Author Visits with Carrie Tillotson, Children's Book Author

Carrie loves connecting with audiences of all ages in visits that educate, entertain, and inspire. She offers both in-person and virtual visits for schools and libraries, and is happy to customize any visit to meet your needs.

Download Carrie’s Author Visits Flyer

Programs

Rollicking Read Aloud

Audience: Pre-K, K-2
Length: 20 to 30 minutes
Carrie reads aloud from one of her books and shares about being a writer. This interactive session includes a story sing-along plus Q&A.

From Story Spark to Bound Book

Audience: Grades K-5
Length: 30-45 minutes
Carrie shares the inspiration for one of her books and discusses what it takes to get from story idea to finished book. This interactive session also includes a story sing-along or drawing activity, plus Q&A.

Write Your Passion!

Audience: Grades 3-5
Length: 30-45 minutes
Carries takes readers on a journey from her childhood passions to her grown-up goals of becoming a writer, and shares how her own interests fuel her writing. This interactive session includes a drawing demonstration, plus Q&A.

Passion Projects Writers’ Workshop

Audience: Grades 3-12
Length: 45-60 minutes
Carrie takes readers on a journey from her childhood passions to her grown-up goals of becoming a writer, and shares how her own interests fuel her writing. This interactive session can include a focus on nonfiction writing research or the revision process, and includes individual and group writing time, an optional drawing activity, and Q&A. Best for groups of up to 30 students.

For more information about hosting Carrie for an author visit at your school, library, or conference, please get in touch via Carrie’s contact page, or reach out to Andrea Cruise, Author Appearance Coordinator for the Penguin Young Readers Group.

Pricing

In-Person

Full Day: $600 (includes 3 sessions, plus book signing and lunch with a small group)

Half Day: $400 (2 sessions)

Single Presentation: $250

Virtual

Full Day: $400 (includes 3 sessions)

Half Day: $300 (2 sessions)

Single Presentation: $175

Please note that travel expenses (airfare, lodging, mileage, and meals) may be added for out of state travel or travel more than 50 miles from Portland, OR.

Testimonials

“I highly recommend Carrie Tillotson for your library and school storytimes! Her wonderful book Counting to Bananas is a great fit for kids of different ages with humor alongside early counting and literacy. She is warm and flexible and very interactive with the audience. We had 137 patrons at her storytime and Carrie handled the crowd beautifully. We hope to have her back in the future!”– Kate Whitman, MLIS, Hillsboro Public Library

“My school had the pleasure of hosting Carrie Tillotson for a virtual Author’s Visit on Zoom this spring. She held a session for our Kindergarten-2nd graders and another session for 3rd-5th graders. Both sessions were a hit! Carrie was so engaging and had an amazing rapport with students despite the challenges of a virtual format. Carrie shared her journey as a writer and published author, read aloud her book, Counting to Bananas, and left students (and teachers) feeling inspired! Our school cannot wait to continue this tradition and have Carrie back next year!” —Jennifer Schmidt, Student Success Coach

“We had a very engaging author, Mrs. Tillotson do a zoom visit this year. Her book was engaging and funny for our young students. I really enjoyed how she not only talked about how she writes, but showed the kids her stacks of journals and a blanket fort she writes in. She did a fabulous job to encourage the kids to keep writing and look for ideas for stories everywhere!” —Mary Beth Sadlouskos, Library Media Assistant

“I had the great pleasure of hosting Mrs. Tillotson to my classroom as a guest writer. She inspired my third graders with photos of her writing space which was an invitational to them to create their own writing fort where they could grow new ideas. She connected with them and shared how non-fiction has been important in her life since fourth grade. Mrs. Tillotson read and shared images of extreme creatures that use tools to help them stay alive. Her writing is bright, positive and funny too! It captures the imagination in us all. Her work is so valuable and kids and adults everywhere need to read her words.” —3rd Grade Teacher, Ms. Laura Doolittle

“I wanted to send a quick note … to thank Mrs. Tillotson for taking the time to talk to the class today. [Student Name] was so excited and just abuzz afterwards. I think experiences like this really make a difference as we’re trying to keep [Student Name] engaged and excited about school. So thank you very much!” —3rd Grade Parent