Speaking
School and Library Visits
Nancy is currently scheduling virtual visits and in-person events. Visits can be arranged through How Now Booking.
Nancy’s programs are adaptable for schools, libraries, homeschooling, museums, and scouting groups. Scroll down for more information about programs.
Author visits can be geared around any of Nancy’s books. Older students can learn about biodiversity and get excited about planning their own eco-action project or school garden. Or they can discover the recipe for book research. Younger students can decide what they would pack for a trip around the world, like Nellie Bly, or explore the recovery of a river through a read of Whales In The City.
Nancy encourages students to find their own story and discover the joys of writing and research in classroom workshops and assembly programs. Research emphasizes fact finding and exploration.
Teachers decide what format of presentation works best for their students.
How Now Booking can help arrange a sale with a local bookstore for the school. Autographing is always available. She loves small group lunch time chats with students, if possible!
Sharing books at a school visit
Nancy’s intention for every visit is to:
- inform participants about the world around them with age-appropriate content (including NGSS)
- inspire an appreciation of the natural world
- further STEM topics and research
- empower readers to become curious and involved citizens
- encourage cross-curriculum connections
- introduce the nitty gritty of book publishing and author-life
2026 Author Appearances
2026 Public Events:
January 9, Nyack, NY, Big Red Books, (RIVERKEEPER)
March 21, Ossining, NY, Books for Humanity
March 28, Poughkeepsie Book Festival
May 16, West Park, NY, Slabsides
May 21, New Paltz, NY, Elting Memorial Library
September 19-19, Boyd’s Mill, Picture Book Workshop Faculty
October 24, Marlboro, NY, 1000 Books
October 29-31, Cape Cod, Big Sur (faculty)
Previous Events:
March 20, From Farm To Table to Book: Teaching With Farm Texts to Learn about Food Security, NCSS Virtual Program
March 29, Poughkeepsie, NY Poughkeepsie Book Festival
April 8, New York, NY, Battery Park School (WHALES IN THE CITY, RIVERKEEPER)
April 14, Long Lake, NY Author’s Night
May 3, Hudson Children’s Book Festival
May 7 , Maine Virtual Author Visit
May 8, Leeds, NY, Educator Dinner
May 9, Oblong Books Rhinebeck Book Launch
July 8, New York Botanical Garden, CELF Summer Institute
August 1, Hotchkiss Library, Sharon, Connecticut Sharon Summer Book Signing Weekend
September 27, Chappaqua, NY Chappaqua Book Festival
October NYSEC Conference – details to come
October 30, Kinderhook, NY, Kinderhook Library Author Talk (SQUIRREL)
November 2, Albany, NY, NYS Museum (WHALES IN THE CITY, RIVERKEEPER)
November 8, Avon, CT, Avon Free Public Library Author Talk (SQUIRREL)
November 15, Esopus Library Author Talk (SQUIRREL)
November 16, Newton, MA, Newton Children’s Book Festival
December 13, Chatham, NY, Chatham Bookstore Winterfest
Meet Nancy at a book festival
Presentations:
Nancy enjoys exploring science and research with middle school and high school students and is happy to visit science classes during her visits to a school district. Schools can team up and host her in area schools to share expenses.
Author q & A
- Available for kindergarten through adult
- 15-60 minutes (free virtual 15-min Q&A often available for classrooms)
It is meaningful for students to have the opportunity to read one or more of Nancy’s books before her visit. Nancy is happy answering questions about any of her books, from research to publication.
SNIFFING OUT A GOOD STORY
- Available for grades 3-12
- 30-60 minutes
Research is a treasure hunt and is useful for all writing! This program ties in with SNIFFER DOGS to explore the tips and tricks of researching to uncover facts.
THE STORY OF SEEDS
- Available for grades 5-12
- 30-60 minutes
Program discusses the interconnection of STEM, history, and geography topics that include, biodiversity, WW2, and worldwide food security.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
- Available for grades 4-12
- 30-60 minutes
Program focuses on good news conservation stories that emphasize the ways people come together to make a difference. Community science, endangered species, environmental history, and civics are all included. Program ties in with BACK FROM THE BRINK, MISSION POLAR BEAR RESCUE, KEEPING OUR EARTH GREEN and others.
WHEN THE WORLD RUNS DRY
- Available for grades 6-12
- 30-60 minutes
Program focuses on global water security, citizen science, activism, and civics are all included.
WRITING FOR ADULTS
- 30-90 minutes
Learn more about the craft of writing, effective research strategies, and the revision process with Nancy at an upcoming SCBWI event, library conference, or professional development program for educators. Nancy also offers engaging presentations on incorporating nonfiction into classroom instruction and would be delighted to collaborate with you. To schedule a customized session for your group or program, please reach out to Nancy directly.
Register for Nancy’s upcoming program on writing nonfiction NOW!
Costs
Nancy’s author visits for schools can be booked through How Now Booking.
Funding Ideas for Your Author Visit
- Treat the visit as a field trip that doesn’t involve travel! Each student can pay a small amount to offset the author fee.
- Apply for the Amber Brown Grant through the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Two schools are selected each year to receive an all expense paid author/illustrator visit.
- Check your local arts council or education council for available grants.
- Offset the cost with a book sale! Many indie bookstores will help coordinate a sale that will serve as a fundraiser for your school.
- Team up with another school, a local library, bookstore, or museum to share the costs to bring an author/illustrator to your area.
- Take advantage of authors attending a regional book festival, reading association conference, or other book event in your area. Find out what authors are attending and contact them ahead of time so they can make a stop at your school while they are in the area. Nancy is happy to arrive a day early or stay a day late and visit a local school if she is speaking at NCTE, a reading council, or local festival.
Sample Elementary Day Schedule:
9:15- 9:45 Presentation #1 – 5th grade in the library — Sniffing Out a Good Story
10:15 – 10:45 Presentation #2 – Grade 2 Around the World with Nellie Bly (Students discover a real person who followed her dream. Perfect for Women’s History Month)
11- 11:30 Presentation #3 – Grade 1 read THE FARM THAT FEEDS US (The path of a picture book and a tasty read!)
12:00-12:30 Presentation #4 – Grade 3 Around the World with Nellie Bly
12:30 – 2:15 – Lunch/Book signing and sale (I love having lunch with small groups of students! Signed bookplates are available for virtual visits )
2:30-3 – Presentation #5 – Grade 4 – Sniffing Out a Good Story