VIRGINIA SCHOMP

BIOGRAPHY I BOOKS I PRESENTATIONS I BOOK ORDERING

School Presentations - Virginia is available for presentations to elementary and middle-school students. A typical presentation includes:

--A Writer's Journey: A brief biography, tracing her personal journey from class bookworm to author.

--The Writing Process: The steps involved in researching, organizing material, and writing a nonfiction book.

--Trials and Tribulations: A look at some of the pitfalls and frustrations of writing, with practical solutions.

 --The Publishing Process: A brief discussion of the steps involved in turning a typewritten manuscript into a printed book.

--Questions and Answers

Presentations are tailored to the grade level. A typical session for older students can last from 45 to 60 minutes; for younger students, about 30 minutes.

She prefers groups no larger than a double classroom, roughly 50 to 60 students. Students should be grouped by grade level.

She finds it easier to connect with students in an intimate setting - a classroom or lunchroom rather than a large auditorium. A small group of very young students might sit in a circle on the floor. For larger groups of older students, she will need a table at the head of the room to hold materials. She usually brings samples of the different stages of a publishing project, from handwritten draft to typed manuscript, printed galleys, layout, and bound book.

She has done up to six 45-minute presentations in one day, moving from one classroom to the next in a single school.

Presentations can be tailored to individual needs. For example, she has given very brief talks to groups of K-2 children, followed by a hands-on session in which they make their own writer's journal. She has also given 2-hour workshops for small groups of aspiring middle-school writers, in which participants read and critique one another's work.

Equipment Needed - A table large enough to hold her materials.

Honorarium - Her honorarium should be presented to her following the last presentation on the last day.  Generally speaking, she charges $650 a day, plus expenses (3 sessions) for local visit. For appearances that require travel by airline, she charges $800 a day, plus exxpenses (3 sessions). This can be discussed with Catherine Balkin of Balkin Buddies.  Please contact her by phone or email.

For further information, especially about the expenses (travel, hotel, and meals), click the "Arrange An Appearance" button and see "General Information on the Cost of an Author Appearance" as well as the 'Honorariums' section near the bottom of "How to Plan an Author Appearance."

Reference - Louise Haggerty, Avon Grove Intermediate School, 115 Shepherd Lane, Lincoln University, PA 19352, tel 610 255 0743, Email lphaggerty@comcast.net (school visit in January 2005)