Inspire Young Writers ... Invite An Author To Your Classroom

There's no substitute for an "expert" in your classroom. 

It's one thing to tell your students that this or that thing is important. It's entirely another to bring a person in from the real, outside world, someone who actually does the thing, and can talk about it. 

This is more than "how to," more than facts. If you bring in a writer, an artist, a welder, a musician ... people who really do the things you're talking about in class, everything changes. 

A visitor to your classroom brings energy, confidence, excitement and the real-world authority that comes from having successfully accomplished a thing. And those qualities shine a guiding light for your students who are coming to believe they want to travel that same path. 

How to find one? 

Start by asking. Is there a budget for bringing in speakers? Money is always a good thing. But not essential. Ever since I first started selling stories to CRICKET Magazine, way back in the '80s, I've been visiting classrooms. And its still something I enjoy doing. 

In the Eugene OR area, I'm local and free. Elsewhere, I'll travel for expenses or ... can we Skype? You bet. 

I particularly enjoy visiting classrooms from grades five to eight, the approximate reading level of my Cheechako series (covers above). Volume 1 in that series, "Cheechako," is highly rated and well-reviewed for reluctant readers. Reading specialists tell me it's the kind of book a kid (who normally doesn't want to read anything) cheats and reads ahead on. 

The other two, "Float Monkeys," and "Musher!" are also exciting Alaska tales of adventure, and all are great for reading out loud, too. 

Please share this blog!

If you have teachers on your mailing list or "friends" list, please share this post. I've made my living as a writer for thirty years. Writing is on a short list of things I'm really good at and enjoy talking about. And if I can really make a difference for young writers, it's really what I want to do.  

"Indecent Exposure," Soon out in Paperback!

I write two book series, the Cheechako series for middle grades and an adult mystery series. Sometimes, like lately, it can get crazy around here.

We have three new books coming to paperback in the next 30 days, including "Indecent Exposure," which many of you know from its Kindle debut several years ago.

Check out the new cover!

We tossed out the old cover. Do I hear cheering? It turns out the only one who really liked it was me. Except for the fact that it was dark and fuzzy it was perfect. More than that, I didn't know until it had been up awhile, that it was a photo of legendary dog musher George Attla Sr. One more reason I didn't want to stop using it. 

Watch for a new book in each series.

This month we're publishing the second book in the Father Hardy series. It's called "In Gold We Trust." One comment I've heard frequently with "Indecent," is "I couldn't got to sleep without finishing. For a writer it's the best!

I'm hoping readers will feel the same about "Gold," which felt like a rocket ride when we went through doing revisions. 

Announcing Book 3 in the Cheechako series: "Musher!" 

Although I wrote the Cheechako books for grade 5 and up, I've discovered "up" goes all the way to the top. It's not unusual to have people who are even older than I am—imagine that—introduce themselves to tell me they loved it. Luckily the combination of interest in Alaska and interest in adventure is something we don't grow out of. 

A big "thank you" to readers.

For those of you who have been reading, reviewing, commenting and passing my books along to friends, thanks so much! Keep it up. I can use all the help I can get. 

I know there are several hundred thousand books you could be choosing at any moment and am so pleased that a whole bunch of you have been choosing mine. 

When you have a chance to read one of the new books, I'd love to hear from you!