SCBWI-Midsouth Speaker Directory

All authors and illustrators listed on this page are members of the Midsouth region of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Click a name to review the author's/illustrator's information.

For information on how to plan a successful author or illustrator visit, download our brochure, "Hosting an Author for a School Visit: A Guide for Planners."

See also the tips on Scholastic's Web site by clicking here.

NOTE: Some of the links on this page will take you from the SCBWI-Midsouth page. SCBWI-Midsouth has no responsibility for the content on any of these sites.

Nancy Kelly Allen
Please E-mail the author for additional contact information
E-mail

Publications

Picture books:

• Once Upon a Dime, Charlesbridge Publishing, 1999
• On the Banks of the Amazon, Raven Tree Press, 2004. Appalachian Book of the Year in Children’s Literature
• Whose Noise Is This? Picture Window Books, 2004
• Whose Food Is This? Picture Window Books, 2004
• Whose House Is This? Picture Window Books, 2004
• Daniel Boone: Trail Blazer, Pelican Press, 2005
• The Munched-Up Flower Garden, Red Rock Press, 2006
• Stuff for Sale, Red Rock Press, 2008

Short Stories:

• "Moonbow," Piano Press, 2003
• "The Skinny Skeleton," Piano Press, 2004

Program Topics

Write Right: Students learn how to use graphic organizers in the process of writing.
You're a What?: In this interactive session, Nancy describes life as an author.
Mad Enough to Chew Nails: Students learn writing techniques designed to bring characters alive through the use of descriptive language, dialog, and emotions.
Every Picture Tells a Story: (For Educators) Nancy provides techniques for effective use of picture books across the curriculum.
From Bald-Faced Lies to the Honest Truth: Kentucky Musings: (For adults) The uniqueness of Kentucky's rich culture is presented through humorous stories from across the state.

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Tracy Barrett
P.O. Box 120061
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: (615)297-1667
E-mail   Web site

Publications

• Nat Turner and the Slave Revolt, The Millbrook Press, 1993
• Harpers Ferry: The Story of John Brown's Raid, The Millbrook Press, 1993
• Growing Up in Colonial America, The Millbrook Press, 1995
• Virginia, in series Celebrate the States, Benchmark Books, Marshall Cavendish, 1997
• Tennessee, in series Celebrate the States, Benchmark Books, Marshall Cavendish, 1998
• Kidding Around Nashville, John Muir Publications, 1998
• Kentucky, in series Celebrate the States, Benchmark Books Cavendish, 1999
• Anna of Byzantium, Delacorte Press, 1999 (Booklist Editor's Choice; Top Ten Historical Fiction [Booklist]; Blue Ribbon Book, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books; American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults; Notable Social Studies Trade Book, National Council for the Social Studies; American Library Association Quick Pick; "2000 Books for the Teen Age"; Arizona State University English Education Honor List; Scholastic Book Club 11/00; 2001-2002 Texas Lone Star Reading List; Arrow Editor's Pick [Scholastic] 6/02; translated into Dutch, Japanese, Italian, French; listed in Kathleen Odean’s Great Books for Girls [2002])
• The Trail of Tears: An American Tragedy. Perfection Learning Corporation, 2000
• Six entries in the multi-volume encyclopedia Women in World History, Yorkin Publications (2000)
• "The Children's Crusade," AppleSeeds Magazine, December 2001
• Cold in Summer, Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, 2003 (Best Books for the Teenage 2004 [New York Public Library]; Best Fantasy Books [Voice of Youth Advocates]; Best Children's Books of the Year 2004, Nine to Twelve/Fantasy category [Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College of Education]; Mark Twain Award nominee [Missouri Association of School Librarians]; Volunteer State Book award [TN] master list; South Carolina Book Award nominee)
• The Ancient Greek World, Oxford University Press, 2004
• On Etruscan Time, Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, 2005
• The Ancient Chinese World, Oxford University Press, 2005
• The Sherlock Files (4-book series, Henry Holt). Book 1: The 100-Year-Old Secret (2008); Book 2: The Beast of Blackslope (2009); Book 3: The Case that Time Forgot (in press, 2010); Book 4 (2011)
• King of Ithaka, Henry Holt (in press)

Program Topics

• How a Book Gets Made
• Figurative Language: Metaphors and Similes
• Cut it Out! How to Use Fewer Words and Say More
• Hunting for Treasure: Research
• Nuts and Bolts of Writing for Children (for adult audiences)

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Marie Bradby
Louisville, KY
(502) 244-1898
E-mail   Web site

Publications

• More Than Anything Else, Richard Jackson/Orchard Books, 1995
• The Longest Wait, Orchard Books, 1998
• Momma, Where Are You From? Orchard Books, 2000
• Once Upon a Farm, Orchard Books/Scholastic, 2002
• Some Friend, Richard Jackson/Atheneum, 2004

Other works: Short stories and memoir pieces in various anthologies and journalistic articles in Louisville Magazine. 

Program Topics

• The importance of reading
• The life and times of Booker T. Washington
• Peddlers of old
• How books are made, from the first word to bound book
• The printing process of books
• A growing season on the farm
• Land Use: The disappearance of family farms and topsoil
• How I became a writer, from school to published works
• Six ways to improve your writing
• Tips for writing the news story

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Susan Eaddy
328 Chesterfield Avenue.
Nashville, TN 37212
615-385-0318 * 615-414-3318 (cell)
E-mail  Web site

Susan Eaddy is a modeling clay illustrator.

Publications

• Papa Fish’s Lullaby, NorthWord Books for Young Readers, 2007
• Valentine Nachos, Spider magazine, 2006
• The Toothpaste Game,  Ladybug magazine, 2005

More than 80 books and covers in the educational market, including:

• Puppets, Incentive Publications
• Dinosaurs, Incentive Publications
• Teacher’s Bag of Tricks, Incentive Publications
• Happy Hands & Feet, Incentive Publications
• What to do with a Squirt of Glue, Incentive Publications
• Dinosaur Learning Fun, Incentive Publications
• Reading, Writing, Science & Math Yellow Pages, Incentive Publications
• Get Set for Math Success, Incentive Publications
• Every-Day- All-Year-Long Book, Incentive Publications

Program topics

• Ages 3 to 6: Interactive reading of Papa Fish’s Lullaby, followed by an air-dried clay craft project.
• Ages 7 to 10: How a book is illustrated; from words to pictures, to print.

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Donna Getzinger
1020 Arbor Crest Blvd.
Antioch, TN  37013
(615) 717-0456
E-mail

Publications

Fiction:

• The Picture Wagon, Denlinger's Publishers Inc., 2000
• For a Speck of Gold, Denlinger's Publishers Inc., 2002
• Special, Denlinger's Publishers Inc., 2004

Non-Fiction:

• Johann Sebastian Bach and the Art of Baroque Music, Morgan Reynolds Publishers, 2004
• Antonio Vivaldi and the Baroque Tradition, Morgan Reynolds Publishers, 2004
• George Frideric Handel and Music for Voices, Morgan Reynolds Publishers, 2004
• Richard Wagner and German Opera, Morgan Reynolds Publishers, 2004
• Johannes Brahms and the Twilight of Romanticism, Morgan Reynolds Publishers, 2004

Program Topics

The Picture Wagon: Dressed in a Civil War era costume, I discuss the history of photography, an overview of the Civil War and the difference between historical fiction and non-fiction.  This is a great presentation for a class that has just finished a unit on the Civil War or is just about to start one.

For a Speck of Gold: Dressed in a Gold Miner's costume, I discuss an overview of the California Gold Rush history, teach some authentic Gold Mining songs while playing the ukelele, and discuss the difference between historical fiction and non-fiction.  A great treat for students here in the south who do not get  to spend a lot of time on this wonderful, exciting part of American History.

Special: My most popular school presentation is perfect for schools during April (Autism Awareness Month).  I talk about my real-life relationship with my older Autistic brother and how it inspired me to write this novel.  I am also a teacher of special needs, and I discuss with the students what special education is about to create tolerance and appreciation for the special needs students in their school.  There are usually wonderful conversations that come up during these presentations.  We also discuss bullying and peer pressure, using excerpts from the novel.

The classical composers series: For music studies, I will share stories about the classical composers I've written about and share examples of their music.  For writing classes, I talk about how to research a biography and how to make a person long dead come alive by finding more than "just the facts" about them.

Details

My rates are very reasonable and can be discounted depending upon pre-orders of books or the number of schools in a district that I can serve in one day.  It is to a school's benefit to let other schools in the area know about my presentations and work together to make a plan.  For visits outside of Middle Tennessee, I will need travel expenses covered in addition to my presentation fee.  I do work full-time as a teacher of special needs, so I need advance notice to arrange the time off.

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Bethany Griffin
Web site E-mail

Publications

Young Adult:

Handcuffs, Delacorte 2008

Program Topics

• Teaching and Writing -- Time management, making connections, and high school as inspiration.
• Edgy YA Literature -- What are the Trends? Where are the Boundaries? What are the author's responsibilities?
• YA Literature -- What is it? How has it evolved? What are kids reading? Includes writing and publication tips.
• Query Letter Workshop -- My query had an over 50% request rate and was featured in an article my agent wrote for The Writer. Query writing is an art, and I have a few tips and examples that have proven effective.
• Turning a Novel into a Screenplay -- Covers the ongoing process to rewrite Handcuffs as a script (Harts/Lunsford Pictures)
  
  Desired area would be around Louisville, can go further on weekends!

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Helen Hemphill
P.O. Box 150203
Nashville, TN 37215
E-mail   Web site

Publications

• Runaround, Front Street, an imprint of Boyds Mills Press, Inc., coming in May 2007
• Long Gone Daddy, Front Street, an imprint of Boyds Mills Press, Inc., 2006
• Hattie’s Carnton: Plantation Life in the Generation of the Civil War, Historic Carnton Foundation, 1999

Program Topics

• Reading with a writer’s point of view
• Re-Vision, then revision
• Writing voice: let the character speak
• Using 6+1 Traits® in the classroom (teacher training)
• Writing the non-fiction essay using the tools of a fiction writer (student workshop)

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Grace E. Howell
Memphis, Tennessee
Phone: 901-682-5497
E-mail

Publications

• True Friends, Historical fiction (middle-grade), Echelon Press Publishing, 2005
• Periodical: Happy Times, May 2003, Concordia Publishing House

Program Topics

1. Proper Pruning for Perfect Prose (Self-editing)
2. Inspiration and Perspiration (Where to get ideas and how to get them on paper)
3. Writing Alive (Writing about what you know through experience and research)
4. What Makes a Story? (setting, character, plot, point of view, etc.)

A teacher and school librarian, Grace E. Howell enjoys working with children and adults. After serving five years as regional editor for The Lutheran Witness, completing graduate level writing classes at the University of Memphis, and participating in many writing conferences and symposiums, she is qualified to organize and lead writing workshops. As a Master Gardener and a volunteer church worker, she has conducted many seminars and spoken to a number of large groups.
 

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Alison Davis Lyne
7792 Watermelon Road
Adairville, KY, 42202
Phone: 207-726-3988
E-mail   Web site

Publications

• Halloween Alphabet by Beverly Barras Vidrine
• Jacques et la Canne a Sucre: A Cajun Jack and the Beanstalk by Sheila Hebert-Collins
• Kudzu Chaos by Jennifer Holloway Lambe
• Easter Day Alphabet by Beverly Barras Vidrine
• Evangeline for Children by Alice Couvillion & Eliz. Moore

Program Topics

How a children's picture book is illustrated, from manuscript to store shelves. A 20 to 30 minute talk (including Q&A) following a children's book from manuscript to landing on bookstores shelves. Original art and manuscript, "folded and gathers" samples, sketches and notes for several children's picture books are shown. Suitable for young adults and adults interested in children's book publishing and illustrating. (If desired a quick 30 minute project can be included: Illustrate your own book "Jack and Jill", requiring 3 pieces of typing paper, crayons, pencils, markers etc. and students' imaginations.)

Area of desired travel would be: around Nashville, TN; Clarksville, TN; Springfield, TN; Bowling Green, KY; Hopkinsville, KY; Madisonville, KY. (Please contact illustrator to inquire about other locations.)

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Candie Moonshower
865 Bellevue Road #S-3
Nashville, Tennessee 37221
Phone: 615-646-4527
E-mail

Publications

Books:

• The Legend of Zoey (middle grade novel), Delacorte Press, July 2006

Periodicals:

• Monthly articles in Business Tennessee magazine, The Tennessean, and other publications

Program Topics

Candie Moonshower enjoys school visits to elementary, middle and high schools, and is happy to speak to teachers, librarians and media specialists. She can tailor her author talks to age-appropriate material geared toward historical research/writing and journaling, and she has worked with small groups of high school students interested in writing fiction. Her workshops and author visits are interactive and fun for students and adults. Topics include but aren't limited to:

• The Harried Housewife's Guide to Writing Your Novel in Seven Free Minutes a Day--Candie's slide show offers a humorous look at the writer's life
• Ten (Giant but Essential) Steps to Writing and Publishing Your First Novel
• Plotting with Panache!
• Successful Critique Groups
• Journaling: From Recapping to Scene-Writing (both adults or students)

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Colleen O'Connor Olson
1950 Roy Hunter Rd
Cave City, KY 42127
Phone: (270) 773-3000
E-mail

Books

• Scary Stories of Mammoth Cave, Cave Books, 2002
• Prehistoric Cavers of Mammoth Cave, Cave Books, 2004

Program Topics

• Scary stories from Mammoth Cave National Park: Discussion of 19th and 20th century tales of ghosts, monsters, and getting lost deep in the cave and what makes a story fiction, legend, or fact.
• Archeology of Mammoth Cave National Park: Discussion of what prehistoric Native Americans did in Mammoth Cave, what kind of artifacts they left behind (including mummies!), what they ate, and how we study them today.

Programs are 45 minutes long, including questions, but can be made shorter or longer to fit your schedule.

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Debra West Smith
Bradyville, TN
225-772-2570
E-mail
Web site 

Publications

Books:

• Hattie Marshall and the Prowling Panther - Pelican Publishing, 2005 (2^nd ed.)

• Hattie Marshall and the Dangerous Fire - Pelican Publishing, 2008 (2^nd ed.)

• Hattie Marshall and the Mysterious Strangers - Crossway Books, 1996

• Hattie Marshall and the Hurricane - Pelican Publishing, 2000

• Yankees on the Doorstep: The Story of Sarah Morgan - Pelican Publishing, 2001
  (Included in SCBWI list of Books Publishers Recommend for Children Dealing with Crisis and Tragedy)

• Study guide for Yankees

• From Time to Time: Creation to Judges, Bible study - Lifeway Christian Resources 

Periodicals:

• Adventure (monthly articles, 1993-1999), Keys for Kids, Teen Power, More

• Livingston Parish News, The Advocate, Starburst Publishing’s devotional collections

Program Topics

• Preserving Family Stories – how the Hattie Marshall series began, with emphasis on students recording their own family history.

• The Treasure Hunt - bringing the past to life through the adventure of research.

• Living in Precarious Times – discuss how Sarah Morgan’s wartime journal sustained her and reveals a girl’s life during the Civil War.

• Creating Characters to Recall - elements of characterization and finding authentic voice.

• Pearls, Pixels, and Pruning – writing for periodicals.

• These can be adapted for 3rd grade to adult participants, and include a slide presentation.

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Martha Bennett Stiles
3051 Rio Dosa Drive #303
Lexington, KY 40509
Phone: 859-335-6502
E-mail

Publications

Books:

• One Among the Indians, Dial Press, 1962; reprinted by Authors Guild BackInPrint, 2006, German translation
• Lonesome Road, Gnomon Press (1998) Adult novel
• Island Magic, Daniel San Souci, illus., Atheneum (1999) Winner, Detroit Women Writers Millennium Readings competition, Children's Division; American Booksellers Association Children's Pick of the Lists, Fall 1999; 2000 Kentucky Bluegrass Award nominee and Great Lakes Book Award nominee.
• Kate of Still Waters, Macmillan (1990). Grant-in-aid, Society of Children's Book Writers/Judy Blume contemporary novel-in-progress; Kirkus Reviews pointer; Kentucky Talking Books, 1991.
• Sarah the Dragon Lady, Macmillan (l986) Kentucky Bluegrass Award nominee; Kirkus Reviews pointer; Avon paperback; Troll Bookclub selection; Anthologized (chapter 9) in KENTUCKYSHOW, Kentucky Department of Education
• The Star in the Forest, Four Winds Press (1979); School Library Journal starred review; Cited, Guide to Writing for Children, Jane Yolen, The Writer, Inc. (1989) p. 95.
• Tana and the Useless Monkey, Elsevier/Nelson Books (1979)
• James the Vine Puller, illus. Larry Thomas, Carolrhoda Books (1975); 2nd ed., 1992., a Kentucky Talking Book
• Dougal Looks for Birds, Iris Schweitzer, illus., Four Winds Press (1972), Anthologized, Take a Bow, Scott, Foresman textbook, 1980.
• Darkness Over the Land, Dial Press (1966) American Library Association notable book; Kirkus Review pointer; School Library Journal starred review; Horn Book Magazine Fanfare; Dorothy Canfield Fisher Memorial Children's Book Award Master List; French translation.
• The Strange House at Newburyport, Dial Press (1963); Parents' Magazine Bookclub Selection; Parker River Researchers paperback, Kentucky Talking Book, German translation.

Chapbooks:

• Landscapes, with Bobbie Ann Mason, Frankfort Arts Foundation (l984)
• Kentucky Bestiary, with Ken Jenkins & J. Albert Dempsey; Frankfort Arts Foundation (1986)

Stories:

Seventeen; Ingenue; Co-Ed; Humpty Dumpty's Magazine; The Baptist Student; Brigitte; K.I.C.K.S; Virginia Quarterly Review; Georgia Review; Four Quarters; TriQuarterly; Southwest Review; Missouri Review; New Orleans Review; Journal of Kentucky Studies; Generation; Toronto Star Weekly, The Thoroughbred Record; Family Star; Farmer's Weekly

Articles:

Esquire; Stereo Review; Worldview; The New York Times; Boston Globe; Lexington Herald-Leader; Impresario; Virginia Cavalcade; Mankind; Michigan Quarterly Review; Writer's Digest; Impresario; The Michigan Alumnus; Horsemen's Journal; The Maryland Horse; The Thoroughbred Record.

Reviews:

The New York Times; Mankind; The Detroit Free Press, The Ann Arbor News, The Michigan Free Press, Babyzone.com

Program Topics

• Creating Characters
• How to be a Productive Writer
• How to be a Successful Writer
• How to Get the Best From a Visiting Author
• How to Make Writers of Your Students
• Island Magic; how a picture book can come to be
• James the Vine Puller, Afro-Brazilian Folk Tale
• Planning a Novel: (1) Research Techniques (2) Where My Books Came From

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Patsi B. Trollinger
P.O. Box 1846
Danville, KY 40422
Phone: (859) 236-0135
E-mail   Web site

Publications

Books:

• Perfect Timing: How Isaac Murphy became one of the World’s Greatest Jockeys, Viking, 2006. A Junior Library Guild selection.

Articles:

• “Dog Talk,” Ladybug, March 2004.

• “The Bully Factor,” Ladybug on-line, 2004

• Numerous articles published in magazines including Keeneland, Back Home in Kentucky, Ceramics Monthly, Centrepiece, and the Emory & Henry Alumnus.

Program Topics

Patsi Trollinger enjoys getting students, parents, and teachers enthused about reading, writing, and history. Her most popular topic, “History Sleuths as Story Tellers,” allows students to experience hands-on history through photographs and other artifacts. Students are challenged to learn from the artifacts and translate them into the basic elements of a story (who, what, when, where, why). For teachers, this topic is adapted into a hands-on workshop. For older students, Patsi offers “The Power of Three: One Story, Three Styles,” delving into the ways a single story can be adapted into news article, literary narrative, or play script.

• History Sleuths as Story Tellers

• Making a Story: The Writing Process

• My Beginnings as a Writer

• The Power of Three: One Story, Three Styles

• Black History Month: Great Books and Undiscovered Heroes

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Patricia Wiles
Please E-mail the author for additional contact information.
E-mail 1  E-mail 2 Web site

Publications:

Journalism awards:

• First place award, spot news; second place award, best column; honorable mention, best general news story, Kentucky Press Association 2009 Excellence in Kentucky Newspapers competition (Class 1 Daily category)
• First place award, spot news; first place award, best sports feature; second place award, best column, Kentucky Press Association 2008 Excellence in Kentucky Newspapers competition (Class 1 Daily category)
• First place award, spot news, Kentucky Press Association 2007 Excellence in Kentucky Newspapers competition (Class 1 Daily category)

Books:

• The Final Farewell, Covenant Communications, May 2007
• Early Morning Cemetery, Covenant Communications, 2006
• Funeral Home Evenings, Covenant Communications, 2005; Winner of the 2005 Young Adult Fiction Award from the Association for Mormon Letters
• My Mom's a Mortician, Covenant Communications, 2004; Winner of the 2004 Award for Middle Grade Fiction from the Association for Mormon Letters

Essays/Commentary:

• Commentator for NPR affiliate WKMS-FM, Murray, Kentucky 1997-2002
• Columnist, The Messenger, Madisonville, Kentucky 2002-2004 (Kentucky Press Association Honorable Mention for best column, 2002)
• “Ideas in my Attic,” Writer's Digest, August 1999
• "Advice from Stuart Little,” The Writer, May 2000; reprinted in the 2001 Writer's Handbook, Kalmbach Publishing

Program Topics

Patricia is an experienced speaker and presenter. She can develop a workshop, seminar, or visit based on your needs and welcomes topic requests. She enjoys collaborating with others and working with groups of all sizes. Conference calls or virtual visits via web cam may also be arranged.

For kids:

How to Write a Feature Article:  This presentation covers the basics of newspaper writing, including:

• finding story ideas
• gathering facts and notes
• working with photographers
• determining the lead, what to include in the story -- and what to leave out
• the editing process
• final publication

The presentation may be adapted for personal narrative, letter to the reviewer (or editor) and creative writing.

For grown-up writers:

• The Children's Writer's Journey
• Awaken the Child Within
• The Basics for Beginning Writers
• Other programs designed for your needs

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