Hello Parents, Teachers and Librarians!

Talking to students and readers about my stories and the writing process is one of my favorite things to do as a children’s writer.

I am happy to present to small groups as well as large assemblies at schools, libraries, conferences, workshops, and bookstores. My presentations are most suitable for Grades 1-5 but I can present to higher grade-levels on request.

I have a genuine rapport with students of all ages, and I’m able to change the complexity and style of my presentations to best suit the needs of each audience. A full school assembly can often be followed up with extra workshop time with individual grades. In-person or virtual visits available. You can download my school visit flyer here.

It doesn’t get much better than talking with students who read one of my books as part of their history or literature unit. They are always so eager and enthusiastic and have such great questions!

Current Presentations

  • Making History Come Alive!

    Using Biography to Open
    the Door to Nonfiction
    Grade level: 1–5 (40 minutes)

    True stories can be just as inspiring as fiction, but nonfiction often feels like “work” to kids. Enter biography! When kids read about the lives of real people doing very real things, suddenly history comes alive!

    Working with her picture book biographies of Bill Gates, Sue Bird and Dale Chihuly, Sharon will share her research, writing and offers fun ways kids can use biographies to open doors to nonfiction, making connections across all sorts of curriculum subject areas.

  • The Tail Behind the Tale

    How the True Story of a Pod of Trapped Orcas Became a Children’s Book
    Grade level: 1–5 (40 minutes)

    Kids often wonder how writers get ideas for their stories. Using her award-winning book Chasing at the Surface as an example, Sharon will take your students on a journey, showing how writers—and kids—can use ordinary events they know and learn in real life and turn them into extraordinary stories.

    Students will also get a behind-the-scenes peek at how a story turns into a physical book.

  • Write What You Know

    Even Before You Know It
    Grades 4–6 (40 minutes)

    People will sometimes tell you to only write about things you know. But sometimes admitting what you don’t know is the first step to learning what you really care about.

    This presentation and writing workshop encourages students to not only write what they know, but gives them tools to research and explore ways to built the confidence to write about the things they want to learn—and maybe even change!

FAQs

  • My programs are flexible, but they usually run between 30-45 minutes for Grades 1-4 and 40-50 minutes for Grades 4-6. I am happy to speak at assemblies or individual classrooms, or a combination of both. Generally, my presentations and workshops include the following:

    • My journey as a children’s writer

    • The inspiration behind each of my books

    • How authors use real life events in fiction stories

    • The importance of sensory details and revision

    • Writing techniques with plenty of student involvement to build confidence

    • Worksheets for teachers to use for following-up in classroom

  • My books and presentations are best suited for kids in grades 1-6, depending on the book focus.

  • Most of my school visits have tended to be in the Pacific Northwest due to the subject nature of my books, but I am happy to arrange virtual visits and meet students all over the country!

  • The most important preparation for an author visit is to ensure that students have read at least a part of one of my books. Students might also visit my website to learn a little before the visit, and prepare questions in advance.

    Please email me to discuss author fees. Note that I do not charge an author visit fee to elementary schools in the greater Seattle area with a school-wide Title 1 program. For paid out-of-town visits, I am happy to add a visit to a Title 1 school for no fee, if it can be arranged.