For Adults
I visit libraries throughout the year to read from and discuss That Very Place and Pieces: A Novel in Stories. My Author Visits work well for both large group events and smaller book clubs. A thirty-minute visit includes a 15- minute reading followed by a Q&A.
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE
Getting Published as You’re Getting Older
This hour-long visit consists of a 20-minute reading followed by a discussion of my late-to-the game publication journey and a Q&A. The presentation tracks the unlikely markers of a career that began in mid-life:
- First novel published at age 45, followed by three more
- Named a finalist for the National Book Award at age 48
- First story collection published at 68; the second, at 76
- Short fiction and creative nonfiction published in more than seventy literary journals since the mid-1980s
For Young Adults
I also visit schools and libraries to discuss my young-adult novels with young people. I tailor the library and school visits—for grades 7 through 12—to the individual group or class. Visits may include a reading, along with a talk on the work of writing fiction, or a discussion based on one of the powerful themes in my novels. Popular choices include:
1960s: Interracial Friendship and the Civil Rights Movement
Drawing on the interracial friendship depicted in Where You Belong and Morning in a Different Place, this talk explores the Civil Rights Movement of the early 1960s and what race relations were like in New York during that time.
When There’s Drinking in the Family
Drawing from Crossing Into Brooklyn, Where You Belong, Morning in a Different Place, and Cloud Dancer, this talk explores the effects on young people when a parent drinks too much.
If I Can Do It, So Can You
This talk is ideal for young people who want to be writers, especially those who are convinced the odds are against them. By describing my own obstacles to success—a childhood of poverty, alcoholism, and domestic violence—I explore how even the most unlikely dreams can come true.
Duration and Cost
One class period. $1,200 for a full day (usually four presentations); $300 for a single presentation.
To arrange an author visit, please get in touch through our contact form.