School Visits
Lea has visited schools in nine states, and would love to visit yours! Although she has spoken to classes from kindergarten through university level, most of her visits have been to students in 3rd through 8th grade classes who have read at least one of her books.
She always speaks enthusiastically and with humor – and, when speaking about writing, emphasizes the need for primary research and editing. She often brings with her copies of her own manuscripts, with her editors’ comments, and primary research materials she has used in writing her own books. She’s happy to customize a presentation to work with your school’s history and writing curricula objectives.
After Lea visits a school, students are able to describe the process an author uses when writing a book, list several new ways to look at their own work when they are revising it, and be able to remember at least one or two new (to them) facts about life in 19th century America.
Teachers have commented after Lea’s visits …
“Staff and students all loved Lea’s visit and hope she comes back next year.”
“My kids are inspired and have been revising their essays because of Lea’s presentation.”
“Several teachers have adopted writing units to followup on Lea’s ideas.”
Author Lea Wait talks about writing historical fiction for kids.
Lea is also available for author-in-residence programs, writing workshops, keynotes, conference workshops, or video visits via Skype or Livestream.
References from teachers and librarians in schools she has visited are available on request.
For the 2010-2011 school year Lea’s fee is still $500 plus travel expenses for an all-day school visit. Travel requiring an additional day before or after the visit will add $150 per travel day to the cost. Contact Lea about costs for electronic visits via Skype or Livestream. Beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, Lea’s fee will go up to $700 a day for a day’s school visit, plus travel expenses. Lea suggests schools work together. Everyone benefits if she visits several schools in one area and they share her travel expenses!
Many schools who would like to afford author visits today are under severe budget restrictions. Lea has found that schools finding themselves in this situation have often been successful in appealing to local service organizations. In addition to PTO groups, the Friends of the Library, local Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, or even local Garden Clubs or commercial businesses such as supermarkets have sponsored author visits at some schools. For a sample letter to such an organization asking them to fund a visit, see http://www.scbwicencal.org/authorvisits. It might work for your school!
Feel free to contact Lea about your school’s needs and ideas: leawait@roadrunner.com
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