I'm happy to consider school visits or other speaking engagements at libraries or conferences. Please e-mail me at melissa AT melissawyatt DOT com. (Sorry, the spambots have gotten to me and I haven't yet figured out a way around this.)

I offer various presentations suitable for grades 6 through 12 on the following:

TALES OF A PROFESSIONAL LIAR
-What does it take to be a writer? How does someone become a writer? What's it like to be a writer? It's probably different for everyone, but I can tell you my hows, whats and whys, discuss being a creative liar, and describe how a book goes from idea to the reader's hands. Includes a Q&A segment.

LIE MASTER: EASY, FUN WRITING EXERCISES
-Short, painless exercises for smaller, classroom-based talks, centering on the concept of creative lying, creating and knowing characters and story starters. Students will be guided through writing several short, creative pieces on characterization, setting and opening paragraphs.

FEES

Daily fees for schools are $600. Presentations can be tailored to meet scheduling needs or elements from various programs can be combined. I will speak to as many as three large groups in one day or four smaller, classroom-based groups or a combination of the two.

Library and conferences fees vary. Please contact for more information.

I can easily travel to schools or libraries in the South-Eastern Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland areas. Engagements outside these areas may require travel expenses such as train or airfare and hotel accommodations.

For excellent information on hosting authors in your school, as well as a list of authors who do school visits by state, please visit the website of author/librarian goddess extraordinaire, Toni Buzzeo.