer, You Are Too! Great Story World Mix-Up style. Our writer’s workshop can be geared for students of any age and begins with story starters, getting a big idea, characters “like us”, story arcs are rainbows, building tension and the big conclusion. This lively interactive program helps students hone their great ideas into even greater stories. Emphasis is placed on blending fact and fiction, older groups may help write an alternative storyline for one of our books.
Description: Be an Expert, Great Story World Mix-Up style. Being an expert is as easy as one-two-three! This program challenges students to look at our chapter book series, The Great Story World Mix-Up, with a critical eye as they learn how to write an expert review, to create simple and effective illustrations, and make characters more memorable by acting them out. Emphasis is placed on expressing ideas to create impact and desired reaction. Reviews and illustrations can posted on our site in the expert section.
Description: Movie Making 101 with filmmaker, author and illustrator Laura Hill. Students love to make films and in this program Laura Hill brings 15 years of writing, directing and producing for advertising, the X- Games, The History Channel and MTV into play. Students learn the basics of shooting good video, master shot technique, script writing and storyboarding ideas. Acting workshops and how audio effects us round out this program suitable for all ages.
“When students see that they can write books, illustrate, speak in front of large audiences, even appear on TV just like my co-author daughters, their eyes light up and they realize anything is possible.” –Laura Hill
Program Basics
My programs are designed to help students gain the “know how” and confidence to get their ideas out of their heads and into the world. Since I love to perform, I use humor and interactivity to engage the students, sharing anecdotes of my time working in television with stars they connect with like Tony Hawk. I then relate everyday experiences with things like recipes, movies and video games to writing. With lots of visual props I show and tell the children how my daughters and I wrote our books, how they bested me with their ideas and how we created illustrations by turning really bad drawings into really great artwork.
The program is structured to be interactive throughout engaging students with impromptu questions and opportunities to help develop story ideas, name characters and see illustrations drawn. After programs I like to hand out bookmarks and personalize books. I also offer unique post visit opportunities where students can ask questions of my daughters and have their reviews and drawings posted to our website.
Program Perks
Program Perks
During my day with you I am happy to pop into classrooms and chat informally about writing, art and television production. If you have any ideas, I would love to hear them. It’s your day and I’m there to connect with the children and inspire them to get their ideas out into the world.
The Biggest Perk Of All
After my visit I will post a personal greeting to the students on my webpage. Teachers can help students write books reviews or create artwork which will be displayed on the site and be viewed on the smart board. My daughters and I love to answer mail as well so send your questions to laurahillbooks@gmail.com and we will reply to your teacher's e-mail address.
The Biggest Perk Of All
After my visit I will post a personal greeting to the students on my webpage. Teachers can help students write books reviews or create artwork which will be displayed on the site and be viewed on the smart board. My daughters and I love to answer mail as well so send your questions to laurahillbooks@gmail.com and we will reply to your teacher's e-mail address.
Program Details
Grades K-2: The Great Story World Mix-Up
In this program I talk about getting the creative out and how my daughters had an idea to write a book that quickly became a very real venture for them. I show the students how my daughters developed the main characters and the story illustrations bringing in blown up examples of the real art. I act out conversations in which they bested my ideas and show them the silly things I surround myself with to “get ready to write.” In a lively discussion we talk about getting a “big idea” and developing it into a real story with characters, story arcs, rules, and settings.
Curriculum support: reading, writing, reviews, literacy, literary genres, art. Special Concepts are touched on in each book and can include: Self-esteem, bullying, global warming, plants, public speaking and friendship.
Grades 3-6: The Great Story World Mix-Up Deluxe
For Grades 3-6 I ramp up the program with a real introduction to brainstorming, developing ideas, producing those ideas and marketing them. Everything in the K-2 program is included, but it is geared to more sophisticated interests and skills as well as working in a collaborative environment where students will actually develop a storyline with me.
Curriculum support: Writing, brainstorming, collaborating,
illustration, using persuasive media, history, science. Special Concepts are touched on in each book and can include: Self-esteem, bullying, global warming, plants, public speaking and friendship.
Get Ready for the Visit
www.gswmu.com
Post visit, teachers can use the website with the Smart Board to view their students reviews and illustrations or ask questions of my daughters or myself via e-mail.
The website will help you:
• Build up to your author visit with activities based on my books
• Link my books and the information I will present during my programs with your curriculum.
• Continue to use ideas from my presentations and books as a touchstone for the rest of the school year.
• Additional resources are available for older students. Just contact me!
Book Sale & Signing
Book ordering is easy and can add excitement to your program.
You will never be charged more than $5.99 per book. I do this so that every child has the opportunity to receive a signed copy of a great book and so that your school can use my books as a fundraising opportunity. Please allow three-four weeks to ensure books are available the day of your visit. Later orders will be signed and shipped promptly to your school after the visit. In special circumstances additional bulk orders may be placed post program.
To make this easy and hassle free way for the school to raise funds I have created a sample order letter you can customize for your school visit, just click here to get a copy emailed to your address.
Schedule
I am happy to make your visit the best it can be. To ensure I am at my best please allow 15 minutes between programs so I can gather my thoughts and pump up the energy. Also please factor in a 30-40 minute lunch break for full day programs.
The best performances are in a space where the students, teachers and I are most comfortable; after all we are going to get to know each other over the next 50 minutes. I love to interact with the children to get them excited and feeling creative. I find comfortable seating in an auditorium or library is best, a microphone with a long leash for large groups and a table to put my props on. For classroom chats students can get comfortable on the rug or at their seats.
• Tables (one or two) to display books and program props
• Microphone (for large groups or large rooms)
• Bottled water
• Computer with digital projector and screen, and someone experienced with the equipment to make sure it runs smoothly. Please ask your AV/computer expert to contact me beforehand about your setup and whether an Internet connection is available in the room.
Free Books For You!
With every half or full day author visit you will receive a set of signed books for your school library, absolutely FREE.
No program is too big or too small, no idea is too grand or restrained. For more information, pricing or to schedule a virtual face time visit please contact me at laurahillbooks@gmail.com or see visit ES BOCES performer's catalogue by clicking here.
See you soon!
Laura
"I love how your writing experience echoed strategies that we try to teach the children as writers. It is so wonderful for them to hear how things are done "in real life". Your book exceeded my expectations." -Laura Kelly, Educator
