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I am currently available for local in-person events (VA/DC/MD) and virtual visits anywhere.
I love speaking with students, readers, and other writers about the writing and publication process. As a theater kid at heart, I love the energy that comes from a group setting. I have listed several sample presentations below and I am happy to tailor any of my programs to suit your school, library, or organization's needs. Please use my Contact form for inquiries. DOWNLOADABLE: AUTHOR VISIT FLYER Want a sneak-peek? Here's a video of me reading the first section of The Gilded Girl, "The Kindling" on YouTube. "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. Our students loved her read aloud of the first chapter of The Gilded Girl, and her presentation on the creation of her novels was fascinating. 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!" |
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"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!"
Mrs. Barbara Trach -- Language Arts Teacher, Franklin Middle School @ Hamilton Street Campus
Sample Presentations
The Gilded Girl Classroom Discussion
Best for: Small to medium groups, grades 4+
Length: 30-45 minutes (Longer length includes Q&A)
The perfect follow up for a classroom read, I’ll facilitate a discussion about the characters, history, and themes of the book.
The Path to Publication
Best for: Any size group, grades 4+
Length: 45-60 minutes, includes Q&A
Ideas don’t grow on trees…but they eventually get printed on them? In this presentation, we will explore how stories go from ideas to published books. Using examples from The Gilded Girl, students will learn about my writing process, see first-hand how books change during the editing and copyediting process, discover how covers are created, and my best tips for writers of all ages. (Hint: Most of them have to do with actually writing!)
Writing Workshop
Best For: Small to Medium groups, grades 4+
Length: 30-60 minutes (Ideally includes time for student writing)
In this completely customizable workshop, I will lead a brief discussion about an aspect of writing of your choosing (examples: Character development, voice, dialogue, showing vs. telling, point of view, etc.). I'll then work with students to develop their own story ideas using a prompt, historical event, or example passage to spark ideas.