Want to host an author event at your school or organization?
FANTASTIC!
Here are several tips that I – and other authors – have found to make the even more successful for everyone!
Book the author well in advance. If you can, please give the author 2-3 months’ notice at the very least. Authors have to schedule school visits around deadlines, drafts, editor/agent meetings, and life. Authors should not be a last-minute fill-in or entertainment event.
Pay your author. I know that schools and other small organizations have thin budgets, but an author “fee” helps with travel, preparation time, precious hours away from their regular work, and event “swag.” Expect to pay extra if the author has to travel more than 30 minutes from their starting point.
Prepare for the visit. Please be sure that teachers and students read and discuss – or at least are in the process of studying – the author’s book(s) before the author arrives. This ensures that everyone is “on the same page” with presentation material and can engage smartly and thoughtfully in conversation. Otherwise, students see the author as Any Author Writing Everything and Anything They Read, Ever.
Think about your audience. You might not want to ask a Middle Grade or YA author to speak to a group of kindergartners, unless that MG or YA author is also known for fantastic sing-alongs, read-alouds, and general “littles” entertainment. And on the flip side, if you ask a Picture Book author to speak to a group of sixth graders, what angle would you like them to take to keep those older students interested?
Be present and participate. Please make sure that not only the event coordinator is present and engaged for the author’s event, but also the teachers. You wouldn’t invite a guest to your home and then leave, or have something else “better to do,” right? Authors love kids, but should not be babysitters for the day.
Offer a little special treatment. If you don’t have lots of parking at your school, please make sure the author has a designated space. Please assign the author a “host” or “handler” for the day. The host should have water on hand, provide directions to a nearby restroom, or act as a technology helper. Please try to generate some buzz or enthusiasm at your school. You want your author to feel appreciated!
Speak up. If you expect certain “swag” or content, please be specific when first contacting your author. Please mention certain curriculum content, ask for a particular number of book donations, outline how you think sessions should go. An author might not be able to fulfill your entire request; however, clear communication gives an author a sense of direction, content, or materials expected.
Most of all, collaborate with your Author!
Have fun!