Amy Hest's Presentation

Author of Picture Books and Chapter Books

Current Location:

New York City

Honorarium:

$1,800 per day (visits not requiring an overnight stay � within the tri-state area)
$2,500 for all other visits (plus expenses)

Program Description:

My program is pretty informal and chatty. I love to talk about writing! And about my life as a writer, and how I happened to become a writer. I talk about where I write, when I write, what I eat when I write (ice cream), and about why I NEVER illustrate my own books. (I'm a terrible artist). I talk about the difference between a bad writing day and a good writing day, and about my kids, and about why my books are always (secretly) about ME. I love to brag about the fact that I'm a really good spy, and how this helps me as a writer. I also brag about my HUGE garbage can. (This is a big help, too). I read one of my books, or excerpts from a book, and afterwards discuss why I wrote that book. I bring a few visuals (tattered, marked-up manuscripts, galleys, page proofs) to show how a story idea actually turns into a book you might find in the library.

(Because I write books for children of all ages -- pre-k through grade 6 -- my presentations vary in length and depth, depending on the age of the audience).

I welcome questions and insights from kids and teachers, and stress how all of us are writers.