Writing stories that change minds, lives, and the world.

 

Before I became a bestselling writer with several books in development for film and TV,

my career began in the children's & teen division and publisher’s office at

Simon & Schuster Publishing. My first year out of college, I worked as a teacher's

assistant at a Montessori school in Cleveland and completed a semester-long practicum

with child-life specialists at what's now UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital.

All this provides me with an in-depth understanding of school audiences of all ages

have found insightful and engaging.

 

WHO ARE MY AUDIENCES?

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For educators and librarians, I am available to:

- keynote conferences

- present at workshops, retreats and in-services.

TOPICS MAY INCLUDE: empathy in education (please see my book topics below

with reading group guides where available), the path to publishing,

writing exercises for educators, and many more.

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For those within a day's driving distance to the San Francisco Bay or Pennsylvania Wilds, I'm pleased to organize day-long offerings

hosted in my homes for a unique and immersive experience.

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In the classroom:

In person or via video conference, I'm always enthusiastic to share my background and expertise with students and educators. I keep current school clearances and am happy to collaborate with teachers to present material that ties in with curricula.

 

Past forums include:

- an all-high school morning assembly on how a writer gets published

- a spelling lesson & story reading to a kindergarten class

- a first-grade lesson on writing life stories

- a two-morning gym assembly on the lifelong benefits of strong writing to all students at a vocational-technical high school

- a discussion about career preparation for a class of high school juniors

- a talk on women and creativity to a regional historical society

- a talk about the co-authoring process at an Ohio library

- a talk on how entrepreneurship among the men in my family influenced my career, to a luncheon for the Engineering Club at Penn State University

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POSSIBLE CLASSROOM OR ASSEMBLY TOPICS:

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- kindness and empathy for others who may seem different (please find my book topics below)

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- developing strong synthesis, rhetorical and argument essays for English or AP English and Composition classes

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- skillful and effective editing (for all grade levels)

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- how to workshop or critique another's writing in a manner that's truly helpful

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- storytelling/creative writing techniques for all levels to capture the interest of the reader (as well as the growing young writer)

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- grammar rules to practice for a lifetime

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- a roadmap to following successful inspiration

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- impactful nonfiction writing & college essay development

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- what makes a good character?

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- the publishing process, from concept to release (plus why some books get made into movies)

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- how to know if you should pursue writing as more than a side interest or hobby

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- the difference between narrative and journalistic writing

 

- the seldom known techniques that can help anyone write more like a pro
 

ABOUT MY BOOKS:

With themes ranging from human interest to human rights, the nonfiction books that I've written or co-written also spur mind-opening, transformative discussions among classrooms and educators on the following topics: