"[Alyssa's] ability to connect with young readers while providing a practical look at the writing craft makes her an exceptional guest for any school."
- Librarian, Oakton Elementary School, VA
".... The most delightful, engaging presentation we have had at Freedom Hill. The students loved searching for inspiration on each slide and acting out the printing process. Alyssa Colman was a total hit with our students!"
- Reading Specialist, Freedom Hill Elementary, VA
Alyssa has presented at schools, libraries, and conferences across the United States and internationally in Japan and Mexico. She loves speaking with students, readers, librarians, educators, and other writers! She is available to speak with groups of any size, from conference keynotes to homeschool groups. As a double English and Theater major, Alyssa brings energy, creativity, and interaction to group settings. She is currently available for live visits, virtual visits, and speaking engagements.
Her presentations are playful, interactive, and informative. With the older grades, the visit takes on a writing-related focus with an emphasis on not judging your first draft against a polished book manuscript. She delves into the magic of revision and even invites the kids to give her feedback on early drafts of her books. Teachers say that Alyssa's presentation left students excited to pick up a book and fired up to write their own stories.
Please use the button below to start a conversation or reach out to
Louise Campbell at The Booking Tree ([email protected])
Her presentations are playful, interactive, and informative. With the older grades, the visit takes on a writing-related focus with an emphasis on not judging your first draft against a polished book manuscript. She delves into the magic of revision and even invites the kids to give her feedback on early drafts of her books. Teachers say that Alyssa's presentation left students excited to pick up a book and fired up to write their own stories.
Please use the button below to start a conversation or reach out to
Louise Campbell at The Booking Tree ([email protected])
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Alyssa would love to learn more about your school and what you hope to gain from her visit. Do you hope to inspire students to stick with revision? Are you kicking off a read-a-thon or other literacy event? Let’s discuss how we can maximize this visit!
Current Presentations:
From Fact to Fiction: The Journey of a Novel
Best for: Any size group, grades 3+, Libraries
Length: 45 minutes, includes Q&A
Ever wonder how a book goes from a tiny spark of an idea to a finished novel? In this interactive presentation, students will explore the history and inspiration behind Where Only Storms Grow. From answering burning questions about the author's life to pulling back the curtain on the research process, this session shows students that they are learning the same skills professional writers use every day. The visit culminates in an interactive Reader’s Theater Radio Show version of the first chapter that engages the whole audience!
A Book is a Group Project
Best for: Any size group, K-6th grades, LIBRARIES!
Length: 40-60 minutes, includes Q&A
An author writes a story, but it takes a whole team to create a book. In this interactive presentation, students will explore the roles involved in Team Book and the publishing process from concept to printed book. We’ll also delve into the magic of revision and discuss why students shouldn't compare their first drafts to an author’s finished work.
*Most popular offering! Please note that Alyssa has two versions of this presentation. One is geared toward K-3rd Grade, the other toward 4th-6th grade.
The Magic of Revision
Best for: Any size group, grades 3+
Length: 40-60 minutes, includes Q&A
Using examples from Alyssa's published works, students will learn about my writing process, see firsthand how books evolve during the editing and copyediting stages, discover that every part of a book requires revision (even covers!), and hear Alyssa's best tips for writers of all ages. (Hint: Most of them involve reading a lot!)
Recipe for Story - Writing Workshop
Best For: Small to Medium groups, grades 3+, LIBRARIES!
Length: 45-90 minutes (Ideally includes time for student writing)
In this interactive workshop, students will explore the necessary ingredients for a great story. Using these ingredients and a fun prompt, every student will work on an open-ended creative writing exercise.
Book-Specific Classroom Discussions
Best for: Small to medium groups, grades 3+
Length: 30-45 minutes (Longer length includes Q&A)
The perfect follow-up for a class that has read or studied one of Alyssa's books. Alyssa will facilitate a discussion about the book's characters, history, and themes.
Current Presentations:
From Fact to Fiction: The Journey of a Novel
Best for: Any size group, grades 3+, Libraries
Length: 45 minutes, includes Q&A
Ever wonder how a book goes from a tiny spark of an idea to a finished novel? In this interactive presentation, students will explore the history and inspiration behind Where Only Storms Grow. From answering burning questions about the author's life to pulling back the curtain on the research process, this session shows students that they are learning the same skills professional writers use every day. The visit culminates in an interactive Reader’s Theater Radio Show version of the first chapter that engages the whole audience!
A Book is a Group Project
Best for: Any size group, K-6th grades, LIBRARIES!
Length: 40-60 minutes, includes Q&A
An author writes a story, but it takes a whole team to create a book. In this interactive presentation, students will explore the roles involved in Team Book and the publishing process from concept to printed book. We’ll also delve into the magic of revision and discuss why students shouldn't compare their first drafts to an author’s finished work.
*Most popular offering! Please note that Alyssa has two versions of this presentation. One is geared toward K-3rd Grade, the other toward 4th-6th grade.
The Magic of Revision
Best for: Any size group, grades 3+
Length: 40-60 minutes, includes Q&A
Using examples from Alyssa's published works, students will learn about my writing process, see firsthand how books evolve during the editing and copyediting stages, discover that every part of a book requires revision (even covers!), and hear Alyssa's best tips for writers of all ages. (Hint: Most of them involve reading a lot!)
Recipe for Story - Writing Workshop
Best For: Small to Medium groups, grades 3+, LIBRARIES!
Length: 45-90 minutes (Ideally includes time for student writing)
In this interactive workshop, students will explore the necessary ingredients for a great story. Using these ingredients and a fun prompt, every student will work on an open-ended creative writing exercise.
Book-Specific Classroom Discussions
Best for: Small to medium groups, grades 3+
Length: 30-45 minutes (Longer length includes Q&A)
The perfect follow-up for a class that has read or studied one of Alyssa's books. Alyssa will facilitate a discussion about the book's characters, history, and themes.
More feedback from educators...
"Ms. Colman's visit with our middle school readers was a smashing success! Her genuine enthusiasm for the craft of writing, combined with her delightful personality kept our students engaged and interested in her book and the process of writing it...It also reinforces the strategies we give students about the revising and editing process of their own writing! We can't thank Ms. Colman enough for sharing her love of reading and writing with our students!"
Rob Porter - Literacy Coach, Sampson G. Smith Middle School
"Ms. Colman was the perfect guest speaker at a reading celebration at our middle school. She opened a window for our aspiring writers to envision their futures as she shared personal insights about the writing and publishing process and her own journey to becoming a published author. Ms. Colman now has a fan club at Franklin Middle School!"
Barbara Trach -- Language Arts Teacher, Franklin Middle School