As part of the ArtBreak 2015 festival, I spent the day with some talented junior high and high school students for a fun writing workshop! I’m sure they could tell right away why I’m a writer and not an illustrator when I showed them some pictures (albeit crude ones) that would help them remember some of the many writing tips I had to share. I hope they found them as useful as I did when they were given to me by many editors, teachers, and fellow writers over the years.
Thanks to Mrs. Smith and the good people at artBreak! for inviting me. Thanks to Mrs. Nitz and all the librarians who stayed to help. And a big thanks to all the young writers and readers who hung out with me today! Thanks: Akeylah, Brianna, Christian, Emma, Hunter, Jackson, Jenny, Kaetlyn, Kaitlyn, Kay, Laura, Layna, Maria, Natalie, Precious, Riley, Samantha, and Zoe. Keep reading and don’t forget to send me your stories and poems; I look forward to reading them!
My second morning in Shreveport began at Fairfield Elementary! I was on another big stage, with another big screen, playing my big guitar (my small travel guitar being in the shop). It was fun back-to-back performances and the Fairfield students made some of the best animal noises yet (at the appropriate time during the show, mind you, not just randomly during my performance—that would be just plain weird).
Thanks to Mrs. Kelly for having me out and for steering toward my website to begin with. Thanks to Mrs. Allien for the technical support. Thanks to Mrs. Kulp for driving me. And a big thanks to all the students at Fairfield Elementary. I signed a bunch of books while I was there so I know that many of you have your reading cut out for you tonight!
After a tasty southern lunch at the Professional Library Center (my third time in my life eating grits — hey, they don’t serve grits with BBQ where I’m from), I zipped over to Claiborne Elementary—home of the Cardinals! I spent my afternoon in their new library with a bunch of great kids who had the biggest show of hands when I asked who liked writing their own stories. Very cool—tons of young writers!
Thanks to Mrs. McKnight for having me out and for the use of her library. Thanks to Mrs. Nitz and Mrs. Smith for taking over driving duty. And a big thanks to all the Claiborne Cardinals. Keep writing those stories!
As part of my artBreak! 2015 week-long visit to Shreveport, Louisiana, my first day had me at South Highlands Elementary! I gave two performances in front of the big screen and was fortunate enough to personally meet many wonderful students during the book signing afterwards in the library.
But the day wasn’t over yet, I enjoyed giving a writing workshop to many hard-working students who were energetic and eager to learn more about writing. Thanks for coming: Abigail, Anna, Ashleigh, Cal, Caroline, Ciara, Cooper, Emma, Evelyn, Grace B., Grace K., Grace Anne, Hannah, Jacob, James, Jazzlynn, Joshua, Justine, Karaline, Kelvin, Laiba, Logan, Luke, Mae, Maxwell, Merritt, Nicole, Olivia, Sebastian, Simmion, Suha, Thach, Vicki, and William. I hope you had as much fun as I did!
Thanks to Mrs. Shamburg for having me out. Thanks to Mrs. Nitz for driving. Thanks to Mrs. Smith, Nitz, & Shamburg for the fun lunch. Thanks to Mr. Wright for all the sound support. And a big thanks to all the great South Highlands students.
Today I enjoyed a fun day at Jackson Elementary in Plano, TX—home of the Jaguars! I gave three fun shows throughout the day and signed a ton of books after each show. I hope everyone enjoys their books, especially Becky who wins the title of most books signed. She has her reading cut out for her this weekend! Also, I’m glad Dayana was able to get her books. I hope she and her brother Marck enjoy them.
Thanks to Mrs. Walker and to the Jackson PTA for inviting me. Thanks to Mrs. Walker, Mrs. Sullivan, and Mrs. Ingram for all the help throughout the day and the fun lunch.
And thanks to all the fantastic Jackson Jaguars! I could tell that there were many young writers at Jackson. Keep writing those stories, sending me questions (I received an email from Tatianna as soon as I got home), and keep reading. Remember what I said, if you want to be a good writer, you have to be a good reader!
Today found me all the way out in West Texas at Snyder Intermediate in Snyder, TX. I was on the big stage, with the big screen, performing three shows for all the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students. Halfway through testing, Snyder has been busy with the book fair, a book parade (sorry I missed that), and a field trip to the Secret Garden. I’m glad you were able to squeeze me into your busy schedule!
During lunch, I met, signed autographs for, and had my picture taken with all the Snyder Library Leaders. These are the many helpful students who help Mrs. Potter in the library. It was great meeting you: Addison, Akshat, Aliena, Anakaren, Aney, Angel, Anna, Arynne, Ashlyn, Aubrie, Austin, Baylee, Bella, Breanna, Brice, Carson, Chelsea, Ean, Eeyan, Ella, Emma, Ethan, Gabriel, Gavin, Genesis, Grace, Ivan, Jeren, Jessica, John, Josue, Kaden, Kalyn, Keeley, Lily, Madison G., Madison L., Madison Y., Makayla, Marshall, Mateo, Megan, Mya, Nathaniel, Nehemiah, Nelson, Nethan, Norberto, Olivia, Ramsey, Reagan, Reyanldo, Robert, Shelby, Skyler, Stephanie, Sylvia, Tayla, Vivian, and Zara.
Thanks to Mrs. Potter for inviting me and thanks to her, Mrs. Carol and Mrs. Stone for all the help and the great lunch. Thanks to Mr. Castillo for all the help setting up. And a big thanks to all the Snyder Elementary students.
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Today I enjoyed a return visit to Hobart Elementary in Shirley, NY. Lucky for me, I showed up on the perfect day—Crazy Hat Day! Most of the Hobart students wore all kinds of crazy (and maybe a bit silly) hats. My hat wan’t so crazy but I had plenty of crazier ones to show during my presentation.
I performed for the kids who missed me last year and I gave two writing workshops. One for writing comic books and my standard general writing workshop. In the comic book workshop, I had a great time with: Aiden, Alexander, Alyssa, Andy, Derek, Devin, Emily, Jasmine, Jason, Jonathan, Julia, Kayshaun, MaKenna, Matthew, Nick, Paige, Sofia, and Tayquan. And nice art, Alyssa, Jasmine, and Sofia!
For the writing workshop, thanks to: Aleeza, Amun, Brian, Britney, Cavelle, Ciara, Crown, Emily, Emma, Gabriella, Hayden, Hector, Jacqueline, James, Jayden, Jeff, Jennesa, Jeremy, Julia, Juliana, Juliana, Kimberlyn, Krystianna, Mateo, McKenzie, Melanie, Owen, Rachel, Ronald, Sydney, Tara, Wally, Yulis. Thanks to Emma for starring in our short story.
Thanks again to Mr. Bretton for inviting me (and for lunch). Thanks again to Mrs. Demmers for the use of her library and for all the help setting up. And thanks to all the young writers and illustrators at Hobart Elementary. I’m looking forward to seeing more of your work someday!
Okay, not my first time visiting Pennsylvania, but definitely my first Pennsylvania school. Today I was fortunate to be the honored guest for the annual Author Day at Barkley Elementary in Phoenixville, PA! There, I performed two shows in front of all the great Barkley students in their cool auditorium. What a great group of students!
After lunch, I gave a writing workshop to the Barkley Elementary All Stars! Thanks for coming and for all your good deeds that let you be an All Star today: Abigail, Angel, Brendan, Corinne, Cory, Efe, Isiah, Kayla, Kiernan, Lauren, Lilly, Matthew, McKensie, Nathan, Ronald, Santana, Tristan, Tristen, Will, and Zachary. And an extra thanks to McKensie for playing a serious part in our silly story!
Thanks to Mrs. Patterson for inviting me. Thanks to Mrs. Champane-Lee for the great introduction. Thanks to Mrs. Dooley for all the tech support. Thanks to Mrs. Collins, Mrs. Shaw, and all the parents and teachers who helped set up everything and provide the great lunch. And a big thanks to all the Barkley Elementary students. Keep reading and keep writing those stories!
My first visit to Iowa welcomed me with a brisk morning temp of 1º. After a scenic drive (seeing deer and bald eagles), I stopped at Montezuma Elementary! I enjoyed two shows with the energetic students and discovered that they had participated in a walk-a-thon last year. Turns out, they do it almost every year to raise money for school visits like mine. Thanks for all those steps, Montezuma Elementary!
Thanks to Mrs. Moretz and Mrs. DeJong for inviting me, for all the help, and for lunch. And thanks again to all the walking Montezuma students. If you walked far enough to get me there from Texas, than I guess a little cold weather is nothing to sneeze at, so to speak.
After another scenic drive (snow-covered fields, barns, and silos), I ended up at English Valleys Elementary—home of the Bears! Once set up, I was lucky enough to perform in front of the entire school in their gym. All the students were great and I should’ve known that anyone with a bear as a mascot would be superb at making dragon roars. My ears are still ringing!
Thanks to Mrs. Van Dee and Mrs. Andreassen for inviting me. Thanks to Mrs. Van Dee for all the help and for taking pictures. And a big thanks to all the English Valleys Bears! You were a great way to end my first trip to Iowa!
Today I went back to San Antonio, back to visit Dani’el Mason, but at her NEW school, Northwest Crossing Elementary! I was their visiting author for the “We Are Writers” event in celebration of Read Across America Day—which just so happens to be Dr. Seuss’s birthday! During the day, all the students were rotated to other events including the Storybook Players and Miss Anastasia. And after each of my three shows, Mrs. Mason had another surprise where lucky winners won copies of my books! I signed a bunch of books and even Nia’s leg cast. Get well soon, Nia!
Thanks again to Mrs. Mason for inviting me to her new school. Thanks to Mrs. Langill’s 4th grade class for the cool welcome banner. Thanks to Mrs. Sandoval for your help. And a big thanks to all the Northwest Crossing Cardinals! As I found out during my shows, you are a bunch of writers! Keep at it, Cardinals!
My last day of this latest Alabama tour had me at Airport Road Intermediate School in Coosada, AL. I performed two shows, each followed by a book signing. Then after lunch, I gave a writing workshop to some lucky ARIS students. A little birdie told me there were some mighty fine young writers in that group!
Thanks to Mrs. Jones for inviting me, ordering books, and taking pictures. Thanks to the Millbrook Men’s Club for sponsoring my trip. Thanks to Coach Parker for helping with the sound and I’m glad you liked trying out my Washburn Rover travel guitar. If you want to read an extensive article about choosing a guitar for yourself, check out this cool article HERE. Thanks for Mrs. Bamberg for being such a big Wishbone fan. Don’t forget to find a Wishbone book and slip it into Mrs. Jones’ package she’s sending me. I’m happy to sign as many as you find!
Thanks to all the ARIS students who took part in my writing workshop; don’t forget what I taught you and keep writing those stories! And a big thanks to the rest of the ARIS students I met today. Thanks for making a fun last day in Alabama!
