Mona Hodgson
Author Visits

Presentations appropriate for Public, Christian, or Home Schools
Visit my School Visit Q & A page, which includes my answers to frequently asked questions, including my fee schedule.

Yippy yay it’s Author Day!

School visits are great fun! With a twinge of jealousy and much joy, I fit several school visits into my schedule each year because: 1) They are fun, fun, fun! 2) To assist educators in instilling a love and respect for the power and playfulness of words. 3) Author visits offer a face-to-face venue for inspiring students to write as a means of expression and communication. 4) To support literacy—one school and one student at a time.

I speak at schools, educators’ conventions, and writers’ conferences throughout the United States and Canada. Whether it is a public school, a private school, or a home-school event, I can provide interactive programs for pre-school through college students, and for teachers and librarians as well.

I’m happy to work with the school representative to shape each session to meet the needs of the various age groups and skill levels, and to accommodate the school’s specific goals for my visit. The same is true for teachers’ in-service programs, librarian events, and educator conferences.

My Publishing Credits Include . . .

·       28 Children’s Books: 8 Picture Books, 19 Early Readers, and 1 Middle Grade, nonfiction. 

·       Contributions to 11 books for adults.

·       Hundreds of articles and poems for adults and children in 50-plus periodicals.

·       Professional memberships: Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Arizona Reading Association, Society of Southwestern Authors, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.

 

A full-day visit consists of three or four sessions. A half-day visit consists of one or two sessions. Assembly presentations are interactive and individual classroom visits include exercises or activities designed for the age group. I am also available for multiple day visits to schools, districts, and cities.

 

 

Preschool

Yippy Yay Celebration of Books! – Pre-K-grade 1. This interactive session is full of story time fun. I talk about the concepts of a book author and illustrator and what I do. I read my book Bedtime in the Southwest. The story time introduces various desert critters and their habitat, and is full of interaction and animal sound-making. Pom poms, letter cards, and a cheer rounds out the celebration of books and reading. Purpose: To excite children about books, reading, and writing. 

Primary and Intermediate

Because I am a journalist with hundreds of article credits, a poet, and a children’s book author, I am able to offer a variety of session possibilities for students and teachers.  

 

Word Play: Poetry in Good Form – Adaptable for grades 2-8. This hands-on session celebrates words and creativity in a discovery of fun poetry forms and various means for building a poem.  

Story Building Blocks – Adaptable for grades 2-8. This popular workshop uses interview techniques to show students how to get to know a character and fill in the classic story structure.

 

Writing Picture Books – Adaptable for grades 1-8. This interactive session peels away the mystery of board book and picture book writing, illustrating, formatting, and marketing.  

Growing A Topic Tree –Adaptable for grades 3-8. This popular and interactive session examines one of the traits of writing: ideas. Students will learn out to branch out in developing their story ideas.  

Cinching Your Nonfiction – Adaptable for grades 3-8.  A rider will fall off of a horse if the saddle isn’t cinched tight. Readers will put down a sloppy or flat piece of writing. This hands-on session takes students through an editing exercise with a piece of their own writing.  

Multiple Choice Words - Adaptable for grades 3-8. What’s in a word? Mood, tone, images, meaning, and more. This session plays with words to find the right word.  

The Author’s Tool Belt – Adaptable for grades23-8. Especially suitable for assembly settings. This popular, interactive session celebrates books and reading in a look at ten basic tools of the writing trade.

 

I Wear Flip Flops to Work – Adaptable for grades 1-8. This session is especially suited for assemblies, offering a peek at the job of an author. Students see the value of writing and discover the path from idea to publication. This also works well as a full-day workshop for a Young Authors Day.

 


Are you still curious about my author visits? Visit my School Visit Q & A page, which includes my answers to frequently asked questions, including my fee schedule.

 

 

Here’s what a few people have said about my visits to their schools:

“Thank you again for your wonderful visit to our school. Your presentations were marvelous. School librarian

“I liked how you told us the steps of writing and how you get your ideas.”  Lindsay

“I have been thinking of being a writer myself and you have further inspired me to do this. I loved your suggestion of the tree, I shall use it to improve my writing. I also love your series of books on animal critters. Thank you for sharing your talent and creativity with us.  P.S.  I can’t wait until your next book comes out!”  Virginia, a devoted reader!  6th grade

“Thank you for coming in and explaining the writing process to us. I also enjoyed hearing about the books you have written and about your life as an author. I hope other kids are as lucky as me to hear you speak to schools like mine. Thanks again,” Caitlin
 

 

After School Events for Adults

 

I’m happy to include parents, teachers, and the community in my visit. Here are some possibilities:

 

Family Literacy Night – I can perform a lively story telling session and offer tips on supporting literacy in the home.

 

International Reading Association – I can provide your state and regional council members with a behind the scenes look at a book from idea to publication.

 

Teacher In-Service Meetings -  I can provide teachers with a behind the scenes look at a book from idea to publication. I also offer workshops for teacher. See my For Event Planners/For Educators page for those topics.

 

School Visit Q&A

 

Topics For Educators