Author Visits:

Dressed in my fanciest cowgirl duds, I'll tell you tales of growing up in Texas. Drawing a large mural as I speak, I introduce the characters in my books and illustrate how they entered my childhood life. With this background and information, I read my books and discuss the writing - drawing -publishing process.

Writing Workshops:

As a follow-up to a reading, 45-minute writing workshops for grades 1-5 offer a more in-depth look at the editing process an author goes through. The students and I discuss the relationship between visual and written language, and the importance of word choice. Based on the notion that everyone is an author and illustrator, the importance of journals and sketchbooks is stressed. Younger classes often compose a group short story with me, which the children can then illustrate after the workshop.

Author Residencies:

Four-to-six-week course explore the process of writing from life experience. Using oral histories, journal keeping, self-editing, and peer counseling, students explore writing as a sculptural process. the various parts of a picture book are examined, and the students make their own books based on their life perspective.

Special Events Guest Speaker:

My books are based on my childhood memories. In my guest lectures, I share some of my more amusing tales of growing up in Small Town Texas in the 1960s. I explore the question of "what is true" in our life stories, and the relationship of fantasy and fact in defining our lives.