Calendar dates are added as they are confirmed.
October 2023
7 — Plum Creek Literacy Festival, Teacher Keynote, Seward, Nebraska
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 Luncheon, Birmingham, 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