A former English teacher, Beth Revis is the founder of the new popular dystopian blog, the League of Extraordinary Writers and also blogs about writing, grammar and publishing at Writing it Out. She lives in rural North Carolina with her husband and dog, and believes space is nowhere near the final frontier. Across the Universe is her first novel.

To learn more about Beth Revis and her new book visit her website at www.bethrevis.com.

If you are interested in having Beth Revis make an appearance at your school, library, or conference, please use the online request form or send an email to authorvisits[at]us.penguingroup.com with possible dates, your school name, location, details about the day, and your contact information.

 

Author Appearance Q&A with Beth Revis:

What can a school, library, or conference expect when you are making an appearance? What do you do differently with audiences of varying sizes, ages, and interests?

Since I was a teacher myself, I know how important it is to tie into the curriculum. At school events, I plan on not just speaking about writing and publishing, but also revision and rewriting. For smaller groups, I can show some of the exact steps and methods I used to revise the manuscript. For larger groups, I can do a more generalized speech. I could focus on topics such as reading, finding inspiration, setting goals, and more.

What makes your author appearances unique?

I use a combination of tactile examples, such as differing version of the manuscript as it went through edits, and technology, using video, presentations, and more. I encourage participation from the audience and strive to engage all students. Furthermore, I can speak on the importance of persistence and hard work—I began working on writing while in high school myself, and spent ten years practicing the craft before I had success in publishing.

Do you enjoy making appearances for adult audiences? What do you do when presenting to adults?

Adult audiences tend to be much more interested in the publishing profession, so I gear my presentation to adults by talking about the business side of writing, as opposed to the craft. To do this, I give an overview of my experience, advice on traditional publishing, and answer questions from the audience.

What can schools and libraries do to ensure a successful appearance?

Classrooms can be prepared through working on creative writing and rewriting activities before the presentation. It would also be beneficial for all audiences to be given at least an overview of the book if it’s not possible for the students to read the entire book. A short video trailer and information about the book is available online—as well as a free sample of the first chapter—at http://acrosstheuniversebook.com

In classrooms, a teacher should remain present during the presentation. In libraries or larger group situations, there should be at least one adult per every thirty or so students.

Do you enjoy traveling to other parts of the country for appearances?

Absolutely!

Do you ever make appearances at more than one school in an area? Could schools and libraries from one area join together to bring you to their institution?

Yes, I am totally open to the idea.

What do you hope your audience will come away with from your presentation?

Solid ideas on the craft of writing, including the importance of revision and hard work.

What was your favorite/most interesting/most memorable [choose one] appearance experience?

I have honestly loved it all—I truly enjoy working with any students or adults interested in writing. I began my career as a teacher, and love passing on knowledge.

 

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