Calendar dates are added as they are confirmed.

January 2024

31 — Battle of the Books, Love, Ruby Lavender discussion, Eastbluff Elementary, Newport Beach, CA via Zoom

October 2023

12 –Trumbell County Libraries: One Book with Anthem and Kent State, Warren, Ohio

7 — Plum Creek Literacy Festival, Teacher Keynote, Seward, Nebraska

July 2023

9 — Georgia Council for History Education, “Writing about American History for Young Readers” via Zoom

May 2023

20 — Gaithersburg Book Festival, Speaker, G’burg, Maryland

 April 2023

11-12 — Author Visits (virtual) with all 5th graders and their teachers, Chinese International School, Hong Kong (annual visit, focus on Freedom Summer)

22 — Author keynote for the 17th Annual Literature Celebration,  Malone U. Canton, Ohio

February 2023

27 — North Gwinnett Middle School, all day with 6th graders and their teachers, working with a realistic fiction unit. Gwinnett County, GA

November 2022

6-8 Kent State is the One Book, One Community selection for Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in-person events in high schools and at the Dover Public Library on Nov.7, details to come. 

September 2022

15 — At Politics & Prose via Crowdcast: In conversation with Andrea Davis Pinkney and her new book, Because of You, John Lewis, and my new book, Bobby: A Story of Robert F. Kennedy. Virtual event, link to come — y’all come and help us celebrate!

June 2022

14-17 Picturing History retreat for GCSS, Georgia Council for the Social Studies, Brasstown, NC. Welcome teachers!

February 2022

11 — Indian Land HS students and teachers in all county high schools using KENT STATE as a one-read, Indian Land, SC

November 2021

18 Book Group discussion of ANTHEM, University of Southern Mississippi, zoom

18 WE ARE ALL UNDER ONE WIDE SKY with Laurel Ridge Elementary School Decatur, GA Literacy Night, zoom

September 2021

18 — NerdCamp Georgia (virtual)

July 2021

 26-31 — writing retreat Franklin, TN

June 2021

8 — closing keynote for GLMA, Georgia Library Media Association, Savannah, GA, delivered virtually

12 — KENT STATE wins the Mississippi Book Award, thank you, MIAL, Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters

14 — opening keynote for GCEE, Georgia Council on Economic Education, including using FREEDOM SUMMER in the classroom, virtual conference

15– publication date for WE ARE ALL UNDER ONE WIDE SKY! published by Sounds True Kids, written by me, illustrated by Andrea Stegmeier.

24 — ALA ODYSSEY AWARD for KENT STATE, virtual ceremony with cast and crew, congrats to Paul Gagne and Scholastic for a fantastic and moving audiobook experience.

  May 2021

3 — Augusta University Writing Project working with teachers, Augusta, GA, virtual presentation

12 — LOVE, RUBY LAVENDER Battle of the Books virtual visit, Pittsfield Schools, MA

24 — Gaithersburg Book Festival with Kimberley Willis Holt and Alan Gratz, virtual panel featuring our new books and the writing process

April 2021

13 — Cannon School, ANTHEM virtual visit, Concord, NC

28 — KENT STATE wins the Alabama Author Award, thank you, ALLA, the Alabama Library Association.

 March 2021

23 — Harris Co Public Library, Houston, TX, discussing KENT STATE, on panel with Ibi Zoboi virtual visit

February 2021

24-25 virtual visit with Chinese International School Hong Kong working with FREEDOM SUMMER

November 2020

10 — Hinkley Big Rock HS, Hinkley, IL, second session of all-day virtual author visit and writing workshops 

October 2020

12 –opening keynote, OELMA, Ohio Educational Library Media Association, virtual conference

19 — virtual visit with KENT STATE to De Pere Middle School, De Pere, WI

 September 2020

15 — Hinkley Big Rock HS, Hinkley, IL, all-day virtual author visit and writing workshops

And here’s where Covid started messing with the KENT STATE tour (not to mention everyone’s lives):

June 2020

8-9 — GLMA — moved to 2021

18-19 — Georgia Council for the Social Studies– moved to 2022

May 2020

2-5 — Kent, Ohio — cancelled

14-16 — Gaithersburg Book Festival, schools, events — cancelled

April 2020

18-19 — L.A. Times Festival of Books, Los Angeles, CA with KENT STATE — cancelled

18-28 — NATIONAL TOUR for KENT STATE (cities tba) — moved to virtual

22 — Kent State University (pending), Kent, OH — cancelled

March 2020

12 — MPIBA, Richardson, TX with KENT STATE

24-27 — TLA Texas Library Assn, Houston, TX with KENT STATE — cancelled

January 2020

22 — Winter Institute, Baltimore, MD with KENT STATE

24-25 — ALA Midwinter, Philadelphia, PA with KENT STATE

November 2019

1-3 — YALSA Symposium, Memphis, TN

4-8 — Memphis and north Mississippi schools, bookstores, and libraries

21-23 — NCTE National Council of Teachers of English, Baltimore, MD

October 2019

11-13 — Nashville, TN including Southern Festival of Books

September 2019

Sept. 13 — SIBA, Spartanburg, S.C.

August 2019

August 4-6 — New York City, Scholastic sales conference

July 2019

8-9 —  NerdCamp! Literacy Conference, Parma MI

11 — Jacksonville State University Teacher Inservice, Oxford, AL

19-27 — New England

June 2019

25-29 — ALA, the American Library Association conference, Washington, D.C.

May 2019

5-6 — Charleston, South Carolina

8-9 — Georgia schools

18 — Gaithersburg (Maryland) Book Festival with A LONG LINE OF CAKES

29-30 — Washington, D.C.

April 2019

2 — The Epstein School Atlanta, GA

18 — Alabama schools

18-20 — Mississippi

February 2019

25 — St. Agnes/St. Dominic Schools Memphis, TN

November 2018

5-10 — Washington, D.C. area

30 —  Writing with elementary school students and speaking at Christmasville in Rock Hill, SC

October 2018

12-14 — Southern Festival of Books, Nashville, TN with A LONG LINE OF CAKES.

24 — Senatobia Library program, Senatobia, Mississippi for First Regional Libraries

26 — Turnrow Books, Greenwood, Mississippi, schools and signing A LONG LINE OF CAKES

27 — Square Books, Oxford, Mississippi, a CAKE WALK (details here) for A LONG LINE OF CAKES and signing, y’all bring a cake (or not) and come!

September 2018

1-2 The Decatur Book Festival, Decatur, GA introducing A LONG LINE OF CAKES, the new Aurora County novel! Pubs August 28, 2018. Ruby Lavender is BACK.

August 2018

18 — The Mississippi Book Festival, Jackson, MS with A LONG LINE OF CAKES, the new Aurora County novel — publishes August 28. More Ruby Lavender, with her new friend, Emma Lane Cake, Emma’s five brothers, four dogs, two parents and the Cake Cafe in Halleluia, Mississippi.

May 1 – August 1, 2018

Writing

April 2018

19 — Mary Institute and Country Day School, St. Louis, MO. Writing workshops, all 5th & 6th graders

February 2018

23 — South Carolina IRA, Hilton Head, SC, teaching/PD

October 2017

9 — Professional Development, Forsyth County Teachers Staff Day, Cumming, GA, teaching

17 — Brookwood School, Thomasville, GA All students and PD with teachers after school

September 2017

3-8 — Washington, D.C. area

August 2017

29 — Oxford, Mississippi, speaker, “Books and Lunch”

30 — First Regional Library events, Hernando, MS

31 — St.Agnes/St.Dominic School grades 1-6 assembly sessions, Memphis, TN

July 2017

12-16 — BYU Symposium on Books for Young Readers, Provo UT, speaking

June 2017

5-9 — Decatur, GA

16 — Meeting w John Hope Franklin Young Scholars from Duke University, Decatur, GA

21 — Professional Development with K-12 Teachers, for Houghton-Mifflin-Harcourt Educational, Miami, FL

23 – taping “Stories From the Teaching Life” w Penny Kittle to air July 21

April 2017

5 -7 — Syosset High School, Syosset, NY, all 9th graders & teachers, REVOLUTION one-book.

19 — Augusta University, Augusta, GA working with pre-service teachers on teaching documentary novels

March 2017

9 — Orchard Middle School, Solon, OH, all 5th and 6th graders and their teachers

16 – St. Thomas More School, Decatur, GA, all grades, and speaking to parents at evening PTO meeting

21 — Kennesaw State University Conference on Literature for Children and Young Adults, Kennesaw, GA

23 — Trickum Middle School, Lilburn, GA, all 6th graders and their teachers,  historical thinking and writing

29 — Darlington School, Rome GA, all grades K through 8.

31 — Dunwoody Elementary School, Dunwoody GA — all 4th graders and their teachers

February 2017

2 — “Literacy is Key” event for First Book Mid-South, Memphis, TN, Keynote

3 — St. George’s School, Germantown, TN, grades 2-5 writing workshops.

16 — Riverside Elementary School, Suwanee, GA. — all 4th graders and their teachers.

22 — Bryson Elementary School, Spartanburg, SC — all students and their teachers

25 — Writing Workshop for 5th/6th graders from The Museum School, Atlanta, at Little Shop of Stories

January 2017

7 — Little Shop of Stories Decatur, GA writing workshop 5th & 6th graders from The Museum School

November 2016

2-8 — Washington, D.C.

17-22 — NCTE/ALAN, Atlanta GA

October 2016

11 —  Jackson, MS schools

11 — Delta Arts Alliance, 4th- through 10th-grade students after school.Cleveland, MS

22 — Teachers K-12 for Houghton-Mifflin-Harcourt Educational, Miami, FL, keynote

23-26 — Washington, D.C.

September 2016

23-26 — Colorado Springs, CO

August 2016

21-25 — Mississippi Book Festival, Jackson, MS

June 2016

7 — Brookwood Cluster Writing Institute, R.D. Head Elem School, Lilburn, GA faculty

10-14 — Chicago

19-24 — Aspen Summer Words Writer’s Conference, Aspen, CO, faculty

25 — Character Development Workshop, Fulton Co Libraries ATL. Open to all (workshop 2 of 3)

May 2016

9 — Emory University

11-12 — Friends’ Central School, Wynnewood, PA. All middle schoolers, COUNTDOWN, REVOLUTION, writing workshops.

13 — Elkins Park School, Elkins Park, PA

17-18 — Tampa Florida teachers K-12 for Scholastic Book Fairs

19-25 — D.C. area

21 — The Gaithersburg Book Festival, Gaithersburg, MD

April 2016

4-5 — AAIM Arkansas Association of Instructional Media Springdale, AR

6 — Lakeside Middle School, Hot Springs, AR

13 — Warner Elementary School, Parma, MI Skype

23 — Teen Lit Festival, Durham, NC

March 2016

1 — Emory University

6-11 — Raleigh, N.C. schools all week.

13 — SCBWI Southern Breeze Springmingle, Atlanta, GA

18 — Riverside Elementary School, Suwannee, GA, all 4th graders and their teachers

19-23 — Children’s Literature Festival, Univ. Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO

February 2016

4 — Mackintosh Academy, Boulder, CO, writing w students & teachers

5-6 — CCIRA – Colorado Council International Reading Association, speaker, presenter

27 — Plot Workshop, Fulton Co Libraries, ATL. Open to all (workshop 1 of 3)

January 2016

15 — Trickum Middle School, Lilburn, GA w students and teachers, focus on historical thinking, research, using historical events to determine plot elements, writing together.

22-23 — Harding University Young Adult Author Series, Searcy, Arkansas. Speaking and workshop

28-29 — Mt. Bethel Elementary School, Marietta, GA – assembly programs w students and teachers in grades 2-5.

November 2015

12-14 — NCSS — National Council for the Social Studies, speaker, New Orleans, LA

17 — Emory University

19-24 — NCTE/ALAN Minneapolis, MN. REVOLUTION is a Charlotte Huck Award Finalist and a Walden Award Finalist

October 2015

7 — Fernbank Elementary School, Atlanta, GA, reading to pre-K. :>

14-17 — NYC events, including the Jane Addams Peace Award ceremony 10/16. REVOLUTION is an honor book.

22-25 — NCSLMA, North Carolina School Library Media Association, Winston-Salem, NC, keynote

September 2015

12 — Atlanta Fulton County Library, teaching a Saturday Workshop for Writers:”What’s Your Story: Turning Your Life Into Fiction.”

22 — Landisville Intermediate School, Landisville, PA — all fourth graders and their teachers.

23-25 — Baltimore/Washington area

29 — Newnan, GA

30 — Furlow Charter School, Americus, GA, all 4th & 5th graders and their teachers have read LOVE, RUBY LAVENDER. Skype Q&A.

August 2015

1-3 — Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators — Los Angeles. REVOLUTION has won The Golden Kite Award for fiction.

7 — Scholastic, Atlanta, presentation at the Regional Offices

13 — Georgia Center for the Book, Atlanta. REVOLUTION is a “Books All Young Georgians Should Read.”

22 — 1st annual Mississippi Book Festival. On a panel, talking about REVOLUTION

July 2015

Writing camp and sabbatical

31 — Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators — Los Angeles

June 2015

Writing camp

May 2015

1 — Vanderlyn Elementary School, Dunwoody, GA, all students & teachers, pre-K – 5

4 — Wesley Academy, Atlanta, GA, all 4th graders, James Patterson Grant w Bound to Be Read Books

5 – Whitefoord Elem., Atlanta, GA, all 4th graders, James Patterson Grant w Bound to Be Read Books

5 — Burgess-Peterson Elem., Atlanta, all 4th graders, James Patterson Grant w Bound to Be Read Books

6 — Parkside Elem. School, Atlanta, all 4th graders, James Patterson Grant w BTBR Books

6 — Middle Grade BookClub, The Powerhouse Arena, Brooklyn, NY, SKYPE 5:30pm

8 — Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School, all 4th graders, Patterson Grant w BTBR Books

14-19 — Denver, CO

21 — Riverside Elem. School, Suwanee, GA, all students and teachers, all grades

30 — Savannah

31 — Charleston, S.C.

April 2015

4-10 — Mississippi, family.

7 — Madison Station Elementary School, Madison, MS

8-10 — Fay B. Kaigler Children’s Literature Festival, Hattiesburg, MS. deGrummond Lecturer

11 — Alabama Book Festival, Montgomery, AL, presenter

15 — University of Texas San Antonio, Nancy Roser’s graduate class, SKYPE, REVOLUTION

30 — Hendricks Elementary School, Powder Springs, GA – SKYPE w 5th graders reading REVOLUTION

March 2015

Feb 24 – March 15 — International Schools, Hong Kong

27 — Atlanta International School, Atlanta, GA. Curriculum connections, students and teachers, grades 3 through middle school

31 — Mountain View Elementary School, Marietta, GA — all students and teachers

February 2015

4-5 — REVOLUTION is an NAACP Image Award Nominee. Los Angeles, CA

6 – 11  — Research trip for book three of the Sixties Trilogy, Bay Area, California:

7 — California School Library Assn, San Francisco, CA, Speaker

10 — The Girls’ Middle School, Palo Alto, CA, w REVOLUTION

19 — Pinellas County Reading Assoc., Tampa Florida, keynote

24 – March 15– International Schools, Hong Kong

January 2015

3-6 — Washington, D.C., family

12-16 — Marvin Elementary School, Marvin, NC, 1 week writing residency with all teachers and students in grades K-5, professional development with teachers.

23 — West End Elementary School, Rome, GA — all students and teachers

25-29 — Annunciation Orthodox School, Houston, TX. 1 week residency, grades 4-8.

December 2015

3 — Landisville Intermediate School, Landisville, PA, all 4th grade students/teachers

17 — Daniel Boone Regional Library event, SKYPE

November 2014

Little North Carolina book tour with REVOLUTION:

4 — Carolina Friends School, Durham, NC, all lower school students and teachers

5 — Cary Academy, Raleigh, grades 6-8

5 — Combs Elementary Schools, Raleigh

5 — Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC, signing REVOLUTION  7pm

6 — Pollard Middle School, Pittsboro

6 — Scuppernong Books, Greensboro

6 — Chatham Community Library 4pm family program sponsored by McIntyre’s Fine Books, Fearrington Village, Pittsboro, NC

16-19 — New York City. REVOLUTION is a National Book Award finalist.

20-23 — Miami Book Fair with National Book Award finalists’ events

October 2014

11 — SCBWI Southern Breeze conference, Birmingham, AL, speaking w Kerry Madden

12 — Southern Festival of Books, Nashville, TN w REVOLUTION

13 — Ensworth School, Nashville, TN w REVOLUTION

18-24 — D.C. area, bookstores and schools, TBA

20 — Potomac School, McLean, VA — all 4th graders and teachers

21 — 10am, Politics & Prose signing REVOLUTION, Washington, D.C.

22 — 7pm, Curious Iguana Books, Frederick, MD signing REVOLUTION

23 — Evendale Elementary School, Winchester, VA — all students and teachers, assembly programs

25-26 — Texas Book Festival, Austin, TX w REVOLUTION

September 2014

Little Mississippi book tour w REVOLUTION, more info to come:

2 — LEMURIA BOOKS, Jackson, MS

4 — TURNROW BOOKS, Greenwood, MS signing REVOLUTION

5 — SQUARE BOOKS, JR, Oxford, MS, signing REVOLUTION

August 2014

12 — Professional Development with teachers, Elm Street Elem School, Rome, GA

29-31 — Decatur Book Festival with REVOLUTION, Decatur, GA

June 2014

1-3 — Charleston, SC

5-7 — SCBWI Florida, Midyear Conference MG novel workshop, Orlando, FL, teaching

8 — Printers Row Lit Fest, Chicago, IL w REVOLUTION. On a panel w/ Legs McNeil, Gillian McCain, James Klise

15-18 South Carolina Assn. of School Administrators, Myrtle Beach, S.C., keynote: “Everything is a Remix — Writing the Documentary Novel: Using short texts and primary sources to weave together personal narrative, fiction, non-fiction, and biography.”

26 — Scholastic Summer Institute, St. Louis, MO, Keynote

27-30 — American Library Assn Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV

May 2014

2 — St. George’s School, Memphis, TN, Each Little Bird That Sings brunch with mother-daughter book club
5 — Morningside Elementary School, Atlanta, GA, all 4th and 5th grade students

7 — Elm Street Elementary School, Rome, GA, all students

8 — Emory University

9 — Barrow Elementary School, lunch with Battle of the Books COUNTDOWN readers, Athens, GA

9 — 4:30pm Meet-and-Greet with readers at Avid Bookshop, Athens, GA

21-28 — family wedding week!

April 2014

6-7 — American Booksellers Assn Children’s Institute, San Antonio, TX

8-11 — Texas Library Association  TLA, San Antonio, TX “Telling the Truth: Using Literary Techniques to Present the Facts”

22 — The Potomac School, McLean, VA, all 8th graders, turning narrative into fiction

25 — The Mead School, Stamford, CT, Skype with 7th graders

29 — Ft. Lauderdale FL with Bob Adelman to view his amazing gallery show of civil rights photos here.

March 2014

6  Winchester Trail Elementary School,  Canal Winchester, OH

27 – Newton Elementary School, Waxhall, NC, all grades

28 — Marvin Elementary School, Waxhall, NC, all grades, assembly/writing sessions

February 2014

11-13 — Great Neck South Middle School, Great Neck, NY, grades 6 through 8

18 — Holy Innocents’ School, Atlanta, GA, grades 3 through 5

24 — Madison Crossing Elementary School, Canton, MS

January 2014

24-28 — ALA Midwinter Conference, Philadelphia, PA

November 2013

21-24 — NCTE, Boston, MA. Presenting  “Meaningful Literacy Learning With Short Texts: An Inch Wide and a Mile Deep”

October 2013

5 — Firefly Run 5K in Atlanta — come run (walk) with me!

16-18 — D.C. area

19 — Keystone State Reading Association, State College, PA

26  — Children’s Literature Festival, Keene, NH

September 2013

23-27 — The Lovett School, Atlanta, GA —  personal narrative writing with grades 3-5

June 2013

11 — Cromwell Valley Elementary School, Towson, MD — Skype

13 — North Hampton School, North Hampton, NH — Skype

18 — Reading Writing Institute, Riverside Elementary School, Suwanee, GA

19 — Summer Reading/Writing, Spartanburg schools, Spartanburg, SC

24 — Brookwood Cluster Reading/Writing Institute, Gwinnett Co., GA

3o — Visiting Faculty, Pine Manor College Solstice MFA program, Chestnut Hill, MA

May 2013

9-11 — School visits and Young Authors’ Conference, Athens, TN

14 – 17 — New Hampshire Schools and NH School Library Media Assn., Whitefield, NH

April 2013

20 — Children’s Book Guild of Washington, D.C. non-fiction award event

29 — Gwin Oaks Elementary School, Lawrenceville, GA

March 2013

8-9 — Conference on Children’s Literature, Athens, GA

January 2013

Jan. 18 – Feb. 1 — Singapore American School, Singapore, working with 7th graders and their teachers, turning personal narrative into fiction

Feb. 2-4 — Children’s Literature Conference, Singapore

October 2012

6 — Boston, MA

13-17 — Kennebunk, ME

September 2012

4-10 — Charleston, SC

July 2012

14-17 — SCBWI regional conference, Frederick, MD

17-19 — D.C./Baltimore area

25 — Duncan Creek Elementary School,  Buford, GA, summer writing camp, grades 1 through 8

June 2012

4-6 Charleston, SC

May 2012

10 — The Potomac School, McLean, VA.  One-day writing intensive with 8th grade students

21-25 — Mississippi, research for book two of the sixties trilogy

April 2012

26 — Alabama Book Award LuncheonBirmingham, AL

March 2012

10 –South Carolina Young Writers’ Conference, Columbia,  SC

February 2012

24 — Ensworth School, Nashville, TN, writing with middle school students and teachers

December 2011

5 -6 — East Tennessee Schools, student assemblies, teacher workshops  

November 2011

4-5 — Appalachian State University Children’s Literature Symposium, Boone, NC,
schools, keynote, workshop

7-9 — Brookstone School, Columbus, GA

14-16 — The Potomac School, McLean, VA, writing residency with fourth graders and their teachers

October 2011

3 — Starr-Iva Middle School, Anderson, SC, 6th & 7th graders, Countdown project & family literacy night

5-6 — W.G. Coleman Elementary School, Marshall, VA, student writing workshops and staff development

7 — Powhatan School, Boyce, VA, author visit

13 — Baldwin School, Quincy, IL, young author’s day

14-15 — Rhode Island Festival of Children’s Books, Providence, RI

16-19 — Plymouth, Mass

20-21 — NJ schools, Countdown as “one book, one school” read

September 2011

6-13 — Charleston, SC

17-19 Southern Independent Booksellers Assoc. conference, Charleston, SC

26 — Alexandria, LA schools/Rapides Parish Library

August 2011

home and writing, writing, writing

July 2011

15-17 — Vermont College, Montpelier, VT, visiting faculty

June 2011

3 — Village Community School, NY, NY, Countdown 5th grade mock newbery skype visit

8 — Guntersville Public Library, AL, public library program – y’all come!

14 — Greene Co. Tech School System, Paragould, AR, teacher in-service

16 — Riverside Elementary School, Suwanee, GA literacy institute

17, 20 — University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, writing camp

27-28 — Shenandoah University children’s literature festival

May 2011

2 — Friends School of Baltimore, MD, documentary project

3-4 — The Potomac School, McLean, VA, writing residency

5 — Lakewood Elementary School, Rockville, MD, author visit

6 — Urbana Elementary School, Urbana, MD, keynote, 50th anniversary

9 – Washington Middle School, Washington, MO  Countdown,  book club skype

11-12 — Grandview School, Jonesborough, TN, teacher in-service and student workshops

13 —  Robertsville Middle School, Oak Ridge, TN Countdown project

13 — Eaton Elementary School, Lenoir City, TN, storytelling w 3rd & 4th graders

16 — Mason Elementary School, Valdosta, GA,  teacher workshops: teaching personal narrative

Travels With Charlie (bookstore tour with Scholastic rep Charlie Young)

18 — Octavia Books, New Orleans, LA, signing, public event

19 — Page & Palette, Mobile, AL. signing, public event

30-31 — Charleston, SC

April 2011

4 — The Duke School, Durham, NC, author visit, writing day 

5-9 —  The Little Read, Hickory, NC, Love, Ruby Lavender w every 3rd grader in Lenoir Co., NC

12-15 — Texas Library Association, Austin, TX

15-17 — Western Washington SCBWI, Redmond, WA, faculty

30 — Upstate Young Writer’s Network, Greenville, SC, working with young writers

March 2011

1 — Baker & Taylor, Concord, NC, national manager’s meeting

5-19 – Brent American School, Philippines, writing residency

24 — Robt. E. Lee Elementary School, Spotsylvania, VA, author visit

28-29 — Chattanooga, TN, school and library programs

31 — Darien Public Library, CT. Countdown — One Book, One Community event – y’all come!

February 2011

3 — W.T. Jackson Elementary School, Atlanta, GA, author visit

9 — Wright Denny School, Charles Town, WV, author visit

10 — Martinsburg Public Library, WV, writing workshops: young writers, and family stories

18-19 — Harding University young adult author series, Searcy, AR

24 — The Heritage School, Newnan, GA — Countdown project

January 2011

7-9 — Greenwood, Mississippi, research for book 2 of the Sixties Trilogy

14-17 — Los Angeles and Trabuco Canyon, CA

25 — Brookwood Elementary School, Snellville, GA

December 2010

6 — Mercer University children’s  literature class, Atlanta

15 — Columbia University Teachers College, faculty

November 2010

1 — Literacy Compass, Norfolk, VA

4 — North Carolina School & Library Media Specialists conference Winston-Salem, NC

5 — Winston-Salem schools

15-16 — Scholastic Book Fairs, Knoxville, TN

18-21  — NCTE Orlando, FL

October 2010

4-6 — San Francisco, Scholastic Book Fairs

8-10 — Southern Festival of Books, Nashville, TN

13 — UT Austin via Skype

15-17 — SCBWI-WI retreat faculty, Racine, WI

18-19 — Scholastic Book Fairs, Chicago

20-23 — Rockport, MA

28-31 — Washington, D.C.

29 — signing COUNTDOWN at Dancing Bear in Frederick, MD. 7pm

September 2010

2 — The Langley School via Skype

3-5 — Decatur Book Festival, Decatur, GA

7-8 — Teacher workshops, The Little Read, Hickory, NC

10-17 — Charleston, SC

14 — The Citadel, young adult lit class

20-22 — The Langley School, McLean, VA, w middle schoolers

24-25 — SIBA Daytona Beach, FL

28-30 — Scholastic Book Fairs, Birmingham and Scottsboro, AL

August 2010

2-3  — Literacy Compass, Norfolk, VA

11-13 — Atlanta, family

15-20 — Portland and Seattle

22 — Jackson, MS

23 — signing Countdown at Square Books in Oxford, MS 4pm

24 — signing Countdown at Turnrow Books in Greenwood, MS 3:30pm

25 — signing Countdown at Lemuria Books in Jackson, MS – 5pm

26 — Georgia Center for the Book, Atlanta

28— 2pm Suwanee Festival of Books, Suwanee, GA

July 2010

15-17 — Hamline University MFA Program, Visiting Faculty
20-21 — Scholastic Book Fairs, Orlando, FL
26 — Countdown book group discussion, Atlanta
27 — Countdown book group discussion, Tucson, via Skype

June 2010

3 – TTU/IRA, Upper Cumberland Region IRA, Cookeville, TN
8-9 – Georgia Conference on Reading and Writing, Perry, GA
24-29 – ALA, Washington, DC
30 – Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA, Children’s Literature Festival

May 2010

1 – Books of Wonder, New York City, signing Countdown, 2:00 p.m.
12 – Politics & Prose, Washington, DC, signing Countdown, 10:30 a.m.
22 – Knoxville Festival of Reading, World’s Fair Park

April 2010

3 – Louin, MS
13-14 – Graceland University, Lamoni, IA  Young Author’s Conference
17 – Children’s Book Guild of Washington, DC (nf award event)
19 – Lakewood Elementary School, Rockville, MD
20-21 – The Langley School, Washington DC
25-28 – International Reading Assoc., Chicago, IL
30 – Bookazine’s KidsDay Event, Princeton, NJ

March 2010

9-10 – Auburn, AL schools
13 – South Carolina Young Author’s Conference, Columbia, SC
15 – Dutch Fork Elementary School, Irmo, SC
22 – The Episcopal School of Knoxville, Knoxville, TN
23 – Jefferson Middle School, Oak Ridge, TN
23 – University of Tennessee, Hodges Library Auditorium
24 – Robertsville Middle School/Glenwood ES, Oak Ridge, TN
25 – Woodland ES/Linden ES, Oak Ridge, TN
26 – Webb School of Knoxville, TN
30 – Highland Bluff Elementary School, Brandon, MS
31 – Brandon ES, Pelahatchie ES, Brandon, MS

February 2010

22 – Jonesboro, Arkansas schools and public library program
23 – Jonesboro, Arkansas schools
24 – St. Agnes Academy/St. Dominic School, Memphis, TN
25 – St. Mary’s School, Memphis, TN
26 – Jonesboro, Arkansas schools

January 2010

30 – Bay County Reading Assoc., Panama City, FL

November 2009

14 — Battle of the Books, Midland, MI
16-17 – Washington, D.C. schools

September 2009

25 – SEBA, Greenville, SC

May 2009

1 (Friday) – Turn Row and Hernando, MS Librarians
2 (Saturday) – Memphis, and Square Books Jr. in Oxford, MS 3 (Sunday) — home
8, 11-12 – Parsons Elementary School, Suwanee, GA
13 – Centennial Arts Academy, Gainesville, GA

April 2009

Shoestring Tour
1 – Maryland schools and after-school program
2 – Politics & Prose, Washington, D.C. 10:30am
3 – Horizon Elementary School, Sterling, VA
4 – Children’s Book Guild of D.C.
5 – The Maret School, Washington, D.C., family program

14-15 – Nebraska schools

Shoestring Tour
21 – Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC. 7pm
24 – Fox Tale Bookshoppe, Woodstock, GA 4pm
25 – Little Shop of Stories, Decatur, GA 4pm
26 (Sunday) – travel to Mississippi
27 (Monday) – Main Street Books, Hattiesburg, MS
28 (Tuesday) – Lemuria, Jackson, MS
30 (Thursday) – Turn Row Books, Greenwood, MS

March 2009

4 – local speaking
17 – Barrow Elementary School, Athens, GA
18 – Davis Elementary School, Marietta, GA
23 – R.D. Head Elementary School, Lilburn, GA
25 – Rock Springs Elementary School, Lawrenceville, GA

February 2009

26 – Highland School, Birmingham, AL
27 – Crestline Elementary School, Mountain Brook, AL

December 2008

1-2 – Writing Personal Narratives with Third Graders and Teachers at Mantua Elementary School, Fairfax, VA
3-4 – Writing Residency, The Hill School, Middleburg, VA

November 2008

12 – Glenridge Elementary School, Seattle (Renton), WA
13 – Grass Lake Elementary School, Kent, WA
18-20 – Augusta, GA schools
22 – TASL, Tennessee Assoc. of School Librarians, Franklin, TN

October 2008

22 – Stephens County Middle School, Toccoa, GA

September 2008

23 – Scholastic Book Fairs, Birmingham, AL

August 2008

18 – Writing Personal Narratives with Teachers, Heritage School, Newnan, GA
Decatur Book Festival
, Decatur, GA, Labor Day Weekend

30 – SIBA Book Award panel
31 – children’s stage, The Aurora Co. All-Stars

July 2008

14 – Gettysburg Library, Gettysburg, PA
15 – Frederick Co. Public Libraries, Urbana, MD 3:30pm, y’all come!

June 2008

10-11 – Literacy Compass, Tampa, FL
18 – Brookwood Cluster Children’s Reading and Writing Institute, Lawrenceville, GA

May 2008

4 – Day-long Institute at IRA, Atlanta, GA
5 – signings, IRA, Atlanta
10 – Family Celebration: college graduations, weddings, togetherness
13 – W.J. Cooper Elem. School, Loganville, GA
14 – Scholastic Book Fairs, Hall County, GA
15-16 – Putnam County Elem. School, Eatonton, GA
19-20 – Columbia Public Schools, Columbia, MO
28 – E.J. Swint Elementary School, Jonesboro, GA

April 2008

2 – Root Elementary School, Fayetteville, Arkansas
3 – Vandergriff Elementary School, Fayetteville, Arkansas
19 – Alabama Book Festival, Montgomery, AL
24 – Alabama Book Award Ceremony (Little Bird!), Birmingham, AL
25-26 – Children’s Literature Conference, Frostburg, MD
30 – Beth Yeshurun Day School, Houston, TX

March 2008

7-9 – UNLV Conference w/Southern Nevada Writing Conference
27 – Polk County Reading Council, Orlando, Florida

February 2008

7-9 – Books Alive!, Panama City, FL
20-21 – South Carolina IRA (SCIRA), Myrtle Beach, SC
22-24 – SCBWI Springmingle, Atlanta, GA
27-28 – Scholastic Book Fairs event, Chicago, IL

January 2008

23-24 – Mantua Elementary School, Fairfax, VA, writing residency with 4th-graders and teachers

December 2007

1-3 – New Orleans, with Coleen Salley
4-5 – Honors Forum, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS

November 2007

2-3 – Texas Book Festival, Austin
5-9 – Iowa City, IA schools
16-19 – NCTE, National Council of Teachers of English, NYC
26-30 – Canterbury Woods ES, Annandale, VA Writing Residency

October 2007

6-7 – Midwest Booksellers Association (MBA), Minneapolis, MN
8 – School District of Belleville, Belleville, WI
9 – Rome Corners Intermediate School, Oregon, WI
12-13 – Southern Festival of Books, Nashville, TN
17-18 – Georgia COMO conference, Jekyll Island, GA
20 – signing, Man in the Moon Children’s Bookshoppe, Monroe, GA 11am
21 – 26 – Dallas, TX schools

September 2007

The Aurora County All-Stars Tour — Y’all Come!
6 – Happy Bookseller, Columbia, SC
11 – Shop on the Corner, Philadelphia, MS Lemuria, Jackson, MS
12 – Turnrow Book Co., Greenwood, MS
13 – Square Books Jr., Oxford, MS
Thacker Mountain Radio, Oxford, MS
17 – Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC
18 – Barnes & Noble, Walnut Creek, CA
19 – Linden Tree, Los Altos, CA
School Visit sponsored by Books Inc, San Francisco
20 – The Storyteller, Lafayette, CA
Hicklebees, San Jose, CA
21 – signing, PNBA (Pacific Northwest Booksellers Assn) Seattle
22 – All For Kids, Seattle
Village Books, Bellingham, WA
23 – Third Place Books, Lake Forest, WA
24 – Children’s Place Bookstore, Portland, OR
Powells, stock signing, Portland, OR
25 – school visit sponsored by Whale of a Tale, Irvine, CA
The First Page, stock signing, Costa Mesa, CA
Santa Fe Springs Public Library, Santa Fe Springs, CA
26 – Yellow Book Road, La Mesa, CA
29 – Author Panel, SIBA, Atlanta, GA

August 2007

20-21 – Scholastic Book Fairs, Charlotte Media Market
25 – signing, Little Shop of Stories, Decatur, GA 2pm
27 – taping, Gwinnett County Public Schools, GA
28-30 – Staff Development, Wayne Avenue School, Dunn, NC

June 2007

22-26 – American Library Association Conference, Washington, DC

May 2007

1 – The Children’s School, Atlanta, GA
8 – Scholastic Book Fairs dinner, Atlanta
10 – Scholastic Book Fairs dinner, Atlanta
17 – Children’s Book Guild of Washington, D.C.
18 – The Sheridan School, Washington, D.C.
31 – June 1 – Literacy Compass, Tampa, FL

April 2007

3-4 – Colorado Academy, Denver, CO
11-13 – Gwin Oaks Elementary School, Lawrenceville, GA
21 – Leon County Reading Council, Tallahassee, FL
22 – Arkansas Literary Festival, Little Rock
23 – Riverdale Elementary School, Germantown, TN
24 – Lakeland Elementary School, Lakeland, TN
24 – Memphis Public Library – “Same Book, Same Time”
LOVE, RUBY LAVENDER, (MidSouth Reads)
25 – St. George’s Independent School, Memphis, TN

March 2007

2 – AWP, Associated Writing Program panel, Atlanta, GA
6 – Jefferson Middle School, Oak Ridge, TN
7 – Robertsville Middle School, Oak Ridge, TN
19 – University of Texas at Austin
12-14 – North Carolina Reading Association Conference
26-27 – Pearson Elementary School, Catlett, VA
28 – Daniel Morgan Middle School, Winchester, VA
29 – Haycock Elementary School, Falls Church, VA

February 2007

1-2 – Houston area schools, CyFair Independent School District
8 – Scholastic Book Fairs, Orlando, FL
21 – Gregory Elementary School, Wilmington, NC

January 2007

29-31 – Houston area schools, CyFair Independent School District

December 2006

10-11 – New York City, Listening Library

November 2006

2 – Green Valley Elementary School, Monrovia, MD
2 – The Reading Connection, Washington, DC
3 – George Mason Elementary School, Alexandria, VA
4 – Children’s Book Guild of Washington, DC
7 – Duchesne Academy, Houston, TX
8 – St. Francis Episcopal Day School, Piney Point, TX
17-18 – Savannah Children’s Book Festival, Savannah, GA

October 2006

2 – South Shades Crest Elementary School, Hoover, AL
13-15 – Southern Festival of Books, Memphis, TN
16-18 – National Presbyterian School, Washington, DC
25-26 – Mississippi Library Association, Tunica, MS

September 2006

2 – Decatur, GA Book Festival, 2:30pm Children’s Stage
25-26 – Library Expo with Scholastic Book Fairs, Montgomery and Birmingham, AL

July 2006

15-26 – Vermont College, faculty

June 2006

1-5 – NYC

29 – Shenandoah University Children’s Literature Festival, Winchester, VA

May 2006

1-2 – International Reading Association annual conference, Chicago

4 – Frederick County Reading Association, Frederick, MD

6 – Celebration of Children’s Literature, Washington, D.C.

9 – Cash Elementary School, Kernersville, NC

10 – Vienna Elementary School, Pfafftown, NC

18-19 – ABA/Book Expo America, Washington, DC

23 – Fox Theatre, Atlanta

27 – Atlanta Jazz Festival

April 2006

5-7 – Children’s Book Festival, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS

7-9 – New Orleans, LA w/ Coleen Salley

21 – Heritage School, Newnan, GA with Deborah Hopkinson

24-26 – Texas Library Association, Houston, TX

29, 30 – International Reading Association annual conference, Chicago

March 2006

9-10 – Virginia State Reading Association annual conference, Virginia Beach, VA

15-16 – Bank Street College of Education, NYC

17-19 – SCBWI retreat faculty, Chapel Hill, NC

20-24 – Raleigh, NC area schools:

20 – Baucom Elementary in Apex

21 – Cedar Fork Elementary in Morrisville

22 – Conn Active Learning & Technology Magnet Elementary in Raleigh

23 – Jamestown Elementary School in Jamestown

24 – Highcroft Drive Elementary in Cary

30 – Orlando, FL taping Scholastic Bookfairs Author Video

February 2006

23-26 – Children’s Literature Conference, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA

December 2005

2-3 – Reading Symposium, Pinehurst, NC

6-7 – Northern Mississippi schools and libraries:

6 – Strayhorn & Coldwater Elementary Schools, Tate County, MS

6 – Hernando Public Library, Hernando, MS

7 – Greenhill Elementary School at the Sardis Public Library, Sardis, MS

7 – Tunica Public Library, Tunica, MS

7 – Olive Branch Public Library, Olive Branch, MS

12-13 – writing workshops, Glennwood 4-5 Academy, Decatur, GA

November 2005

4 – Thomas Jefferson Elementary School and Forest Elementary School — Forest, VA

5 – Literature Festival, Central Library, Bedford, VA

6 – Lynchburg Library visit in the Old City Cemetery, Lynchburg, VA

7 – Paul Munro Elementary School, Lynchburg, VA

9-10 – Frederick, MD

11 – South Frederick Elementary School, Frederick, MD

12 – Book Week luncheon, Children’s Book Guild of Washington, DC

14-16 – National Book Award Events, New York City

18-19 – Savannah Literature Festival, Savannah, GA

October 2005

6 – Robeson County Curriculum Reading Specialists, Wilmington, NC

7-9 – Southern Festival of Books, Nashville, TN

13 – Rowan County Reading Teachers, Salisbury, NC

16 – Carpe Librum Books, Knoxville, TN

17 – Hardin Valley Elementary School, Knoxville, TN

27 – Mississippi Library Association, Vicksburg, MS — This conference has been cancelled. Click here to find out how you can help rebuild Mississippi libraries devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

June 2005

13 – Barnes & Noble, Alpharetta, GA

24-27 – American Library Association annual conference, Chicago, IL

May 2005

3-6 – International Reading Association annual conference, San Antonio, TX

16-17 – Twin Ridge Elementary School, Frederick, MD

18 – Middletown Elementary School, Frederick, MD

19 – Children’s Book Guild of Washington, DC

20 – The Sheridan School, Washington, DC

April 2005

6-7 – Raleigh, NC schools

14-24 – Publication tour for EACH LITTLE BIRD THAT SINGS in hardcover and LOVE, RUBY LAVENDER in a new paperback edition.

For more information contact: Kia Neri at Harcourt: kneri@harcourt.com

Y’all Come!

14 – Vero Beach Book Center, Vero Beach, FL

15 – Politics and Prose, Washington, D.C.Aladdin’s Lamp, Alexandria, VA
16 – Barnes & Noble on Honeygo Blvd. Baltimore, MD (White Marsh)Dancing Bear, Frederick, MD
18 – Barnes & Noble, Winston-Salem, NC
The Regulator, Durham, NC
19 – Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC

20 – Open Book, Greenville, SC

21 – Happy Bookseller, Columbia, SC
22 – Square Books, Oxford, MS
23 – Lemuria, Jackson, MS
Brandon Library, Brandon, MS

25 – Windows, A Bookshop, Monroe, LA

March 2005

7-8 – Writing Residency, Girls Preparatory School, Chattanooga, TN
18-20 – Vermont College, Montpelier VT

February 2005

9-11 – Rowan Co., NC schools
Prepublication tour for EACH LITTLE BIRD THAT SINGS.

November 2004

5 – Perry High School, Southwest Ga. Writing Project with RUBY.
13 – Children’s Book Guild of Washington, DC
15-19 – Writing Residency, Willow Springs Elem, Fairfax Co., VA

October 2004

5 – Georgia schools
9 – Washington Library Media Specialists, Bellevue, WA
11-15 – Eastern Shore elementary schools, MD
14 – Eastern Shore chapter, International Reading Assoc.
15-17 – Edgecomb, ME
18 – Chinn Park Regional Library, Manassas, VA

September 2004

15-17 – North Carolina Library Media Specialists annual conference, Winston-Salem, NC