When is the Best Time to Schedule School Visits?

"When is the best time to schedule a school visit?" A very popular question from authors planning who plan to speak in schools. I book school visits from one month to a year in advance. The reason for a wide range is that most schools have limited budgets and a variety of time frames for scheduling. The best time for me to schedule is six months ahead.  

When planning spring visits, send contact emails starting December 1st. The holidays are a rushed time. Many educators are planners and respond immediately. Follow up emails can start after January 15th. This gives the staff time to settle in after the new year. Non planners will find an urgent need to book an author visit.  

If planning fall visits, send contact emails before May 1st. Emails after this date educators are in holiday mode mindset and ignore the email.  I don't start emailing educators until a week before school starts in the fall. 

Booking schools means planning life one year in advance. Middle and high schools may be different. No matter what age group, get your official fingerprint ID done. You can register at the county courthouse.

A great resource for scheduling is Jane Wood's Schools: A Niche Market for Authors.

Mark Wayne Adams

Award-winning illustrator of Jilli, That's Silly!: A Story About Being a Girl

Author Visits in Schools

Jane Wood author of Schools: A Niche Market for Authors, finds that schools are a unique market for authors. Whether an author writes children's picture books, young adult books, or even adult fiction or nonfiction books, the goal for most authors is the same - to sell books!

As the author of four juvenile fiction books, Jane Wood has been selling her books to schools since 2004. More than 50 percent of her annual revenue comes from book sales to schools, speaking fees to schools, and book sales to students at those schools. For Jane this is a win-win.

Jane's visits are a valuable benefit to the schools she visits. As a former teacher, her goal is to inspire reading in students. By creating characters that children can relate to, and scenes that engage their interests and imaginations, she promotes literacy. When she participates in an author visit at a school, she makes a connection with her readers, which is beneficial to both of parties. And when she talks about the writing process, she reinforces what their teachers teach them in language arts lessons.

There are many things to consider when targeting schools as a market for book sales. In her book she shares many strategies: how to make books attractive to educators; how to promote books to schools; how to develop presentations; and ways to generate revenue from this niche market.

Jane Wood can be reached at her website:  GetBookSavy.com

Purpose in an Artistic Profession

I was honored to be chosen for the 1988 Kentucky Governor's School For the Arts program. Now 23 years later, I humbly accept the Marlene M. Helm Alumni Achievement Award on behalf of the Kentucky educators, students, and families who have influenced my artistic purpose.

A purpose realized in 2006, when Mrs. Michelle Brantley invited me to share my artistic journey with the students of Cuba Elementary in Graves County, Kentucky. Not only a teacher at Cuba Elementary, but also my little sister, Michelle felt students would be inspired by my message.

I was no public speaker! I said to myself, "What's the worst that could happen?" The question I should have asked myself was, "WHAT'S THE BEST THAT COULD HAPPEN?"

Students embraced my story of a rural Kentucky boy seeking a purpose within his artistic gift. The boy's passion for books along with his inspiring mentors in public school, art camp, and the GSA program helped him achieve his "dream profession." This story not only defined the purpose of my life, but also the lives of many Kentucky students! This was the day I realized artists inspire others.

On June 24th, 2011, I challenged the GSA Visual Art students as I challenge other artists. "Will you become an Inspired Artist or an Inspiring Artist?" My definition of each was as follows:

Inspired Artists are creative people who allow life experiences to influence art.

Inspiring Artists are creative people with a passion for influencing lives through art.

No matter which you become, art is a depiction of human emotion, imagination, and creativity which inspires generations. Have a purposeful talent and each day will be filled with rewards!

Mark Wayne Adams

CEO, MWA, Inc.