School visits
Christine N. said:
My book is on it's way. Probably before Christmas. It's a MG fantasy, and I want to do school visits with it.
I don't know the first thing about it. What do people do when they visit a school?? I particularly want to visit my old elementary school, which is just across the street.)
You can either call or email the principal of the school you want to visit. Most schools have web sites and contact info is on the site. Email works better than a call because principals are busy. Also in your email, put the URL of your web site, so the principal knows you're on the level.
In your email, introduce yourself, tell what you can do for the school (read from my latest book and answer questions about writing), what grade level you are interested in speaking to (and whether you prefer individual classroom or assembly). Can you provide a lesson plan—or follow-up activities—to go along with what you are reading? Give the URL of your web site, so the principal can get an idea of what you write, who you are, that you're not some nut-case trying to infiltrate the school, etc.
I am a retired public school teacher and have done a lot of school appearances since I started writing late in life. In fact, last week I did two. My latest POD book, Where There's A Will, had my cousin on the cover. I arranged with the principal to do a "Book Debut" at the school where he is a first grader. I presented my cousin with his book, donated a book to the school, read two stories from the book, and answered questions from the kids (my cousin helped answer). Of course we had press coverage. The following day, I visited a school where one of the contributors to my book taught. I read for three classes there.
Since the principal and I had not previously met, I provided her with the URL to my web sites (See
http://home.infionline.net/~rmushko for info about the book, pic of its cover, etc.) so she could see that my appearance was something worthwhile.
When you visit a school, you might want to take large posters that illustrate some phase of your book. Kids like to see things. You could hand out bookmarks with info about your book, if you want. Don't plan to talk/read for more than 45 minutes. Schools are usually on pretty tight schedules.
If you are interested in a large school system, contact the director of instruction for your target grade level/class.
Newspapers like to run pictures with lots of kids (Parents buy extra papers), so notify the media about what you're going to do.
In the meantime, work on getting lots of info about your book (and maybe even how you wrote it) onto your web site.