February
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Author Visit Addict by Lindsey Anderson
Confession time. I am an author visit addict. Is that a thing? You can decide as you read this, but know that it’s contagious, and it’s a good problem to have. Need proof? I started this school year with one confirmed author on the books, and before the first semester ended, I’d hosted six. With another visit planned this spring, seven may be the lucky number it’s rumored to be.
Ten years ago, I held the first author event at my school library. I was in the process of revamping book fair week. Tired of just rolling out the cases, hanging up a few decorations and signs, and hosting lackluster family nights, I took it down to the studs and started over. We were going to celebrate and stir up excitement about reading in a big way. There’d be games, prizes, and the highlight of the week- the author visit.
I had a shoestring budget, which the parent organization graciously matched, and I invited Vivian Vande Velde and Candie Moonshower. I’d enjoyed talking with Vivian at a librarians’ conference the previous year, and she was a nominee for our state book award. Candie lived nearby, and she’d just released a book based on a part of our state’s history, so it seemed like a great way to start. Sales boosted, families actually came out for family night, and students were sad to see the squeaky metal cases go.
For once, the excitement of book fair week lingered. It wasn’t the games, kitschy prizes, the catchy themed decor, or the bonus book fair dollars earned, but the author visit did more than I ever expected. It was like a part of our library sprang to life, as we sat at the feet of our guest authors. We were mesmerized by their stories as they shared how the spark of an idea grew into the very books we held in our hands. It was like getting to peek behind the curtain of the written word. Nothing short of magic. I was hooked.
Ten years and forty author visits later, my students have heard some of the most amazing storytellers in children’s and young adult literature. Roland Smith shared how he helped save the red wolf from extinction. Tim Green told about the dedication it takes to play in the NFL. Ruta Sepetys worked in the music industry, yet she wondered about her Lithuanian roots and it lead her to write. CJ Redwine and Soman Chainani transported us to other worlds, and we time traveled with Margaret Peterson Haddix. We made origami Yodas with Tom Angleberger, and we laughed our heads off with Chris Grabenstein. We were a-buzz when the news broke that Bill Finger would finally be acknowledged for his role in the creation of Batman because Marc Tyler Nobleman told us Bill’s story. We walked the red carpet with Wendelin Van Draanen as we saw how Flipped became a movie. You could hear a pin drop as Alan Gratz described the endurance of Yanek Gruener, and we rollicked in our seats as Nathan Hale sketched a super special Hazardous Tale for us.
Wendelin Van Draanen with students
It’s really not the number of author visits. I’m not attempting to shatter any records, but it’s the experience that our school shares. It’s the looks on the faces of the students as they listen. It’s the questions they ask, like, “What did you have to give up in order to follow your dream of being a writer?” It’s the quiet student who brought his foster parents to family night to meet Alan Gratz and get his copy of Prisoner B-3087 signed. It’s the Holocaust survivor who showed up at our school to hear Ruta Sepetys because she saw the event advertised in the local newspaper. It’s the former student who stopped by to say hello and recalled the year her favorite author came, and she got to have lunch with her, on her birthday. One of my students was the first kid in America to receive a copy of I, Even Funnier, courtesy of Chris Grabenstein. A framed original sketch by Nathan Hale of the Lewis and Clark expedition hangs in my library. There are so many wonderful memories, and I’m always looking ahead with wonder to the coming school years as to who will bring their magic through our doors.
Chris Grabenstein book give away
I wish I could say all of this easily happens and there aren’t countless hours spent behind the scenes. I once counted 112 emails exchanged over a single date. I worry about how to afford future speakers, and if testing will edge out the next event I’ve planned. Worries and extra work aside, I’ve seen the remarkable returns on my investment of planning, hard work, and enthusiasm. I can’t take the whole school on a field trip, but this is as close as I can get, and perhaps, even better.
Marc Tyler Nobleman speaks to students
So, if you’ve never hosted an author, or it’s been a while, look up the authors of your top ten most checked out books, see who’s on your state award lists, see who lives nearby or who will Skype. Schedule a visit for your school or share a visit with a school in your district. Then, watch as your readers read even more, those stuck in one genre venture into another, your reluctant readers finally connect with a book, and nonfiction is no longer boring. Before you know it, you might be an addict, too.
Lindsey Anderson with author Nathan Hale
Lindsey Anderson is a teacher librarian at Woodland Middle School in Brentwood, Tennessee. She’s a former English teacher, writer, and mom to four sons and four pets. She loves reading as much as she loves Nashville indie music. Connect on Twitter: @LindsKAnderson or check out her library’s website: http://edublogs.wcs.edu/wmslib/
Nerdy Book Club 
Love reading this as I prepare to head out for an author visit today. Thanks for the great post!
We may have to start an addict’s club. Oh, wait–this is one! I love hosting authors at our school, too. We’ve had J. Scott Savage sharing the power of creativity and Peggy Eddleman encouraging students to work with their strengths. Janette Rallison had everyone laughing at how she takes the stories of day to day life and incorporates them into her writing. Robison Wells visit was powerful as he shared his struggles to overcome mental illness and yet still write engaging books my students love! We held our own CyborgMonday with Marissa Meyer. I’ve learned how to schedule around testing by working with our after school program and GEAR UP to bring authors to evening reading celebrations in the spring. Our April Día de los Libros funded by a grant will feature Chad Morris and Lisa Mangum.
We love to celebrate reading whether it’s sharing our holiday reads with games and hot chocolate or hanging out with the mayor and city council for a barbeque.
Whatever it takes to assure that our Norsemen Read Every Day! And they write and draw, too!
I agree completely – hosting an author is a magical event! We hosted our favorite, Obert Skye, last week – his fourth visit to our school in the last nine years, and he was absolutely tremendous, as always. Thank you for sharing your experiences!
As an author setting up book events at local schools, I want to say thanks for the encouragement. I sometimes feel like a vacuum cleaner salesman making cold calls. You have given me a much happier perspective today.
You are a fantastic host and get the kids excited before we get there! Thank you for that!
Great job Lindsey! I’d like to think I might have had a very small part in this addiction after choosing you to help host Laurie Halse Anderson (wasn’t it?) at conference. No doubt, you are the queen of author visits in Middle Tennessee!
How does one fund so many author visits? I run two Scholastic Book fairs per school year and can only just cover one author visit. I usually have to pay for feeding the author out of my own pocket (which I’m happy to do). Does the money come out of your regular library budget? Thanks for any suggestions!
Hello Lindsey!
A friend sent me a link to this blog. I just finished thanking her, and mentioning that as soon as I saw your name in the link, I thought: “That name sounds familiar.” (I had a wonderful time meeting you and Candie Moonshower. And, of course, your attentive and well-prepared students.)
But the main reason I wanted to write was to say: What a wonderful endorsement of why authors visiting schools is so important! I love what you said, and how you said it. Librarians pave the way to getting kids excited about reading. But a visit from an author is an extra push. My biggest joys during school visits have been when a teacher or librarian pulls me aside and says: “That kid sitting in front who asked that question about…(whatever)? I put him there to be able to keep my eye on him in case he caused trouble. He’s never been a reader, but he was interested in what you were saying about…(again, whatever). And he came up to me afterwards and wanted to check out that book you showed.”
I always try to end my talks by telling kids that if they think they aren’t a reader, they should talk to their librarian about things they are interested in–a particular sports team, zoo animals, computer games… And I assure them that I believe they don’t like reading because they haven’t found the right book yet, and that if they talk to their librarian, that librarian can help them find the right book for them. I have heard back from kids–sometimes years later–that they eventually found that book. Whether it’s one of mine or one their librarian suggested to them, that’s a magical moment.
VVV
PS I wish I was more computer savvy. I found a 10-year-old picture of us, but I haven’t a clue how to attach it!
If I’m ever in Tennessee, I’d love to visit your school!
We have the best librarian at Woodland. You have a way of getting the students engaged and excited about author visits. The authors you have brought in have been great for the parents also. Our community has benefited all around.
What a gift you’re giving your students! I know an author visit would have rocked my world when I was a kid.
I shared a similar post yesterday at my blog, for interested readers: Four Places to Find Authors Who Want to Visit Your School http://carolinestarrrose.com/5165-2/
Thank you for this post! I love the look on students’ faces (and teachers’) when I give talks at schools. Author visits result in something intangible that has a huge impact, but can’t be measured. Those special days are the ones students remember . . . and, take my word for it, so do the authors. Great post.
Great entry. I had a blast visiting your school, Lindsay.
This is so inspiring! We had an author, Colleen Houck, volunteer to visit our school last year, because her nephew was a student here. It was so amazing, but we don’t have the budget to bring in other authors. I did, however, organize an evening field trip to a bookstore half an hour down the freeway to see Margaret Peterson Haddix–the principal paid for the bus, and 28 kids showed up on a Thursday night to attend. I’m going to look into Skype visits and local authors now…thanks for the ideas!
I remember those first visits, Lindsey. The authors had has much fun as your kids. For the TASL event i hosted Laurie Halse Anderson and Vivian Vande Velde at my house for spaghetti. My daughter was able to have her copy of Speak signed–even a college kid loves to meet authors! Keep it up, Lindsey.
We have tried, unsuccessfully, over the years to bring authors to our school but the cost is usually prohibitive. Your post opens up other avenues for us to try. I admire your perseverance in making it happen!! Your students are lucky to have you!
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