Frequently Asked Questions

Do you visit schools?

Yes! I love sharing my work with students and teachers, and I have visited elementary and middle schools across the country over the past three years. I also visit libraries, bookstores, museums, book festivals, and other events.

What grades do you visit?

My available books are for an upper elementary and middle school audience, and so most of my presentations are geared toward students in grades four through nine. That said, the topics I explore in my books are of interest to younger students, too, so I offer shorter, age-appropriate presentations for students in kindergarten through grade three.

Do you charge for school visits?

Yes. My fee for the 2009-2010 school year is $600.00 for a visit within sixty miles of Worcester, Massachusetts. For visits further afield, mileage and accommodation fees will apply. Contact me directly to discuss these visits further.

What does your visit include?

My visit includes two one-hour presentations, a special student meeting (for example, lunch with student writers), a book signing (if appropriate) and a signed copy of one of my books for the school library.

How many students can you speak to at once?

This is a complicated question. The most important factor guiding this decision, of course, is the students. My wish (and yours, I know) is that the students I visit have an exciting and inspirational experience. Small groups of one or two classrooms are usually the ideal, but larger groups are often much more practical because they allow me to speak with more students during my time at your school. In the end, the decision is yours; I am flexible about the size of my audience. All I ask is that there is room for everyone to sit comfortably and that acoustics be considered. (Very large groups in very large spaces may require a microphone, and I do not have one!)

Can schools share your visit?

I am more than happy to allow two schools in the same town to split my visit. In this scenario I would present once at each school, and each school would be responsible for one half of my daily fee, or $300.00.

Do you charge for library visits?

Yes. My fee for library visits within sixty miles of Worcester, Massachusetts is $200.00. This includes a single hour-long presentation, plenty of time for questions and answers, and a booksigning (if appropriate).

Do you sell books during your visit?

Selling books is not a requirement for me to visit a school or library, but I am always happy to help schools and libraries to arrange a book sale if they wish to.

How can we sell books during your visit?

There are three options for selling my books at your event:

1. I can send you a pre-order sheet that includes information about my book, including the cover image, a brief description, award recommendations, pricing, and purchase information. These sheets can be sent home with students prior to my visit, and I will bring the appropriate number of pre-ordered books with me. This method requires the most pre-planning; books must be ordered four to six weeks prior to my visit.
2. You can order books directly from my publisher, usually at a discount. Please contact a sales associate in the School Division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (1-800-733-2828 or @hmco.com) to see if discounts apply to your school. Discounts can be passed on to students, or used as a means of raising funds for your organization.
3. You can arrange to have an outside vendor sell books at your event. Many independent and chain booksellers will sell books at author events. In this scenario the responsibility of ordering, delivering, selling, and carting away books is taken off your hands. Contact your local bookseller for more information.

Selling books sounds complicated! Is it worth it?

This is up to you. Students love to have books signed by an author, especially after they have met her in their classroom. But there is some legwork involved in setting up a book sale and this will require some commitment from your organization. If you decide to pursue a book sale, I am more than happy to help you work through the details. Just ask!

What do you talk about?

My current presentations are described elsewhere on this site. I can focus on language arts (conceptualizing, researching, proposing, writing, editing, and publishing a book), on science and the environment (the content of my published books and works in progress), or on a combination of the two. I am always excited to work with teachers and parents to create a program that will most benefit students and their classroom curriculum.

How do you talk about it?

I travel with an LCD projector and a laptop in order to display a Powerpoint slide presentation. I also bring various props into classrooms, including edited and unedited manuscripts, galleys and proofs, science equipment, and other items relevant to the subject of my talk.

What do we have to provide?

I will need a schedule for the day, including the time of both presentations, the number of students in each, and the grade level of those students. Keep in mind that it is most convenient for everyone if I am able to give my presentations in one room. (This avoids having to shut down, cool down, and restart my projector.)

Please provide me with your school’s physical address so that I can find it on the day of the visit. Parking tips are always appreciated.

I will need a screen or clean wall to project onto, a small table or two for my supplies, and two three-prong electrical outlets.

That’s it!

That’s it?

Yep. Actually, it is GREAT when students have been prepared for my visit. At the very least they should know that I am an author and a scientist, that I write about science and scientists for young readers, and that I am going to talk about the topics I have explored in my books. It would be lovely if your school library had copies of my book(s) beforehand so that kids who were so inclined could take a look.

How do I book a visit?

Contact me by email at lgb (at) loreeburns (dot) com with the name and location of your school and the date(s) you are hoping for me to visit. I’ll let you know if I am free and we can move forward from there.

Do you use a contract?

No. But once we have confirmed a date for my visit and a schedule for the day, I will send you (or your school Principal) a commitment letter. This serves as our contract and spells out the details of what each of us can expect from the day.

When do we pay you?

On the day of my visit, please.

Can you give more than two talks in a day?

I can, but only rarely. Additional fees will apply. Send me an email and we can talk about it.