Updated on April 27th, 2024

From 2000 to early 2020, I traveled to hundreds of schools, conventions and institutions infusing joy, energy and love into each one of my creative talks. I visited elementary, middle schools, high schools and colleges all over the US, flew to the International School of Amsterdam (b0y, are my arms tired!) and was fortunate to present at Nickelodeon Studios in NYC, The National Book Awards in Washington D.C. and the Mazza Museum, in Findlay Ohio. Teachers, students, parents and executives told me many times that my presentations were the best, most energetic and enthusiastic they’d ever seen.

Then COVID hit, and in-person scho0l visits stopped in their tracks. I started doing virtual visits but the experience wasn’t the same, so I took some time off to regroup.

We got through the heavy part of the pandemic, watched our youngest son graduate high school, then moved from Florida to Colorado to build a new life. I started exploring a new part of the country as well as different creative paths (and I lost a little weight, too!) What an amazing adventure!

About a year ago, I declared “I am no longer doing appearances!”, but I’ve been getting many offers to present and have since changed my position. I’ve agreed to some and said no to others, but now, I feel like it’s time to get serious about it again. Going back out into the world to connect with the wonderful teachers, parents, and kids, who are fans of what I do—it just feels right.

If you’d like to invite me to your next event, please reach out for pricing and scheduling.

Some of my stops:

McCoy Elementary, Tampa, FL

Nickelodeon Studios, New York, NY

Keene’s Crossing, Windermere, FL

New Roads Academy, Santa Monica, CA

Strand Bookstore, New York, NY

Orlando Public Library, Orlando, FL

Aurora Free Library, Aurora, NY

Millennia Elementary, Millennia, FL

Vroman’s Bookstore, Pasadena, CA

Bryant Elementary School, Independence, MO

Monroe Children's Book Festival, Monroe, GA

Osceola County School District, FL

Arlington Heights School District, Chicago, IL

SCBWI, Orlando, FL

PBSKids, Washington, DC

Kids Are Authors, Scholastic Book Fairs

UCF Literacy Symposium, Orlando, FL

Page 15, Orlando, FL

Creative Chaos Podcast

Chamois Elementary School, Chamois, MO

The Midtown Reader, Tallahassee, FL

The Tattered Cover, Denver, CO

Orlando Science Center, Orlando, FL

USF UClick Conference, Tampa, FL

Embassy Elementary, Hollywood, FL

Sanford Middle School, Sanford, FL

Cranium Academy, Orlando, FL

Southwest Florida Reading Festival, Ft. Myers, FL

UCF Book Festival, Orlando, FL

Vero Beach Book Center, Vero Beach, FL

ALA Chicago

Howard Middle School, Orlando, FL

Lake Highland Preparatory School, Orlando, FL

Lib Con, Orlando, FL

Twin Valley School District, Elverson, PA

Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando, FL

HIPPY USA Conference, Little Rock, AR

Winter Park Library, Winter Park, FL

Lake Mary Montessori, Lake Mary, FL

AIGA Orlando

FAME, Orlando, FL

Glendale Heights School District, Chicago, IL

Second Star to the Right, Denver, CO

The Writer’s Block Bookstore, Winter Park, FL

East Lake Elementary, Orlando, FL

Englewood Public Library, Englewood, CO

Tinker Elementary School, MacDill AFB, FL

ILA Orlando

National Book Awards, Washington, D.C.

Franklin Road Academy, Nashville, TN

Grand Avenue Elementary School, Orlando, FL

Muhlenberg Elementary Center, Lititz, PA

Admiral Byrd School, Elk Grove, IL

Florida Book Awards, Tallahassee, FL

Haddam-Killingworth, High School, Higganum, CT

Boys and Girls Club, Orlando, FL

Jacksonville Book Festival, Jacksonville, FL

SCBWI, Boynton Beach, FL

Fuqua Elementary, Terre Haute, IN

Bookworm Bookfest, Houston, TX

Westmore Elementary, Chicago, IL

L.C. Carr Elementary, Clinton, NC

HIPPY Convention, San Antonio, TX

SIBA, Palm Harbor, FL

Lockhart Elementary, Orlando, FL

International School of Amsterdam, Netherlands

Mazza Museum, Findlay, OH

Evans High School, Orlando, FL

Galileo School, Sanford, FL

Holland Hall, Tulsa, OK

SCBWI Boot Camp, Tampa, FL

Missoula Public Library, Missoula, MT

Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, Orlando, FL

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, NY

New Bridge Elementary, Ogden, UT

Pinewoods Elementary, Estero, FL

Cypress Fairbanks School District, Houston, TX

EPIC Books Executive Presentation

Chinese International School, Hong Kong, China

Bemis Public Library, Littleton, CO

SCBWI Nebraska

SCBWI OK/AR

The Willows Community School, Culver City, CA