Messner, Kate. (2009). Met any good authors lately? Classroom author visits can happen via Skype (here's a list of those who do it for free). School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6673572.html
“Good morning, Kate!” says Chamberlin’s librarian, Cally Flickinger. She introduces the students, who start off quietly, a little wary of this newfangled sort of author visit. But soon they’re taking turns sharing their favorite characters and we forget the computers that connect us. It feels like we’re all in the same room, and the questions fly across the miles (Messner, 2009).
Met Any Good Authors Lately? Classroom author visits can happen via Skype (here's a list of those who do it for free)
by Kate Messner
This article provides an excellent resource for those of us just starting out and/or veterans with book clubs/talks. What better incentive for reading than an author visit. However, with budgets being the way they are and the need for authors to publicize their work, Skyping is the wave of the future. What is Skyping? It's one way to do a video conference and have a virtual experience. Imagine setting up your LCD as if you were doing a PowerPoint presentation. Then wham ala kazaam! Your author appears on the screen and interacts with your audience. A virtual author visit. I know at first it will seem weird, but as you start to discuss the author's work (have one that likes to chat with a riveting book and a good discussion leader-facilitator).
Messner further highlights the advantages and disadvantages of a live versus virtual author visit. Not everyone who has tried this technology of course likes it, but if you have the capability and might be short on funds, it's worth a shot. In addition, she includes a list of authors who are willing to Skype- For FREE! Yes, free for twenty minutes. If you go over, or need more time, there will be a fee accessed. The list includes both children's and Young Adult literature authors, with more authors wanting to be added. She also goes on to give tips for how to set up your book club author visit.
Dahlings, I am going to try this! Over the summer, I will read some of the books by the authors to see which novel would make a good book club selection.
By the way Ms. Messner is a Young Adult author herself. Check out her website at
http://katemessner.com/ .
Queenie
