=========
the sequel:
available July 1
in a bookstore
near you!
details here
to schedule a
school visit
or for details
email me:
ruthexpress@aol.com
 |
School
Visits:
Download this info here as
a Word doc or here as a
pdf.
For a .doc book order form you can modify,
click here.
Thank you for considering bringing me to your school
to talk about writing, illustrating and journaling!
I’m an energetic speaker, happy to educate and
entertain kids of all ages.
Session content depends on the audience attention
span and any themes the teachers might want added.
What to expect from my author visit at your
school:
Presentations:
I prefer 3 or 4 formal sessions per day. All generally include
the same basic speaking points; less for younger kids,
more for older ones.
My visit includes props, audience interaction, quick sketching,
some writing/illustration basics, and a question/answer period.
For small groups I bring my oversize drawing pad and easel.
For very large groups, if you supply an overhead projector
I will bring transparencies to draw on.
For first through sixth graders I cover most or all
of the following:
1. Sketch the teachers or some of the kids while they're
filing into the room. This always generates excitement resulting
in rapt attention.
2. Introduce my two Ellie McDoodle books, sketching some
of the characters.
3. Recount some of my early reading, writing, art and journaling
anecdotes (with samples of sketch journals from when I was a
teen), some tough obstacles that prevented me from following
my dreams, my family and how they feature in my work, and
my path to publication, including fun stuff from my advertising job.
4. Play a couple ditties on my harmonica. (Mozart wrote Twinkle,
Twinkle, Little Star at age 6, but my music from age 6 isn't so
impressive. That's ok; we don't have to excel at everything)
5. Demonstrate sketching with easy-to-remember tips.
6. Sample sketches & revisions from my in-progress picturebook
(which is being documented in a journal, by the way!).
Describe the story and some of the decisions made for the
illustrations and writing.
Discuss the process from first idea to publication.
7. The importance of journaling, writing, art, expressing ideas.
8. Persistence: Against obstacles, against the odds, and when
feeling defeated.
9. Examples of other recent nonstandard books, especially
graphic novel-ish books. Talk about how each student's own
unique vision of the world is important and valuable.
10. Q&A: 10-15 minutes answering questions from the audience.
Typed out, this sounds like a lot, but it's easy for kids
to follow and stay engaged.
Presentation to kindergartners: half hour
I introduce my Ellie books with emphasis on the character
Ben-Ben, read a picturebook aloud, discuss how art conveys
emotion in books, sketch on a large easel, show how to see
shapes in objects while sketching, and play a couple songs
on my harmonica. If there's time and interest, I show art
from my work-in-progress picturebook and tell the story.
Scheduling Suggestion:
Split the grades into three sessions, k-1, 2-3, and 4-5, and
add a special session with a small group of the most promising
writers and illustrators. Teachers choose about 3 students
from each homeroom, grade 2 and up, for an interactive
presentation about reading, writing and illustrating.
What you should provide, please:
-A microphone if the room and group are very large
(clip-on is best since I need my hands to draw).
-A table to put props on.
-Teachers in attendance to help with any issues that might arise.
-A bottle or glass of water if possible (thank you!).
-Basic introduction of my books to the students before I arrive,
so they know I'm coming and what I do.
-Sessions in the same room where possible (I bring heavy
books and cumbersome equipment).
-Book sales if possible.
-Lunch.
-Hotel accommodations for venues more than 3 hours from my home.
-A foot massage after a long day (nope, just kidding!).
Book sales:
Send a book order form
home with your students
in advance of my appearance.
The more familiar students are with the book, the more
likely they are to want to buy it.
To get books to sell, contact your local bookstore,
or Partners Book Distributing, Inc., in Holt, Michigan,
or my publisher, Bloomsbury Children’s Books
(email me for contact information).
|
Title: Ellie McDoodle: New Kid in School (hardcover)
ISBN-13: 978-1599902388
Retail price: $12.99
Available June 24, 2008 |
 |
Title: Ellie McDoodle: Have Pen, Will Travel (paperback)
ISBN-13: 978-1599902760
Retail price: $5.99
(includes a new section at the back: How to draw like Ellie!)
Available April 30, 2008 |
 |
Title: Ellie McDoodle: Have Pen, Will Travel (hardcover)
ISBN-13: 978-1-58234-745-5
Retail price: $11.95 (sell at a discount or keep
the profits as a fund-raiser)
Available May 1, 2007 |
Contracts:
Need a contract? A W-9 form?
Email me: ruthexpress@aol.com
My rate:
$500 for a full day of 4 presentations, plus travel expenses,
$200 per hour for less than full day visits.
(Rates will probably go up in spring, 2009)
Budget constraints?
Email me. Advance sales of my books at your school
can help pay for my visit fee.
I’m happy to answer any
questions: ruthexpress@aol.com |
