Programs  

While I have several “tried and true” presentations, I am happy to adapt to the needs of your audience. Programs fit your timetable and are always interactive and high energy. Here are a few options.

Dream Like You're a Star (Adaptable for PreK to 6)

Based on “A Quilt of Stars,” co-written with astronaut Karen Nyberg and illustrated by Alida Massari, this presentation uses props and music to lead the audience in an interactive story about following your dream. With space facts and STEM partnering with other motivational content, audience members walk away with a deep sense of the power of connection. 

A Quilt of Stars Book TrailerEducator's Guide: A Quilt of Stars

Plants! Un-be-LEAF-able and Fun! (Adaptable for all grades)

Truth or a lie? This floating leaf is so gigantic, a human can sit on top of it (That one’s true!). Participants dig into the fascinating world of plants as they investigate ingenious methods plants use to survive. With an emphasis on STEM, this hands-on presentation has audience members appreciating plants long after the school day is over.
A downloadable educator’s guide for Fantastic Flora is available here:
Educator's Guide: Fantastic FloraVenus fly trap Boogie

Making a Difference

Find Your Extreme Passion–Whether it’s playing the piano, baking a delicate dessert, or playing a sport, this presentation encourages audience members to push past fear and follow their dreams. Highlighting 15 diverse, modern role-models who smashed through fear, adventure athletes and high-flying aviators and astronauts share a message of hope and perseverance. Participants also learn what it takes to write a book.

Women Heroes–Take a deep dive into our country’s history by discovering the incredible bravery and accomplishments of 14 diverse women who served in the U.S. Army—legally and illegally—from earliest times to today. Learn how, despite gender discrimination and unfair laws, women have been valuable contributors during every military engagement since the American Revolution.

Setting Up for STEM (Grades 2-5)
Take a bite out of math and science! In this engaging, enlightening presentation, audience participation takes center stage. Students help determine the properties of matter by joining a Moh’s Scale of Hardness line. They decipher the Fibonacci Sequence by engaging in an interactive story. Students have so much fun, they forget they’re learning!
Other Options (All ages)
  • Write for the Stars—This unique writer’s workshop is appropriate for a smaller audience of up to 30 members, including adults only. Participants follow a structured–and fun–series of keystone steps to find their own muse. Highly engaging for all ages!
  • The Highly Effective Educator—Tailored to the needs of your school, this workshop gives educators specific, ready-to-go ideas for creating a high-energy, high-learning classroom. Free take-aways and activities provided.
*Fees are reasonable and negotiable.
Programs run between 30 to 60 minutes. I’m happy to do more than one program per day and, if schools pair up, I can also do more than one school per day. For travel outside the Washington, DC metro area, there is an extra charge for expenses. (I work to make this as affordable as possible).
Please consider coordinating book sales before my event. This builds up enthusiasm and interest in the program. It also helps me keep my fees reasonable, and I’m happy to sign books once I’m there (or mail signed bookplates if virtual). Also, I ALWAYS provide free materials, extras, and downloadables. I work to make any speaking engagement inspirational and something to remember long after I’m gone!
Woman Sitting
Focus Areas
People in a Group

Why Book an Author Visit?

Whenever I do an author visit, I’m reminded again and again of why it’s critical to get in front of an audience. First, there’s an opportunity for connection. Sometimes it’s obvious who I’ve reached, but other times I’ll never know—which is okay, too. Either way, books are magical, powerful, and they have the potential to spark lasting change and accomplishment. When I was a young girl, my dad told me that if I can read, I can do anything.

Still, I never thought I could be an author. When I started having books published, it took a long while before I could say that I was, indeed, an author. Years later, I’ve come to realize that an author wields incredible hope and possibility. We’re gifted with access to seemingly unattainable worlds and with the ability to touch lives in a way that wouldn’t necessarily happen. For example, I’ve interviewed and written about Olympians, a senator, astronauts, pilots, scientists, and other accomplished people. I’ve talked to kids I’ve never met before about their dreams and goals. Books inspire young people to persevere, to unlock the world, and to always, always stay curious. Bring an author in for a visit because if you love reading, you can do almost anything.

Who Am I? Sample Media Appearances