

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. All this provides me with an in-depth understanding
of the writing process that 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 Pennsylvania Wilds, I'm pleased to organize day-long offerings
hosted in my cabin at the lake for a unique and immersive field trip experience.
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In the classroom:
In person or via video conference (Skype, FaceTime, Google Hangout, or ooVoo), 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:
- Gender equality, sexual abuse and the criminal justice system in A Little Piece of Light by Donna Hylton, with Kristine Gasbarre (Hachette Books, 2018)
- Transgender/LGBT issues among kids in Raising Ryland: Our Story of Parenting a Transgender Child with No Strings Attached by Hillary Whittington, with Kristine Gasbarre (HarperCollins, 2016)
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- Geography, travel, wildlife conservation, business and entrepreneurship in Safari: The Memoir of a Worldwide Travel Pioneer by Geoffrey Kent, with Kristine Gasbarre (HarperCollins, 2015)
- Education and the foster system in Etched in Sand by Regina Calcaterra (with Kristine Gasbarre)
- 16-week New York Times bestseller
- chosen nationwide in multiple high schools and colleges & universities for "one school, one read" programs and the first year experience
- Reading group guide available here
- Revering our elderly and understanding how tradition can inform our more contemporary identities in How to Love an American Man: A True Story by Kristine Gasbarre
- Reading group guide available here

Please contact me to explore opportunities to bring me to your school.
(Discounted rates are available for schools with a higher percentage of free and reduced lunch students.)
Thank you!
Relevant experience includes:
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- M.A. in cultural media studies from Fordham University in NYC
- B.S. in psychology from John Carroll University with significant coursework in child and adolescent development
- clinical practicum experience with child life specialists at Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital in Cleveland
- one year as a Montessori teacher's assistant in Cleveland
- children's drama instructor at a theater camp in Cleveland
- one year nannying for children (infant to teen) in Europe