Speaking

Whether your group is school-aged children, preschoolers, college students or adults—or a complex mix of ages—I would be honored to connect. If you are a library, nonprofit, homeschooling organization or Title I school, please contact me and let me know your pricing budget and needs.

Presentations

Steaming into Literacy

I am truly passionate about this subject—that literacy beyond elementary school is dependent upon the ability to decipher text structure. If you are like most of us, our tendency is to pick up narrative texts to recommend or read to kids, because human brains are wired for story. But higher level literacy skills include understanding text structures. How to learn those? Picture books—specifically expository nonfiction picture books, which are written in a variety of text structures. In this interactive workshop, students are introduced to core text structures, analyze the text structures of some incredible picture books, and determine the best text structure for their own writing projects. This presentation can be tailored from upper elementary school through adults.

Becoming a Birder

Birding—simply watching and paying attention to birds—brings a lot of unexpected benefits. Research has shown that birding provides improvements in attention, memory, fitness and mental health. This presentation, geared for preschool through upper elementary grades, integrates science, literacy, music and art as students are introduced to common birds of their region and the process of field journaling.

Write On with Nonfiction!

Nonfiction can incorporate all the elements of great writing—elements like plot, theme, character arc and voice… The differences? Everything is true—and students can focus on writing about the things they love. This interactive presentation focuses on helping students capture ideas, narrow their approach, and find sources as they learn to put themselves into their writing. This presentation can be tailored from upper elementary to adult levels.

  • Engineering for Climate Change: Engineering—it’s for everyone! This presentation for lower elementary includes short reading from USING ENGINEERING TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE, a hands-on activity focusing on greenhouse gases, and a discussion of ways people can work to mitigate climate chaos.
  • Researching the Science: Animal Therapy: Why are dogs in hospitals? Hint: It isn’t only that they make people happy. Science shows that petting an animal lowers stress chemicals in your body—and that aids in healing. Dogs are in hospitals because the patients get better faster. In Researching the Science, students are given real-life scientific questions, and work together to brainstorm methods of designing a research study to find the answers. This presentation can be tailored from upper elementary to middle school levels.
  • Peacocks on Planes? The laws surrounding service, therapy and emotional support animals are complex—who would guess that “emotional support animals” is a term that pertains to the Fair Housing Act? This free presentation, geared for mixed age groups, Scout troops, homeschoolers, or adult groups, dives into the wacky world of animal law.

Rates:

For schools out of the greater Denver metro area, there is additional per-diem.

Note: $100 Discount on all programs for Title 1 Schools

In-person Visit Fees:

  • Single Presentation:  $250
  • Half Day (2 presentations):  $450
  • Full Day (3-4 presentations): $800 (Includes a “lunch with the author” for a small group of students selected by the school.)

Virtual Visits (Limited number per year):

  • 20 minute Author Q&A (including short reading): Free

Presentations are all available as a 40-minute video session for $150.

Upcoming Events:

 

10/10/26
Rocky Mountain Chapter SCBWI
Letters & Lines Conference. Panelist: “RMC Rocks!”

 

 

Select Past Presentations:

  • 9/11/26 CALCON (Colorado Association of Libraries’ Annual Conference)
    “Local Children’s Authors: A Vibrant Resource for your School and Public Library Communities.”
  • 2/6/26 CCIRA. “A Fresh Approach to Writing Nonfiction”
  • 11/22/25 NCTE Author Signing, Rocky Mountain SCBWI
  • 10/23-24/24 Northern Arizona University. “Write On! Nonfiction Writing Workshop,” “STEAMing into Literacy,” and “Sustainability Club.”
  • 7/5/24 Denver FanExpo. Panel Moderator: “I Say, “Hoy”, You Say, “Today” We All Say Horray!”
  • 8/17/23: Rocky Mountain Chapter SCBWI fall conference. “Author’s 101”
  • 7/22/23: Rocky Mountain Chapter SCBWI Nonfiction Writers. “Award Winning Nonfiction—and Winning Nonfiction Awards”
  • 10/23/21: Northern Colorado Writers Webinar Series. “Writing for the Educational Market”
  • 9/21/19: RMC SCBWI Denver South Connect. Recent PBs and Why They Work”
  • 4/5/19: Logan School for Creative Learning. “Service and Therapy Dogs”
  • 4/1/19: Denver Homeschool Group. “Service and Therapy Dogs”
  • 2/13/19: Denver Museum of Nature & Science. “Service, Therapy and Emotional Support Animals”
  • 9/6/18: Denver Public Library. “Laws surrounding Service, Therapy and Emotional Support Animals”
  • 6/20/18: University of Colorado Anschutz. “Laws surrounding Service, Therapy and Emotional Support Animals”
  • 6/9/18: RMC SCBWI Denver South Connect. “Query Letters”

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