When author Deborah K. Frontiera visits a school, students benefit in many ways. They finally get into their heads what their teachers have been trying to get them to believe all along: words don't just fall onto the page; authors work at it and write a piece over and over and over until it's perfect; writers research their topic--thoroughly--even if what they are writing is pure fantasy. Many teachers have commented that their students don't believe these things when they, as teachers say it,  but students do believe when it is a real, live, human being, author who says it.

Deborah makes her visits learning experiences in other ways, too. She asks elementary schools  to choose which of her picture books they would like her to emphasize the most and brings along a little extra science for that book. If it's Eric and the Enchanted Leaf: The First Adventure, she brings an ant farm in a two-liter plastic soda bottle and leaves it at the school. If it's Eric: A Visit with Canis Lupis, she acts out a scene with moose and wolf marrionettes, or sets up her almost life-sized moose made of PVC pipe and brown fleece fabric. A hand-made bat wing shows the similarities between human and bat anatomy if the book chosen is Eric: A Night with Echo.

When discussing her historical fiction: Living on Sisu: The 1913 Union Copper Strike Tragedy, she will come dressed as a teacher would have in the early 20th Century. She brings to life what it was like for young people growing up nearly a century ago. She defines the unique challenge of writing historical fiction--all the research and accuracy of non-fiction and all the story telling techniques of fiction.

Her varied career experience also applies to high school as she addresses what is involved when choosing a writing career and how "real" writers actually use all those pesky "objectives" students must master for state-mandated tests, and especially how those same objectives apply to life in general.

When schools hire Deborah Frontiera to visit them, they know they are getting their money's worth. Schools who win one of her free visits know exactly how lucky they are.

Deborah also entertains adult audiences with some of her experiences on the road to publication, tales of how she gets her ideas, and some humerous stories of her teaching career that inspired some of her writing.

Writers groups benefit from a variety of workshops on writing techniques.

Comments from groups where Frontiera has presented:

"Dear Mrs. Frontiera,

Thanks again for giving us all the opportunity to meet you and listen to your presentation. We appreciate it beyond words! Enjoy your stay in the Upper Peninsula. The fifth graders of Father Marquette Middle School, Marquette, MI."

"Dear Deborah,

Your programs are excellent! We are so fortunate to have you share your creativity and talents with us. Thank you for enriching our library programing!

Chris, Portage Lake District Library, Houghton, MI"

Within the greater Houston area (only during the winter months) all programs are available in one-hour time frames during the evening and on weekends. Critiques of adult or student work can be included if arranged in advance. Travel costs apply when the school or meeting place is more than two hours away from the author's home. Contact Deborah Frontiera for program rates, since these may vary with the type of group involved. Full day rates are $500.00, half day--$250.00; one-hour evening programs run $100.00. On a tight budget? See the article on affording an author visit on a shoe string budget.  In some cases, Deborah will do a program free of charge for non-profit groups. Special for school book fairs: Invite Deborah to sell and sign books at your school’s book fair and she will donate a portion of her sales back to the school’s library. VIRTUAL VISITS via Zoom or Skype are only $50 for a half day and $100 for a full day. CONTACT INFORMATION: Deborah Frontiera, 26106 Franklin St., Salumet MI 49913 Ph. 713-416-0109; dfrontiera.msn.com