Susan Kuklin

NOW THAT YOU KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT ME, I'D LOVE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU. What are your hopes and dreams? What do you think about in the wee, small hours?

Let's get together. I would be happy to visit your school, bookstore,library, or conference. We can share experiences about nonfiction, how to do interviews, making books, photography, and of course, my new book FAMILIES.

My school and library programs center on nonfiction writing, interview techniques, and photography. I show students how to put a book together using slides, dummies, and layouts. My interactive programs include: how to come up with an idea, where to find people to interview, the art of a good interview, transcribing tapes and putting a story together, committing another's voice to paper, matching art to text, writing and rewriting and rewriting and rewriting.

We read aloud and act out parts of my books together.

There are lots of "HOW TOs" that bring about lively discussions. How to determine truth from fiction? How to write about others in the first person? How to work in distant lands when you do not speak the language? And the biggie: how to develop ETHICS - in work and in life?

Speaking of ethics, it is important for students to hear about professional work ethics. When the faux reporter, Stephen Cobert, talks about "truthiness," he refers to reporting what one FEELS regardless of the FACTS. Let's explore the ramifications of truthiness in lieu of truth.

In the end, I hope your students come away with the idea that "hard" is interesting, "process" is fun, and "rewrites" are like wonderful jigsaw puzzles. For me, nonfiction is a mysterious treasure hunt that unfolds into magical places - a way to impart an idea.

Oh, there's so much more . . . .

I would be delighted to work with you to plan an author's visit that fits your curricula. Together, we can inspire future Brenda Stars.

Please call my representative at the following publishing houses:

For FAMILIES and my other Hyperion Books for Children nonfiction photo essays, call Scottie Bowditch at 212/807-5862.

For ALL ABOARD, call Stephanie Wimmer at Scholastic. 212/389-3772

For further info about NO CHOIRBOY, please contact Jennifer Abbots, Associate Director of Publicity, at 646/250-5409 or email her at jennifer.abbots@hholt.com


You can email me directly, too: susan@susankuklin.com