Appearances

School visits

As a writer, I’m used to sitting alone in my office, isolated from my surroundings as I try to string words and ideas together to tell a story. But I also love telling those stories to people face to face. Kids in particular inspire me with their curiosity.

FAQs

How would you structure a successful visit to our school? 
Although every school has different needs, I would suggest a combination of large- and small-group presentations. I would speak and show slides or a PowerPoint presentation at an assembly, plus lead one or two writers’ workshops and perhaps visit one or two classrooms for a question-and-answer session.

Do you need any equipment? 
I often use PowerPoint in my presentations. I bring my laptop computer, but need your projector and screen. Some of my writers’ workshops require students to come prepared with photographs or other items. If you choose to have me present any workshops, I will give you a heads-up as to the materials required.

Will you eat lunch with students? 
I will be happy to eat lunch with a select group of students. One school that I visited ran a contest in which students had to write why they wanted to have lunch with the “Author of the Day.” The staff chose eight winners, and we shared chicken nuggets and Tater Tots.

You often speak about women’s sports. Will boys be interested in your programs? 
I have found that boys are very interested in my presentations because they relate to the material as athletes or sports fans. They can appreciate the challenges faced by athletes, whether those athletes are male or female.

How can we prepare for your visit? 
An author visit is an investment of time and money for your school, but if handled correctly, it can provide an unparalleled educational experience. Here are six ways to get ready for my visit:

1. Make several copies of my books available in the school library,
   and encourage students to read them.
   

2. Have teachers and students surf the material on my Web site, suemacy.com.
   

3. Show a film or video on the subject matter. If I will be speaking about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, show A League of Their Own. For an Annie Oakley talk, show Annie Get Your Gun. I can suggest other films or videos to complement my other books as well.
   

4. If you’re planning a classroom question-and-answer session, brainstorm possible questions before the visit. Assign students to ask specific questions to make sure all of them are covered.
   

5. Create bulletin boards on sports heroes of the past, such as Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Wilma Rudolph, Billie Jean King, Althea Gibson, and Mia Hamm (as well as men such as Jim Thorpe, Jesse Owens, Babe Ruth, Muhammad Ali, and Michael Jordan).
   

6. Publicize the visit in parent-teacher newsletters and other community publications and websites. Have a school or local reporter cover the visit. The coverage might help when you campaign for funding for future author visits.
   

How can we arrange for students to purchase your books? 
Six weeks before my visit, send a letter and an order form home with students. (I can provide samples if you like.) Order the books directly from my publishers, and have them shipped to you. (I will provide contact numbers for the publishers.) Most publishers offer a 40 percent discount to schools, so your parent-teachers organization may want to organize the book purchase as a fundraiser. I will be happy to autograph the books during my visit. Just make sure to leave time for an autograph session.

How much do you charge? 
Generally, my fee for a full day at a school is $1,500. That includes up to five presentations, usually a mixture of large assemblies, writers’ workshops, and more intimate visits to individual classrooms. I also do a half-day program for $800. That includes up to two presentations, workshops, or class visits. If I need to travel more than 100 miles to a location from my home in northern New Jersey, I request that you book me for a full day and put me up in a motel the night before. If I need to fly or take a train to your location, I ask that you pay the round-trip fare.

What’s the best way to contact you? 
Use the form on the Contact Me page with your request and I will get back to you, usually within a day.

How far in advance should we book your visit? 
I need approximately three months notice for most speaking engagements. Since I often focus on women’s history, March is a particularly busy month. If you’re interested in a March visit, I suggest contacting me as early as you can!

What happens after we have booked your visit?
Once we have worked out the details, I will prepare a letter of agreement that includes the dates, fees, equipment needed, grade levels expected, number of presentations, types of presentations (i.e., large assemblies, writers’ workshops, individual class visits), topics to be covered, and any other important information. I will sign the letter and forward it to you for your signature. About a month before the visit, I’ll check in to confirm the visit and to see if there are any last-minute changes.

Do you make electronic classroom visits via Skype?
Yes! Contact me with your request and I will respond with information regarding my rates and availability.

ProGrams

Over the years, I’ve spoken at scores of schools, libraries, colleges, conferences, and other special events. Here are some of my tried-and-true programs and workshops. Each has a duration of about 40 minutes to one hour and can be targeted to any age group, from first graders to adults. Most include a PowerPoint slide show

1. Wheels of Change
How the Bicycle Emancipated Women and Changed American Life Forever

2. Nonfiction Research Skills
Separating Fact From Fiction in Researching and Writing Engaging True Stories

3. Women’s Sports in the Roaring Twenties
How Female Athletes Shattered Stereotypes a Century Ago

4. Women in the Early Days of the Motor Car
How Some Stubborn Motor Girls Overcame Resistance to Women Behind the Wheel

5. The Book Rescuer
How Aaron Lansky Saved Yiddish Literature for Generations To Come

6. In a League of Their Own
The Story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

7. I Edited a Dictionary!
Memorable Encounters From My Career as an Author and an Editor

8. Forgotten Heroes of Women’s Sports History
An Overview of Amazing Athletes From the Past 120 Years

9. Your Choice!
I will work with you to tailor one or more presentations to your curriculum and classroom needs. 

Writers’ Workshops
These hands-on, interactive writing labs can be targeted to students in grades 4 through 12 in a classroom or library setting. Each can last 40 to 90 minutes (one-to-two class periods).

10. Life Stories
Helping Students Write Biographies, Autobiographies, and Memoirs

11. A Picture Is Worth 125 Words
Using Photographs as a Starting Point When You Write