I love talking with children and adults about books and writing and the writing process. I have taught elementary school children as well as college students. I have served as a Reader for a top Literary Agency and love to talk about the editing and revising side of writing. Speaking engagements are a wonderful way to promote literacy and the love of books and learning. I am happy to visit schools, libraries, workshops, conferences, and other writing/reading venues.

Tucson Hebrew Academy

What fun to celebrate Love of Reading week with the students at Tucson Hebrew Academy. Thank you for sharing your stories and keep reading and writing!

Mountain View Elementary, Waddell, AZ

Thank you to the students and teachers at Mountain View Elementary for an amazing day! I was so inspired by the creative classrooms (why weren't there bean bags and reading caves in my elementary classrooms??) and all the great readers and writers I met today. 

Harmony Magazine Launch, AZ

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A great evening in The Copper Room at the Hotel Congress to launch the University of Arizona College of Medicine's current issue of Harmony Magazine.

The night started off with a reading by award-winning writer Alison Hawthorne Deming, Deming, a 2015 Guggenheim Fellow, read from her latest book of poetry Stairway to Heaven.


River Ridge Elementary, Patch Grove, WI

Thanks to River Ridge Elementary School for a great visit. Everyone had great questions and I heard some wonderful animal stories! Thank you for being a GREAT audience!

I even drove an extra 10 miles to cross the Mississippi into Iowa! :)

Twin Peaks Elementary, AZ

Another great night signing books at Twin Peaks
Elementary School's annual Literacy &
Author night.

I met a lot of long-time fans of Animal BFFs - and was thrilled to have students bring in copies they had at home for me to sign! AND I got to meet Clifford!

Thanks to all the students who shared their favorite animal pairs with me (many of the animals can be seen in the new Android commercial!)

Hughes Elementary, Tucson, AZ
Thanks to Mrs. Harris and her 4th graders! What a
great class visit I had! We talked about the writing process, editing, revising (I have adopted their great phrase "Sloppy Copy" for drafts of writing that I write by hand and mark up!), the whole world of writing. Such great questions led us to a lively and engaging discussion.

I look forward to their class book project - and hopefully working with them on a Little Free Library in the spring.

Anshei, Tucson, AZ

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I spent a lot of time at Anshei Preschool and Kindergarten's Scholastic Book Fair. Thanks to the Kindergartners who were a wonderful audience with a lot of great questions and stories to share! I was so impressed with the animal artwork they did!

BASIS, Oro Valley, AZ

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What a great week to  visit BASIS in Oro Valley - everyone was dressed up like their favorite character froma book. Thanks to BASIS school for inviting me to your first Scholastic Book Fair!

Cambridge Academy, Mesa, AZ

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Thanks to Cambridge Academy in Mesa for having me visit. And thank you to the many Kindergartners and First Graders for some lovely artwork and cards. I loved hearing everyone's great stories and questions!

Ventana Vista Elementary School, AZ

Copper Creek Elementary School's Author Night
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A BIG thank you to librarian Jill Wadsworth and everyone at Ventana Vista Elementary School.   Thanks for a warm welcome and inviting me to be a part of your Love of Reading week!
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Copper Creek Elementary School's annual Author Night during the Scholastic Book Fair. I always love visiting
their beautiful library - which has a giant new "Be Kind" mural!

Copper Creek Elementary School, AZ

DeForest Schools, WI
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Thanks to Copper Creek Elementary School for a great visit with grades K - 3 during their Scholastic Book Fair!
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Another day in DeForest! I visited Yahara Elementary, Morrisonville
Elementary, and Eagle Point Elementary. Thanks to the teachers and students for all
their enthusiasm and GREAT questions. And thanks to the
DeForest Times Tribune for highlighting my
school visits!

Windsor Elementary, WI​

Canyon View Elementary, AZ
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I visited the 4th graders at Windsor Elementary School in DeForest, Wisconsin. It was a very warm welcome in the freezing weather...the first time I've been in "0" degree temperatures! The students had great questions about writing the world of books.
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A very warm and creative
welcome from the third graders at Canyon
View Elementary School. (Each pink heart
has a fantastic question about Animal BFFs
and/or writing.) 

Ventana Vista Elementary, AZ

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A great visit to Ventana Vista Elementary School to talk with some of
the Scholastic Book Fair volunteers who were
attending a Scholastic Workshop. I met a great group of women and admire the long hours and hard work they put in to create fun, successfulBook Fairs for the students! Special thanks to Lisa Maher for inviting me.

Sam Hughes Elementary, AZ

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First school visit of the year at one of my favorites - Sam Hughes Elementary. I had a wonderful
time reading to and talking with the third grade classes. I heard many fun stories from the students and had the chance to answer all their great questions!

De Forest, WI

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Scholastic Book Sale in De Forest, WI on May 13 & 15. This was a great opportunity to meet teachers and librarians from several Wisconsin communities!

Twin Peaks Elementary, AZ

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A great night signing books at Twin Peaks Elementary School's annual Literacy & Author night. I met a lot of fans of Animal BFFs - thanks to Carrie for organizing a great event and reading the book to many of the Twin Peaks students! And thank you to all the students who shared their favorite animal pairs with me!

WEMTA Conference, Madison, WI

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WEMTA conference in Madison, Wisconsin on April 7th. This was a great opportunity to meet teachers and librarians!

Copper Creek Elementary, AZ

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Thanks to Copper Creek Elementary School for having me come to visit some of their classrooms on March 11th! This photo was taken in their BEAUTIFUL library during their Annual Author Night, March 12.
Behind me is an incredible mural that had Amelia Bedelia, Curious George, Clifford, and many other
favorites!

Tucson Festival of Books

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Sunday, March 11, Panel at the Tucson Festival of Books "Ties That Bind": Caring Animal Relationships"
I joined Jean Ekman Adams, DeAnn Melton, and Ellen Cook. Thanks to Wayne Corapi for moderating.
Later that afternoon I signed books at the Society of Children's  Book Writers and Illustrator's booth. Throughout the day I met a lot of wonderful young readers - and even a few that had purchased Animal BFFs at their Scholastic Fair!

Painted Sky Elementary, AZ

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Thanks to Painted Sky Elementary School for having me visit some of their first, second, and third grade classes and then hosting me at their Annual Author Night on March 4th!

Kennedy Elementary, WI

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Kennedy Elementary School
Madison, Wisconsin



Sam Hughes Elementary, AZ

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Hughes Elementary School
Scholastic Book Fair
September 10th & 11th

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Hughes Elementary School
Scholastic Book Fair
September 10th & 11th

Presidio School, AZ

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Reading to grades K - 3 at the Presidio School Scholastic Book Fair November 27th.
What a fun day reading to a great crowd! I loved hearing
everyone's favorite animal pair and answering all the questions from the audience. And thanks, Presidio School, for the wonderful letters and pictures you sent after the reading!

Tucson, AZ Book Sale

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Scholastic Book Sale
The best part of this day was meeting teachers from around the city and hearing about the great work they do. I also met a lot of Animal BFFs readers of all ages who shared their favorites with me!

Scholastic Book Sale

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Scholastic Book Sale
December 12th

Very exciting to see piles and piles of Animal BFFs!