Welcome
to the Parents and Teachers page of my website. Many parents and kids
tell me that my books -- from
As
a poor early reader, I've always been aware of the struggle of some children
to gain mastery in reading. For me, it was
On
this page, you'll find information on my School Visits and a free, downloadable
copy of
You might also be interested in taking a look at the APPEARANCES, NEWS, ETC. page for a calendar of upcoming author appearances.
Finally, if you or your kids or students have any questions for me, if you want to share your stories, or if you just want to chat, please SEND ME MAIL. Likewise, if you have any curriculum ideas or "reading" stories of your own, please don't hesitate to contact me.
SCHOOL
VISIT PACKAGE
by Tony Abbott
WITH OVER THREE DOZEN BOOKS of science fiction, fantasy, and adventure published so far, I use humor and the excitement of adventure to draw young people into the pleasures of reading and writing. A professional writer, editor, and publisher for over twenty years, I bring to each presentation a thorough and lively knowledge of creative writing in a variety of forms, including fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. My visits appeal to both boys and girls and to reluctant as well as enthusiastic readers. The wide-ranging discussion that takes place also focuses on how the creative writing process can infuse students with a life-long love of reading and a respect for books and the power of the imagination.
Introduction: How I got started as a writer of children's fiction. Taking several of my own books as jumping off points, I discuss a number of the following key points:
• Tapping Your Imagination to Start Ideas Flowing
• The Foundations of Storytelling: Character, Setting, Problem, and Beginning, Middle, End
• Living Beyond the Page: Creating Strong Characters
• Keeping a Story Moving: Toggling between Dialogue and Description
• Gotcha! Using Humor and Mood to Grab the Reader
• All Stories are Neverending: Rewriting, Revising, and Self-editing
Following this discussion, I present a slide show centering on "a day in the life of an author," which illustrates many of the concepts discussed above as well as the stages of the publishing process, from original concept, to manuscript, through multiple revisions, to published book. I finish with a question and answer period.
Above all, my goal in visiting with students is to inspire and motivate readers and writers of all ability levels. From my own experience as a poor early reader, I know that in each student, no matter what their competence, there is a passion for the written word that simply waits to be discovered. One key focus of all my talks is how to nourish one's imagination, overcome obstacles, and turn defeat into success at one's chosen craft.
Suggested
Audience: Grades 1 to 8
Maximum
number of presentations per day: 3
Honorarium: $1,500 per day, plus expenses; if there is an overnight stay, please add an additional $400
ENSURING A SUCCESSFUL AUTHOR VISIT
There are many things a school or library can do in advance to ensure the best author visit possible. Here are some suggestions.
• Tell the students that an author is coming by putting up posters, pictures of the author, and copies of book covers. This will alert the kids that a special day is coming.
• Ask teachers to consider using the author's books in read-aloud sessions, for book reports, and other reading and writing activities. This will get the students familiar with the author's work. Share details of these activities with the author when he comes.
• Encourage classes to make up questions to ask the author. Good questions make for a more lively presentation. Encourage students to think up difficult, challenging, or provocative questions -- authors love those the most!
• Encourage art classes to create posters advertising the visit, using themes, events, and characters from the author's work.
• Announce the visit on the public address system, starting a few days before the event. The more excited the students are, the better the day will be for everyone.
• Make books available for purchase and signing by the author. This ensures that students get the most out of a visit. After all, bringing an author to your school or library promotes literacy and can spark a lifelong interest in reading and writing. And that's what it's all about.
THE
SECRETS OF DROON TEACHER'S
GUIDE
by Donna F. Skolnick
Parents
and educators interested in how
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