2008-2009 AUTHOR’S LECTURE TOUR

SEMINARS AND KEYNOTE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Ms. Penn is a sought-after conference speaker for groups of teachers, librarians and other professionals who work with children. The fee for these engagements is $3000.00 plus travel expenses.

SCHOOL VISITS:
Ms. Penn will donate a selection of her books to the school’s library prior to her visit.

    Kindergarten through Fifth Grades  (older children by arrangement)
        3 Sessions in one day (plus 15 minutes with a.m. and p.m.
        kindergarten)
        Fee:    within 50 miles, $900.00
             50-200 miles, $900.00 plus travel expenses
            over 200 miles, $1100.00 plus travel expenses
            (Please contact us for multiple schools in an area.)

        First and Second Grades:            35 minutes
              Topic:    The story behind the stories, presented with many
              visual aids.  Discussion of books-in-progress appropriate for
              their age.    Question & Answer included in lecture

        Third and Fourth Grades:            50 minutes
              Topic:    How stories originate, and the process of story
               development: research, art work, and the use of  “everyday”
               events in addition to the imagination.  An introduction to The
               Writer’s Curve.      Q&A.

        Fifth Grade:                    90 minutes
               Topic:   Story origination and development.  Introduction of
               The Writer’s Curve.  Like a writer’s web, it helps the child
                create a structure for writing and helps take the fear out of
                creating and writing.     Q&A.

Ms. Penn will review how and why each of her books came to be written, what’s next, and why writing and research is so exciting.  The tour is designed to fuel the child’s imagination and help them to create stories of their own.  

Ms. Penn has simplified her writing method to make it accessible to children.  For the third and fourth graders, she incorporates a brief introduction to The Writer’s Curve.  A more detailed treatment of The Writer’s Curve is included in the presentation for the fifth grade.  This is an interactive presentation. Using the children’s own suggestions, Ms. Penn will lead them to create their own story and learn the process of writing, emphasizing the purpose and advantages of rewriting.  Full or half-day Writing Workshops can also be arranged.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO POLICY
Photographs are permitted and encouraged during Ms. Penn's visits. Video or digital recording are permitted only for in-school use, and only with prior approval from Ms. Penn. Recording of The Writer's Curve is not permitted