Visits and Classes

SCHOOL AND LIBRARY VISITS FOR CHILDREN

Presenting programs and engaging students in dialogue about the creative process is one of my favorite parts of being an author.

I offer two options:

Live Visits:

My school visit fee is $1200 a day, which includes up to four presentations. My public library visits are $300 an hour. Add travel expenses if school or library is more than 50 miles from my home.

Virtual Visits:

This is a great option for schools further from my home (I live in Burlington, Connecticut) or with a limited budget. My fee is $300 an hour, and as many classrooms of similar age levels can Zoom in per school as needed.

Photo by Janice Williams

Engaging, relevant to our curriculum and FUN! Dana brought the audience on an interactive journey through the writing process that was informative and inspiring. She has such an easy way about her – completely accessible. She really knows how to connect with her audience and talk to kids. This was a super fantastic presentation!

Deb Kantrowitz
Grade 3 Teacher, Whiting Lane Elementary School, West Hartford, CT

SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS

INSIDE AN AUTHOR’S BACKPACK
(K to Grade 2, 30 minutes long)
We will discuss the “invisible backpack” an author wears their whole life. This backpack is a place to collect ideas–the experiences, characters, and observations that we can transform into stories!

RESEARCH, REWRITING, AND REWARDS
(Grades 2 to 5, 50 minutes long)
This program will engage students in the process from idea to bound book, focusing on biographies, specifically the Who Was Biography series. We will discuss the role of the author, including getting ideas, research techniques, development of plot, and the important task of rewriting. Then we will cover the roles of other hands in the process, such as the illustrator, editor, designer, and printer.

THE WRITE WORDS: BUILDING AN ICE CREAM SHOP
(Grades 3 to 5, 50 minutes long)
We will compare the process of writing nonfiction to the building of an ice cream shop, by discussing prewriting (making a blueprint), drafting (constructing the walls), and revision (adding the flavor!). This workshop includes lots of games and activities and is best with a classroom-sized group, but can also be adapted to a virtual visit. It can also be presented over two sessions for more depth..

Pause, play, repeat Writing Workshop

In spring, fall, and winter at the Farmington Valley Arts Center in Avon, CT, I teach the six-week writing workshop Pause, Play, Repeat. It offers writers a pause from personal and professional obligations to play with words, with a promise that we will repeat it as a habit. No pressure, no homework, no right way to “write.” In fact, it’s not only for writers looking for more practice, but for non-writers or artists looking to charge their creative batteries. Visit the Farmington Valley Arts Center site for a full description and details.

PRESENTATIONS FOR ADULT WRITERS, TEACHERS, OR LIBRARIANS

I am also available to speak at conferences geared to fellow authors refining their craft or to teachers and librarians who use my books in their classrooms or libraries.

Feel free to contact me.