School Visits & Appearances


Now booking for 2011-12 school year!

Irene loves sharing her passion for books, poetry and writing with public, private and homeschool groups. She is especially excited about the programs she has been able to share with students related to her debut historical midgrade novel LEAVING GEE'S BEND.

Schools may schedule one school assembly (1 hour) and one writing workshop (1 hour) per day. Schools may choose to focus the writing workshop on either poetry or story writing.

Irene’s assembly presentation is titled “Adventures in Writing.” It includes information for students on writing as a career, personal stories about her journey to publication as well as specific historical information related to Leaving Gee’s Bend. Irene includes students in the presentation and further entertains and educates by sharing historic photos and special props.

Suggested audience: grades 3-8

Author's Honorarium: $500 per day plus travel expenses (flight and lodging). For visits within driving distance, the travel expense will be mileage calculated at the IRS standard rate (50 cents per mile as of 10-31-10). If the driving distance is over 2 hours, overnight lodging may be required.

Shelby County, Alabama - 20% discount

Irene would love to have a special lunch with students who have read LEAVING GEE'S BEND, or do an interview with your school or community newspaper. She is also happy to participate in book signings, casual breakfast, lunch or dinner get-togethers at no additional charge.

School visits, particularly assembly presentations, work best when the students are familiar with Irene and her work. Teachers and librarians are encouraged to make copies of LEAVING GEE'S BEND available to students in advance of any school visit. Pre-event sales of LEAVING GEE'S BEND can be arranged through a local bookstore or directly from G.P. Putnam's Sons.


Downloads: School Visit Flyer | Gee's Bend Discussion Guide
Literature Circle Questions | Activities | Alabama Course of Study Standards | Student Letter to Author Template


» How to order books for school visits

» Finding Funding for School Visits (PDF)



» Contact Irene to schedule an appearance.

"Irene's presentation was outstanding and inspirational. Her explanation of the writing process was very informative. The laying of the historical background to the book prompted many thoughtful questions from students and teachers."
- Kevin Moore, Principal, Underwood Elementary

» Find out what others are saying!


VIRTUAL VISITS

Irene is available for FREE virtual visits, via Skype*. This is a 30 minute program in which teacher and students prepare questions ahead of time for Irene to answer. This is also great for book clubs! Irene also offers instructional Skype visits at a minimal charge for schools unable to fund traditional school visits. These can be tailored to fit your needs: writing workshops (poetry or fiction), "the story behind the story," and more. Please email her to discuss possibilities.

* Requires a computer, a webcam with microphone, speakers, a large projection screen and an account with Skype.

"The class really appreciated that you treated them as young 'authors.'''
'Very meaningful, with exampes from real authors, class sample poems, and reading aloud actual student work."
"The lessons were extremely organized, just as a teacher would do!"
(*responses taken from anonymous evaluation forms)

WRITING CONFERENCES, LIBRARIES, AND OTHER GROUPS

As a poet and novelist, Irene has a wide variety of writing and publishing experience to share with writers of all levels. Please email her to discuss honoraria and travel expenses.

Possible topics include:

The Story Behind the Story of LEAVING GEE'S BEND

Top Ten Things Writers Needs to Know About Plot

Market Your Book in Ten Easy Steps

Good is the Enemy of Great: How to Revise Poetry

Make Supporting Characters Work For You!

Voice Lessons: Revising for Voice

Writing Across Culture

Using History, Art & Nature to Write About Love and Loss

Irene is also available for panel discussions.


STUDENT POEMS FROM IRENE'S PRIVATE EYE WORKSHOPS: 


Pinestraw

Squiggly wiggly
octopus legs.
The spiky back
 of a porcupine.
Pretty colored
tree branches.
Grass as gooey
as my sweat.
It looks like
a pencil point
or a horse's tail.

- Youra C., age 8

Sweet Gum Ball

Like a planet I have never been to
just floating around in space
with a bunch of craters on it.
The surface is filled with tiny holes
that look like a bee hive
 overflowing with honey.

- Eric L. and Michael A., age 9

Walnut Shell

Your inside is like a deep gorge,
a pool full of fresh water
I would like to jump into.
Like reptile skin, smooth
and rough like a cozy bed,
a cradle ready to hold my brother.
You're like delicious chocolate
and the beak of a bird.

- Emery L., age 9

Pine Pollen

Like a juicy apple
that's saying hello
to the morning
and I say good morning back.

- Linda L., age 8