UPCOMING APPEARANCES:
BOOK LAUNCH PARTY for LIFE, AFTER at JUST BOOKS
Tuesday September 21st, 2010 7pm
event held at: Arcadia Coffee Shop 20 Arcadia Road, Old Greenwich, CT, 06870
HAVE SARAH SPEAK TO YOUR SCHOOL, LIBRARY OR ORGANIZATION:
SCHOOL VISITS
"From Brainstorm to Book": Using her upcoming book LIFE, AFTER as an example, Sarah takes students through the entire process of creating a published work, from inspiration through the many stages of revision to seeing the book on the shelves. She brings in manuscripts in various stages of revision and reads from different opening paragraphs so students and the editorial notes, so students can see how editors and authors work together to create the best possible book.
"I knew what I wanted to be in High School but didn't get there till I was (gasp!) 40" : Sarah's basic school presentation talks about how she always wanted to be a writer but was encouraged to go into a more lucrative career. It wasn't until she was coming up to 40 that she knew she had to at least try to follow her dream, even if she failed.
Sarah talks about how being a good writer is important no matter what career you choose and covers what helps to make you a good writer. (Reading, writing and especially revising.) She also speaks to kids about trying to find a way to make a living out of their passion, rather than choosing a career strictly based on how much money they can make.
Smaller Group Writing Workshops: Sarah has given numerous writing workshops for middle school and high school students for the Connecticut Writing Project. We discuss voice, setting, motivation and conflict, plot, and dialogue, and students use this to start a story of their own.
Middle School Media Specialist Karen Ball, from Greenwich, CT said this about Sarah's author visit:
"A fantastic presentation for our middle schoolers! We were thrilled to have Sarah Darer Littman come and visit with our students, as she explained how writing has been a part of her life from childhood on, and how both her successes and her failures have taught her important lessons. She was a relaxed, funny and enjoyable presenter, and one whom our students questioned seriously about writing as a profession. It is a wonderful event to have successful authors visit who are able to really talk to students, instead of "talk at" them. Middle school students know the difference, and they appreciate someone who understands what's important to them and who is willing to listen to them, encourage them and take them seriously. Sarah is one of those authors -- and every kid should have the opportunity to meet her and talk to her!"
Email Stephanie Nooney (snooney at scholastic.com) to discuss fees and book author visits.
VIRTUAL VISITS
Set up a videochat with Sarah using SKYPE or iChat. Sarah requires a trial run prior to the time of the virtual visit to ensure the technology is running smoothly at both ends.
Sarah will do a free 20 minute chat with book groups and library groups that have read one of her books.
For more information, check out Sarah's page at
CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS
Sarah also enjoys presenting workshops for Bigger Kids - aka Grownups.
Past workshop titles include:
"OMG! Like, How to I get my book published? - Channeling your Inner Tween"
"Writing Characters Who Make Your Readers Laugh and Cry"
"10 Rules of Writing and Publishing and When and Why To Break them"
"Conquering Writer's Block"
Motivational Talks: A recovered bulimic, Sarah speaks about growing up with a distorted sense of body image and low self-esteem. She discusses the unconscious messages we transmit to our children about weight and appearance and how important it is to help kids focus on who they are and what they are passionate about rather than how they look. Sarah talks about how finally pursuing her dream of being a writer was integral to her recovery from bulimia and her ability to stay "on the wagon".
Sarah has presented at:
SCBWI National Conference
West Coast Jewish Children's Book Writers Conference
CT Authors and Publishing Association CAPA-U
CT Writing Project - Young Writers Institute
A heartfelt THANK YOU for your outstanding contribution to the SCBWI summer conference! We're hearing lavish (and I mean lavish) praise for your sessions -- many people cite your sessions as their favorite part of the conference... they were scrupulously organized and expertly presented - Jamie Weiss - SCBWI conference coordinator.
MEDIA:
Sarah's publicist - Lauren Felsenstein Scholastic Press 212/343-6847 email: LFelsenstein at Scholastic dot com