This week I made my last two school visits of the year.
Gasp. Sit down. Sigh.
It is a lot to juggle — the calendar and schedule-making, the maps, the Powerpoint presentations and the book sales.
But it is also really, really fun.
For one thing it’s a good idea to stand up and step away from the computer every so often.
And then there are the tender and funny questions, and imaginative comments, and rapt eyes in the audience.
And the big manila envelopes of thank you notes– crayons and sparkles and all.
So, now it’s my turn.
I wanted to take a moment to thank all the teachers and librarians who’ve served as my hosts and who encouraged other teachers and librarians to do the same — Thank YOU!
… and to the Writers’ League of Texas who facilitated some of my spring readings — Thank YOU!
… and to the parents who came to school to listen, who bought books, who took the enthusiasm for reading home with them — Thank YOU!
…and to the PTAs who helped support my visits — Thank YOU!
…and to my own personal little family for being flexible and speedy and patient and forgiving on the days I’ve had to leave way too early or gotten home rather late — Thank YOU!
…and, most especially, to the many hundreds of students who listened and asked and inspired and challenged and touched and just plain cracked me up — Thank YOU!
That includes the little guy today who said, “Don’t tell me you think it’s fun to be a writer!”
(I know. Call me crazy. I really do.)
It’s hard to believe that by this time next year I’ll have a whole new book and a whole new program worked out. (Since I don’t think the many pockets of my fishing vest will work quite as naturally with the next one as they have with Sock is a Pocket.) Maybe I could rent a big ol’ foam globe costume but that sounds hot and kind of bulky.
So, stay tuned…
And in the meantime, happy summer everyone!
In case you’re wondering, here’s where I’ve been lately:
Friday, September 21
A visit with Austin Indepedent School District teachers and librarians at Ruta Maya Coffehouse, Austin, Texas.
Wednesday, November 14
Talking with the first graders at Brentwood Christian School, Austin, Texas.
Saturday, December 1
Selling and signing books as part of the Bouldin Creek Studio Tour. Austin, Texas.
Thursday, January 10th
Young Authors’ Conference at Baranoff Elementary School, Austin, Texas.
Thursday, Feburary 21st, 2008
Young Writers’ Workshop at Travis Heights Elementary , Austin, Texas.
Thursday, March 6th
Young Author’s Day at Zilker Elementary, Austin, Texas.
Monday, March 17th
Readings at Brentwood Elementary School, Austin, Texas.
Tuesday, March 25th
Readings at Caldwell Heights Elementary School and Bluebonnet Elementary School , Round Rock, Texas.
Wednesday, March 26th
Faculty reading at Austin Community College, South Austin Campus, Austin, Texas.
Thursday and Friday, April 3rd and 4th
Featured reader of The Corpus Christi Book Festival, Corpus Christi, Texas.
Sunday, April 6th
Poetry reading at The Blanton Museum, Austin, Texas.
Monday, April 7th
Reading at Lee Elementary, Austin, Texas.
Tuesday, April 8th
A visit with students at Good Shepard Episcopal Preschool, Austin, Texas.
Tuesday, April 22nd and Thursday, April 24th
Writing workshops for the 5th graders at Austin Discovery School, Austin, Texas.
Monday, April 28th
A visit to Mathews Elementary, Austin, Texas.
Monday, April 28th
A visit to the UT Lab School, Austin, Texas.
Monday, May 19th
Readings at Summitt Elementary, Austin, Texas.
Wednesday, May 21st
A visit with 2nd graders at Zilker Elementary, Austin, Texas.
Our job is pretty unbeatable, huh? 🙂
Yep. Even on my tiredest days, I’d have to agree…
Color me impressed. I’m exhausted just looking at that schedule.
But I’ve loved getting all the school visit reports from you! Today’s “little guy with a big mouth” was hilarious.
They don’t let anything slide by, those elementary schoolers…
Keeps a gal on her toes 🙂
Sounds like you’ll need the summer to get off your feet for a bit. Congrats on all your good news!
Wow. Congratulations on surviving the year. What a schedule!
I was surprised at how spread out it was. I’m just getting started with school visits, but several writers I know who make half or more of their income from school visits talk about the fact that they bunch them up into one or two “school visit blocks” each year (I think October and March are the big months, if I remember right). They do that both because it seems like it’s when most schools want author visits and also because it helps compartmentalize. They get into “school visit mode” for a month or two and then return to “writing mode.”
Do you like spreading out your visits like this, so that it’s a more regular thing, spread out over the school year? Just wondering!
For sure the bulk fall between mid-March and mid-May. That just seems to be the season. But I don’t mind stretching them out over the year. If I did many more than this at a time, I think you’d have to wring me out like a rag and hang me to dry for a long, long time. I’m able to sustain the connection and energy for the visits if I’ve always got another one on the horizon…
Thanks for the explanation. I feel kind of the same way about wfh assignments. I don’t want to be overwhelmed with them, but I do feel kind of disconnected if there’s not “another one on the horizon…” I can imagine the same thing with school visits.
Makes me wish my family and I lived in Texas. No chance you are visiting VA anytime soon?
… I didn’t think so.
Have fun and keep smiling! 🙂
~ Amy Hanek
http://www.houseonthegladehill.blogspot.com
Not soon, but I think my next book might be taking me further afield. Stay tuned — I’d love to come visit!