School and Library Visits!

Hello, educators and librarians! Due to overwhelming demand, I am including all information you would need if you’re considering asking me to come visit your school or library! I am available throughout the year, though I would first suggest checking out my Tour page to make sure I am not already committed to another event.

Here’s the official Reading/Study Guide for ANGER IS A GIFT.
Here’s the official Reading/Study Guide for EACH OF US A DESERT.

I am represented by the Macmillan Speakers Bureau for all potentially paid events, so upon reading this, feel free to reach out to them through my page on their site, or directly to Chloe Volkein: chloe.volkwein at macmillan dot com.

I am now willing and able to present at most grade levels.

Elementary Schools: I am available for grades 4 - 6, generally only for The Insiders, You Only Live Once, David Bravo, Star Wars Hunters: Battle for the Arena, as well as The Sun and The Star. I have a general presentation that is image-heavy, has a ton of embarrassing photos of me as a kid, and includes prompts for the students that generally unlocks something feral and chaotic within them. Like, every time, I swear! My presentations last about 15-20 minutes, and I generally spend most of the time interacting with the students by answering their questions and talking to them about writing and storytelling.

Middle Schools: Depending on the students’ reading level, I can present on either middle grade or young adult books (or sometimes, both!); I’ve found that Anger is often a 7th grader’s first foray into longer fiction or modern contemporary fiction, while Desert is probably better suited for readers grade 8 and up. Into The Light is the only book of mine that I will probably not present at the middle school level due to its intensity/content, but if you can convince me otherwise that it’s valuable, I am flexible! My presentations are still image-heavy, but will introduce some more complex ideas about writing from a place of experience, life as an author, and some of the themes of my book.

High Schools: While I do talk about my middle grade books in high school presentations, the bulk of my talks deal with my young adult work. My visual presentation is usually a bit longer, but I still prefer to leave the majority of the time for Q&A and discussion.

As always: I can design a more specific presentation if you have one in mind. I love speaking to book clubs, GSA organizations, LGBTQIA+ clubs, and other student groups. I will always cater a presentation to a specific need!

Feel free to reach out to the Macmillan Speakers Bureau with your pitch. Please state the desired date range, what type of visit you are looking for, how many presentations you’d like me to do, and what the offered rate or honorarium is. I just ask that you be considerate of my time, particularly if a visit will require lots of prep work on my end beforehand.

I am fully vaccinated with all available boosters (Pfizer) and have no problem providing my COVID-19 vaccination record for in-person visits. I will also be masked during an in-person visit; I am high-risk and had an absolutely abysmal reaction to COVID the one time I got it, so I cannot risk getting it again. In-person visits must require travel and accommodation to be reimbursed or purchased in addition to my honorarium fees, unless you happen to be located within three hours of Atlanta! I’ll usually waive that since it’s not a far drive and I don’t need a place to stay. Otherwise, I am available for virtual visits to accommodate practically any timezone!

That being said: I do a significant number of school visits throughout the year for free. I prioritize schools with little to no funding, who have a large BIPOC population, or for LGBTQ+ groups. Feel free to mention these things when you email me, and check out my Tour page. If I am in your city already for a book festival or event, it is far more likely that I can add on a school visit without cost.

I do need to state my requirements up front to set boundaries, especially because we are still in the midst of a pandemic, but please don’t feel intimidated by this. I am very flexible, particularly with schools that do not traditionally get school visits, and I know first-hand how important it is for some kids to see successful versions of themselves, to know that queer brown and Black kids can make it in this world.

Thank you!

Mark