Skype for a Good Cause!
Take one middle grade author from Seattle, Washington (moi), 120 creative students from Gadsden, Alabama, throw in some techno hocus pocus and you've got the recipe for a fun, fast-paced virtual author visit!
I am thrilled to be part of Skype Authors, a group of children's authors who have pledged to donate 25% of our Skype fees to charity. To get the website off to a rousing start, Skype Authors held a contest in October, with two winners being selected to receive a half-price Skype visit (the entire fee went to Skype Authors 2011-12 charity, CAMFED, an amazing charity that supports educating girls and young women in Africa).
One of the contest winners, Susan Wills, a media specialist from R.A. Mitchell Elementary, selected me for her Skype visit. What an honor! Projected in the school cafeteria on a movie theater-sized screen (I was enormous!), I told the third and fourth graders about how I fell in love with storytelling when I was their age, and began writing plays. I discussed my career as a TV news reporter and my path to publication, giving the students a sneak peek at my upcoming releases and what I'm working on now. I got to lead the kids in an interactive creative writing exercise, a Q & A session, and a game (complete with prizes sent ahead of time to Mrs. Wills). The Mitchell Elementary library also received bookmarks and a complimentary audiobook of my latest release, Secrets of a Lab Rat: Scab for Treasurer?
I was so impressed with how imaginative and articulate the students were. The fact that I was on the big screen didn't slow them down a bit. We were able to create and share ideas as if I was right there. Sometimes, it felt as if I was there!
For the kids, I think the highlight of the visit was a surprise appearance by my trusty assistant and calico cat, Bernadette. I'm still not exactly sure what was going on behind me that had the kids howling with laughter, but I suspect a toy mouse may have been involved.
If you are a teacher or librarian, Bernadette and I would love to Skype with your class, too. My Skype fees are $125 per half hour or $200 per hour. You can contact me through my website at www.truditrueit.com. Remember, all Skype Authors pledge to donate 25% of their Skype fees to charity! So why not Skype me in to your school or library? We'll have fun and help a great charity!
I am thrilled to be part of Skype Authors, a group of children's authors who have pledged to donate 25% of our Skype fees to charity. To get the website off to a rousing start, Skype Authors held a contest in October, with two winners being selected to receive a half-price Skype visit (the entire fee went to Skype Authors 2011-12 charity, CAMFED, an amazing charity that supports educating girls and young women in Africa).
One of the contest winners, Susan Wills, a media specialist from R.A. Mitchell Elementary, selected me for her Skype visit. What an honor! Projected in the school cafeteria on a movie theater-sized screen (I was enormous!), I told the third and fourth graders about how I fell in love with storytelling when I was their age, and began writing plays. I discussed my career as a TV news reporter and my path to publication, giving the students a sneak peek at my upcoming releases and what I'm working on now. I got to lead the kids in an interactive creative writing exercise, a Q & A session, and a game (complete with prizes sent ahead of time to Mrs. Wills). The Mitchell Elementary library also received bookmarks and a complimentary audiobook of my latest release, Secrets of a Lab Rat: Scab for Treasurer?
I was so impressed with how imaginative and articulate the students were. The fact that I was on the big screen didn't slow them down a bit. We were able to create and share ideas as if I was right there. Sometimes, it felt as if I was there!
For the kids, I think the highlight of the visit was a surprise appearance by my trusty assistant and calico cat, Bernadette. I'm still not exactly sure what was going on behind me that had the kids howling with laughter, but I suspect a toy mouse may have been involved.
If you are a teacher or librarian, Bernadette and I would love to Skype with your class, too. My Skype fees are $125 per half hour or $200 per hour. You can contact me through my website at www.truditrueit.com. Remember, all Skype Authors pledge to donate 25% of their Skype fees to charity! So why not Skype me in to your school or library? We'll have fun and help a great charity!
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