How to Get School Author Visits (Even If You're Brand New to It)
- Vicky Weber
- Sep 15
- 7 min read
If you know me at all, you know that school visits are one of my absolute favorite parts of being a children’s book author. The hugs, the high fives, the curious questions like “How long does it take to write a book?” and “Do you know Mo Willems?” (yes, that’s a real question I’ve been asked)… I live for this stuff.
I’ve done countless school visits over the years—and I truly enjoy them. They come naturally to me because of my background as an elementary school teacher. In many ways, they’re just like writing a lesson plan...but way more fun. 😊
But I also know that for a lot of authors, the idea of doing a school visit feels overwhelming. Where do you even start? How do you get booked in the first place? What if you’ve never done one before?
Don’t worry—I’ve got you.
Let’s break this down step-by-step so you can confidently start getting booked for author visits (even if you’re totally new to them).
7 Steps - How to Get School Author Visits
Step 1: You Have to Be Findable
This might sound obvious, but schools can’t book you if they can’t find you.
That means having a professional-looking author website with your own domain name—not a free Wix site, not a Google site, and not just a social media profile.
If your website ends in .wixsite.com or .wordpress.com, it’s time to upgrade. Those sites are harder to find in Google searches, and they don’t scream “professional author.”
📌 Need help building an author website? We’ve got a whole post about websites for authors at At Home Author!
Step 2: Make It Obvious That You Do School Visits
This is the biggest mistake I see authors make: you’re open to doing visits…but no one knows that.
Somewhere on your website and/or social media, you need to clearly say something like:
Now booking school visits!
Available for virtual or in-person author presentations.
Excited to visit your school, library, or community group—email me to learn more!
Better yet? Create a dedicated page on your website with:
A short bio
Photos of past visits (if you have them)
Age groups you work with
A brief description of your presentations
Contact form or email address
Think of this like your “author visit resume.” Make it easy for schools to picture you in their classroom.
Step 3: Build Experience (and Confidence)
Here’s the truth: schools are more likely to book you if they see you’ve done it before. But how do you get that first visit if you’ve never done one?
You start local or start free.
Try this:
Offer free virtual visits during a specific week (e.g. “National Reading Month” or “World Read Aloud Day”).
Post in Facebook groups for teachers, librarians, homeschoolers, or moms saying:
“Hi! I’m a local children’s book author and I’m offering a few free virtual visits this month. I’ve got limited spots—DM me if interested!”
This allows you to:
✅ Get practice
✅ Get testimonials
✅ Get photos/screenshots to use on your website
You could also reach out to:
Your local schools and districts
Libraries
Daycares
Park district programs
Community centers
Start small and work your way up.
Step 4: Create an Author Visit “Menu”
Once you’ve gotten your feet wet, create a “menu” of visit options to make life easier for both you and the schools.
Mine looks something like this:
✨ 25-minute virtual storytime + Q&A
✨ 45-minute in-person visit with slideshow and interactive activity
✨ Half-day or full-day school visit (with breakout sessions by grade level)
Have pre-planned presentations ready to go, but also leave room to customize if a school needs something different. That flexibility makes you easier to book.
Step 5: Plan Your Presentation Like a Pro
This is where my teacher side kicks in. 🙋♀️
Here are my golden rules:
📽️ Use a PowerPoint—but don’t read off it.
Your slides should be bullet points, photos, or prompts—not full paragraphs.
They’re there to jog your memory and keep you on track—not to be the presentation.
🎒 Be prepared to present WITHOUT tech.
Sometimes you show up and the projector doesn’t work. Or there isn’t a projector.
Have a tech-free version of your presentation just in case.
👶 Adjust for the age group.
With younger kids (PreK–2), I go faster, build in extra movement, and expect random side stories like “My dog had a birthday yesterday.”
With older kids (grades 3–5), I slow down, ask more open-ended questions, and dig into the writing process.
🖐 Build in interaction without chaos.
Thumbs up or down
Vote with your fingers (1, 2, 3)
Guessing games (“How many drafts do you think I wrote before this book was done?”)
Small, quick ways to interact keep kids engaged without turning the room into chaos.
What Should You Do During the Author Visit?
Once you’ve booked the visit and figured out the logistics, the next big question becomes:
“Okay…but what exactly am I going to do for 25 minutes?”
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here, and honestly? That’s the beauty of it.
Your presentation should feel like you. It should match your style, your book, your energy, and your goals.
Here’s what I typically do:
🎵 If it’s one of my music education books...
Then the theme of the presentation is music education! I’ll introduce the musical concept (in a kid-friendly way), play a few interactive games that tie into the theme, read the book, and give students a peek behind the curtain at who I am and how I became a writer.
It's part author visit, part music class, part storytelling session—and it flies by. That whole flow takes up the full 25 minutes, and the kids are so engaged because everything connects.
🌺 If I’m reading one of my Taino Tales books...
Then the presentation becomes a mini history and culture lesson.
We talk about:
Who the Taino people were
Why they matter historically
How they connect to Indigenous Peoples Day
What a myth is and how stories are passed down through generations
And of course, how all of that inspired me to write the books
The storytime becomes a launchpad for deeper learning—and it’s an amazing opportunity to celebrate cultural heritage and show kids how stories connect us to our roots.
Need more ideas? Check out this post with 7 Things To Do At An Author Visit - Besides Read the Book!
✨ Not a picture book author? No problem.
Let’s say you write YA fantasy. Or middle grade contemporary. Or graphic novels. You can still create an engaging, age-appropriate presentation by focusing on:
Your writing process
How you got published
Where your story ideas come from
Behind-the-scenes from drafting to cover design
A live reading of a dramatic scene (with or without props!)
Q&A time where students ask you anything
You can even do writing mini-lessons—like a character-building activity or a plot twist brainstorm.
The point is: You get to design it. You can create something that’s:
Thematic (based on your book’s subject or genre)
Educational (teaching a skill or concept)
Inspirational (focused on your author journey)
Interactive (games, questions, movement)
Or a mix of all four. You just want it to be:
✅ Clear
✅ Age-appropriate
✅ Aligned with the tone of your book
✅ And—this one’s important—true to YOU
So if you love humor? Be funny. If you love teaching? Add some education. If your story is personal? Share your heart. If you can dream it up, you can make it happen.
Step 6: Decide What to Charge
Ah, the million-dollar question (sometimes literally). 😅
Here are a few things to consider:
Will you charge an appearance fee, or only make money on book sales?
Are your rates different for virtual vs. in-person?
Do you offer discounted local rates or bundle pricing for multiple classes?
📌 Example structure:
$150 for a 30-minute virtual visit
$400 for a half-day local in-person visit
$900 for a full day with travel included
Every author’s situation is different. You get to decide what feels fair and sustainable for you.
👉 BUT—some schools have zero budget for author visits. Don’t take it personally.
You can offer to:
Waive your fee if they commit to sending home book order forms
Split proceeds from a book sale fundraiser
Charge just for travel, but waive the speaking fee
Be upfront and flexible, but don’t undersell yourself either.
Step 7: Start Reaching Out
Once you’re ready, it’s time to make connections. Start with:
School librarians (they’re often in charge of author events)
Principals
Literacy coaches or reading specialists
PTA/PTO groups
Teachers you know personally
If a school doesn’t have a librarian, reach out to a teacher and ask who the best contact would be. Many are happy to help, especially if they’re passionate about literacy.
It All Comes Down to Putting Yourself Out There
Getting booked for school visits doesn’t require a PR team or an agent or years of experience.
It just requires:
✅ A clear, professional online presence
✅ A willingness to offer value
✅ A little bravery to put yourself out there
Whether you’re speaking to a room full of kindergartners or chatting on Zoom with a third-grade class halfway across the country, your voice matters. Your story matters. You matter.
And who knows? Your visit might be the moment a child realizes they want to become an author, too.
🎒 Ready to Start Booking Author Visits?
Here are a few more resources to help you:
School Visits Are Just the Beginning...
Getting booked for school visits is amazing—but it’s just one way to grow your impact (and income) as a children’s book author.
If you're ready to build a sustainable author career that includes school visits, book sales, brand partnerships, and more, then it’s time to check out Profitable Picture Books.
Profitable Picture Books is our complete program that teaches you how to:
Write books that actually sell
Market yourself without feeling salesy
Land school visits, build your email list, and create multiple income streams
And turn your passion into a profitable author business
Let’s build a career that works for you—on your terms, with your stories.
