Author Visits

An Author Visit is the ultimate communication between students and the written word. Lynn’s visits motivate students to read, write, and discover word play. It helps with vocabulary building, speaking, reading comprehension, and understanding how books and stories are written.

Programs in Schools:

Lynn Salsi writes picture books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, and non-fiction for adults and children. She enjoys sharing stories and likes to talk about writing and reading (based on her 15 books). She presents grade-level programs on reading, writing, storytelling, and the process of book publishing for elementary, middle, and high school students.

School and library presentations may include large assembly programs, readings, storytellings, and writing workshops. Lynn makes 20 school appearances per year, so many of her dates are scheduled well in advance.

Conferences:

Lynn speaks regularly at conferences of teachers, librarians, and writers. She is available as a key-note speaker. She also conducts reading/writing workshops and break-out sessions. She presents professional development for teachers, including writing, energizing writing, storytelling, and examining the use of myth in modern-day novels.

Working in Tandem with a Family Library Program:

County cultural arts programs often like to sponsor a special program open to all residents for a Saturday or evening concert, sometimes in tandem with a school performance. Children and adults come together to experience the power of words. (A balladeer is available to add music to this program.)

Lynn also has special lists of topics that she presents for writing, reading, and storytelling workshops.      

Multi-media Program:

James Young and Lynn Salsi present a fast-paced multi-media author day program including illustrating, writing, storytelling, music, and book-making that can easily reach every student in the school. They have collaborated in the creation of three children's books and have another title forthcoming. When booked together, they offer a slight discount (less than doubling the day rate.)

Their day-long program involves more sessions, including a double book signing. In the afternoon, James covers two or three books he has written and illustrated that are appropriate picture books and easy readers in grades K, 1, and 2. Lynn’s afternoon grade-level sessions are for grades 3, 4, and 5. This equals a total of three main stage morning shows and a total of four afternoon sessions.   

Travel:

Lynn and James live in Greensboro, NC; however, they travel throughout the United States. Author Visit and conference sponsors are responsible for travel expenses. They drive to as many venues as possible, but travel by plane to venues outside of North Carolina when necessary. However, that requires arriving the day before the presentation. Travel arrangements will be made by Lynn and the venue will be notified of the total amount prior to confirming the booking. Travel fees are payable in advance. Schools are invited to co-op expenses by booking the authors over a two or three day period.

Elementary School Programs Include:

• Elementary Afternoon Programs: (Mornings are reserved for main stage events)
• Creation of the book…from an idea to a book
• For grades 1 and 2 - focus on finding a story and title using Lynn’s picture book
• For grades 3 - examination of characters using Appalachian Jack Tales
• For grades 4 and 5 - how to create scenes with two characters, including visualizing the setting. (5th graders are asked to participate in a writing exercise.)
• Upon request – Presentation on revision – writing draft after draft
• Upon request – Reader’s Theater 
  

Middle School and High School Programs:

• Large group 50-minute programs involve an audio-visual presentation with a reading and Q. and A.
• Note: Workshops for students 6th grade and over should last more than one class period in order to include writing exercises and a question and answer period.
• Creation of the book – focus on the entire process
• Becoming a Writer (uses audio-visual)
• Uses question and answer. - May be presented in workshop or lecture format.
• Story writing - The Power of a Good Story – Includes thinking in story, finding stories, putting stories into books. May be presented in lecture format or workshop format (including in-class writing exercises.
• Workshop - The Power of Words
• How myths help fire the imagination and work in modern day fiction
• Reader’s Theater works well with grades 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (requires prior planning)
• For grades 11, 12 and adults: Lynn de-constructs her novel, Firefight, showing students how the novel was written. This includes verb choice, action scenes, and literary allusion. Participants need to be familiar with the novel.  
  

Fees:

Full day Author in Schools:

• $850 per day / $500 half day (half day only available within 60 mile radius driving distance of the author’s location or for a special presentation following a full-day performance.

One day visits include:

• 3— 50 minute assemblies (Staged for two or three grades per group. Content is tailored for each age.) These are  main stage presentations with audience participation, storytelling, how books are written, and music (depending on the program).

• 2— 45 minute small group grade-level workshops (after lunch) are designed to inspire imagination and creativity. These may include a book talk, a reading, or reader’s theater (grades 4 and 5 only), poetry writing (to inspire imagination and creativity). (Double the number of small group presentations if Lynn Salsi and James Young  appear on the same day at the same school.)
  

Conference Speeches:

• $1,200 - $2,500 - Depending on travel distance.      

Special Notes and Things to Consider:

• When booking school visits, hosts should review their goals for the programs and analyze whether the entire school student body will take part, or if the program will be a special experience for one or two grades (or specific history or English classes) to gain deep insight?
• Students who are familiar with Lynn’s books (and James's) prior to the event gain the most from the visit. Also, some schools order books for resale to students at a wholesale price directly from the appropriate publishers. This allows for an author book signing. This must be done about six weeks in advance. Lynn’s background includes directing children’s theater, working as an elementary teacher, and a freshman college composition instructor. Whether to order books from the publisher can be decided after the booking date is decided. This is strictly an optional part of the visit, although many schools book the author signing as the high point of the day.
• We also have a free C.D. available featuring Lynn talking about one of her books. Please request this.
• Since presentations can include main-stage events, workshops, readings, storytelling, examination of history/culture/traditions, all day presentations can be tailor-made for small groups, large groups, interactive or multi-media.
• Host schools receive study guides in advance for each grade level. Therefore teachers have an opportunity to review these prior to Author Day.
• The author also furnishes handouts for students, generally full-color bookmarks and coloring sheets for the youngest grade levels.