Would you like an author to visit your school? Find out how!

Did you know that successful authors are so busy they have to plan their school visits months ahead of time? Some have to plan as much as a year or more ahead.

If you are interested in having an author visit your school make plans ahead of time, and prepare your budget early for the event. If the author lives out of town your cost will include author's compensation, gas for their vehicle (or a means of transportation), meals, and overnight accommodations if necessary.

Once you decide on the budget, then you will also have to consider how, and where the author's presentation will take place. Will it be in a classroom, assembly meeting, or a classroom workshop? If budget is a concern, then finding an author close to your school would be far less expensive.

If you have a particular author in mind, you may contact the author, or their publisher. If undecided on the author, you can research your particular subject as well as authors. After some decision making you can then narrow it down to one.

Contact the Author:
* Include Teachers name, school name, address, phone number, email address, and fax number.
* Give a little information about the class: such as age, number of students in the class, how the author's visit will relate to their studies, etc.
* You may want to set up a classroom book signing for the author.
* Be sure to let the author know when you would like for them to visit, so that a schedule can be worked out between you.

When you have agreed upon a fee, and scheduled a visit, have everything in writing, and signed by the author. If the author has an emergency, or is unable to attend for some reason, you can work out another schedule.

Ways to Make Money for Author Visits:

Have a bake sale.
Have a used book sale.
Have a yard sale.
Set up a donation tin in the classroom.
Share the author cost with a local school.

Don't forget to check with your libraries, and bookstores concerning local authors. You may be pleasantly surprised to find out how many authors are living in your own city.

© 2000jcpinkerton