THANK YOU, TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS!

As summer approaches, I want to say a big THANK YOU for . . .

1.  Many memorable school visits . . .

2.  Fun Skype visits/Google Hangout, World Read Aloud Day . . .

Some of you have hosted me at conferences and festivals.  Some have made very generous donations to children's literacy organizations.  And one of you sent me an umbrella that came in very handy.  (You know who you are!)

Each of you has dedicated your time and energy to enriching the lives of children.  

What you do matters in ways you can't imagine.  You change lives.  You make this world a better place by being an advocate for the children you interact with every day.

You deserve a lovely, restorative summer!

If you've always wanted to write, check out Kate Messner's FREE summer on-line writing workshops for teachers.  Authors provide guest posts all summer and answer questions.  The writing workshop will be hosted on Kate's blog.  You can join the FB group here.

Or maybe you're looking for great summer reads.  Sign up for Jen Robinson's Book Page newletter, crammed with inspiring book recommendations, news and interesting links.

Or travel to exotic locations (or at least dream about them) by signing up for Travel Zoo's Weekly Top 20 Travel Deals.

Whatever you do this summer, have a wonderful time filled with the things you love best.  You deserve it!

THANK YOU!!!

All the Fun Stuff Going On . . .

The past 5 months, I've had some late nights and long weekends writing and revising and re-revising DEATH BY TOILET PAPER.

Yesterday, I had the great pleasure of hitting "SEND."  My agent, Tina Wexler, responded with an e-mail that every writer dreams of -- praise so generous it made me tear up.  Twice.

Now, I'll work with my editor, Michelle Poploff, and the awesome team at Random House to make this the best book possible.  I can't wait for its release next year!

I've been doing lots more than writing and revising these past five months.

There have been oodles of school visits, including the week I spent in Fort Worth, TX with incredible hosts, extraordinary students and . . . Clifford the Big Red Dog.

Eager Briscoe Elementary students

I've traveled the country virtually doing tons of Skype visits, like this one with 6th grade students in VA . . .

Thanks, Ms. Buchanan, for sharing your FUNderful students with me.

I've received lovely notes from students, including these thank you letters from Mr. Schu's students in IL and Ms. Luchie's students in ME from World Read Aloud Day. 

Thank You Notes from Mr. Schu's students.  (Dogs not included.)

Teddy guarding the thank you notes from Ms. Luchie's students.  (Thanks, Teddy!)

I created a fun OLIVIA BEAN, TRIVIA QUEEN quiz for Random Buzzers that includes trivia and a chance for kids to earn Buzz Bucks and "buy" books with them.  Check it out!

Recently, I spoke at a luncheon with Jim Cummings.  He spent a year in Africa with no running water or electricity and counts it as the best of his life.  Jim has created an amazing project -- KIJANA EDUCATIONAL EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE -- which connects children across cultures, provides educational spaces, puts books into kids' hands in Kenya and more.

Kijana Educational Empowerment Initiative

There are only 4 days left to contribute to his Kijana Lwanda Maktaba Campaign.

There are great "thank you" gifts for even the smallest donation.  Won't you take a moment to donate?  I just did.  Kijana Lwanda Maktaba Campaign.

HERE'S WHAT I'LL BE DOING THROUGH THE END OF APRIL . . .

1.  APRIL IS FOR AUTHORS -- Saturday, April 27th at Palm Beach Gardens High School, 25 authors from around the country will give presentations, participate in panel discussions and sign books at this FREE event from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.   This is a wonderful annual event.  If you live in or near Palm Beach County, FL, be sure to stop by this Saturday.

2.  I'll be attending the 26th annual CONFERENCE ON CHILDREN'S LITERATURE in Ft. Lauderdale Friday.  I had spoken there a few years ago.  This time, I'm going to enjoy a great lineup of speakers, including the Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Walter Dean Myers.  Can't wait!

3.  And I'll be doing THREE days of local school visits. 

I'm excited about each of these visits, but especially about the last one because . . . Thanks to the generosity of Kids in Need, Books in Deed, a nonprofit organization, every one of the students I'll be speaking to at this Title I school has been given a copy of one of my books.  A brand new book to keep.  (Something I never had growing up.)

I can't tell you what it feels like to present to a group of low-income students who ask how they can get a copy of a book, only to be told there are no copies for them.  Kids in Need, Books in Deed is a great organization, and I've already made a donation to thank them for the important work they do here in Florida, getting books into kids' hands in conjunction with author visits.

After the whirlwind of activity the past 5 months and what's on the horizon for the remainder of April, I'm pretty sure on May 1st, you'll find me here . . .

SKYPE VISITS WITH KATE MESSNER -- Top 6-1/2 List

TOP 6-1/2 LIST:
HOW TO SURVIVE YOUR FIRST SKYPE AUTHOR VISIT
BY KATE MESSNER

Kate Messner is the author of THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z. (2009) and SUGAR AND ICE (December 2010), both from Walker/Bloomsbury. Her MARTY MCGUIRE chapter book series with Scholastic debuts in 2011, along with two picture books from Chronicle. Learn more at her website: www.katemessner.com

Kate is also a National Board Certified middle school English teacher and contributor to School Library Journal. Her SLJ technology feature “Met Any Good Authors Lately?” has inspired both authors and teachers to give Skype author visits a try. Kate will be speaking on virtual author visits at the International Reading Association Conference in Chicago this April and the New England SCBWI Conference in May.

How to Survive Your First Skype Author Visit

1. Download Skype. www.skype.com It’s free. Install it and register with a username. For authors, using your whole name will make you easier to find.
2. Take a test run. Skype with a friend. Or your mom. Make sure your computer, camera, and microphone work well. And you can also use this time to practice looking at the camera so the people on the other end of your visit will feel like you’re really talking to them.
3. Decide what kind of visits you’ll offer and when. Will you do free Q and A sessions with groups that have read your book? How much will you charge for longer presentations? When are you available for Skype visits? Knowing all of this before you get requests will make things a lot easier.
4. Let teachers & librarians know you’re available. You can join the terrific Skype-An-Author Network here: http://skypeanauthor.wetpaint.com/ And leave a comment to be added to the updated list of Authors Who Skype with Book Clubs that’s linked from the SLJ feature. http://kmessner.livejournal.com/106020.html
5. Once you get a request, it’s a good idea to make sure the teacher or librarian is familiar with Skype, too. Teachers should also have students prepare questions in advance. There’s a how-to list with the SLJ technology feature on this topic, “Met Any Good Authors Lately?” Here’s an online link you can share with teachers to help them prepare. http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6673572.html
6. On the day of your Skype visit, make sure your computer area is ready. Check to see what your audience will be able to see in the background behind you, and make sure there won’t be loud interruptions like kids or dogs (unless you plan to introduce your dog, which can be fun, too!

6 1/2. When it’s time for your visit, log onto Skype and look for the username of your contact person. Either call him or her, or wait for the call – whatever you’ve arranged in advance. And have fun! The kids on the other end will be excited to talk with you using this cool technology. Happy Skyping!

Thanks, Kate, for taking time out of your BUSY schedule to share information about creating a successful Skype author visit and for contributing to this occasional series of wit and wisdom from editors, agents and authors!