Chris's venture into the arts began in 2001
when he volunteered to read to his daughter's class
when she was in second grade.
All he wanted was to encourage some kids
and perhaps lend a hand to their teacher.
Little did he know that
his life would never be the same.
and perhaps lend a hand to their teacher.
Little did he know that
his life would never be the same.
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TO REQUEST INFORMATION ABOUT
HOSTING AN AMAZING AUTHOR EVENT.
Check out the latest news story about Chris's Author Visits!
CLICK BELOW FOR THE INTRO VIDEO.
KEEP SCROLLING DOWN FOR INFO ON
DAYTIME PROGRAMS,
EVENING PROGRAMS,
EXTENDED RESIDENCIES,
PRICING
and a personal note...
DAYTIME PROGRAMS
DURATION: All daytime programs run about 50 minutes.
THE READING PEP RALLY: CHRIS'S MOST POPULAR PROGRAM!
In the READING PEP RALLY, Chris uses upbeat songs, the tunes of which your students will recognize, to get kids excited about reading. He takes classic songs and changes the words around to exalt the virtues of reading. "I'm a Believer" becomes "I'm a Big Reader," "My Girl" becomes "My Book," "Twist and Shout" becomes "Read and Shout," etc.
In addition to the music, Chris incorporates art into the performance as he draws cartoons for the kids on a big sketch pad. He works with the event host who selects students with more-than-average needs to receive the drawings, along with a big dose of encouragement, in a way that they will not soon forget (Chris's favorite part of the program!).
He then spends some time reading to the students from his books while displaying the illustrations on screen. He fields questions from the older students and then wraps it up with a final song and additional words of encouragement.
Each performance is 50 minutes long and is heavy on audience participation. Chris can tailor his performance for any age group and would love to share with all of your students. He will gladly perform for small groups or the entire school at once. There is no limit to the number of assemblies he is willing to do in a day.
In addition to the music, Chris incorporates art into the performance as he draws cartoons for the kids on a big sketch pad. He works with the event host who selects students with more-than-average needs to receive the drawings, along with a big dose of encouragement, in a way that they will not soon forget (Chris's favorite part of the program!).
He then spends some time reading to the students from his books while displaying the illustrations on screen. He fields questions from the older students and then wraps it up with a final song and additional words of encouragement.
Each performance is 50 minutes long and is heavy on audience participation. Chris can tailor his performance for any age group and would love to share with all of your students. He will gladly perform for small groups or the entire school at once. There is no limit to the number of assemblies he is willing to do in a day.
CULTURAL ARTS EXPLOSION!
The CULTURAL ARTS EXPLOSION is an entertaining and inspiring session during which Chris demonstrates the fun and POWER of music/singing, drawing/painting, writing/storytelling and even dancing and predicts that before the session is over all will witness someone from the audience sing a solo, tell a story, do a dance and present a work of art. He dramatically tells the story of how each of these have radically impacted his life and led him on a great adventure doing what he loves to do: Creating art and encouraging kids! The session is culminated by the students taking the spotlight as - as predicted - one presents a song, one a story, one a dance and one a great work of art! This session is quickly becoming a favorite!
The GREAT FICTION WRITING WORKSHOP
The GREAT FICTION WRITING WORKSHOP is a highly interactive session designed to instill a passion for writing in your students. During the session, Chris shares his journey as a writer which began with the encouragement from Mrs. Deever(his fifth grade teacher) and ultimately led to being a published author/illustrator 31 years later. The students enjoy seeing some of his work from that year of his life (lovingly preserved by his mom). Using the acrostic C-A-R-E-S (Conflict, Action, Resistance, Emotion, Showing), Chris reveals to them the secrets of creating great fiction. Then, he brainstorms with the students toward creating their own story. The students give him their ideas and, using the "secrets," Chris tells with dramatic flair what invariably turns out to be the beginning of a pretty good story. The session is all interactive and mental -- no need for them to bring pencils or paper. However, post-session, students are ready to dive in to completing story or composing original works all their own!
The ADVENTURE of ILLUSTRATION Workshop
The ADVENTURE OF ILLUSTRATING is an interactive overview of some of the tools and tricks Chris uses to illustrate his books. Kids will learn the "seven essential elements of a great drawing." They will experience the excitement of approaching the blank page (the adventure of wondering what will happen there when we dive in and DRAW!) and learn some of the processes a person with no "School of Art" training (like Chris!) goes through to produce publishable works of art. Each session is topped off with a start-to-finish illustration demonstration resulting in a drawing that tells a story based on random ideas chosen by kids. Each drawing is left behind so the students can remember their time with Chris.
ECONOMICAL LIVE WEB-CAM VIDEO EVENT!
With this exciting web cam event, CHRIS CAN ENCOURAGE KIDS IN ANY CLASSROOM OR LIBRARY AROUND THE WORLD WITH A SIMPLE CLICK OF THE MOUSE! Here is what Lindsey McCarter (Media Specialist at Brown Academy in Chattanooga) had to say: "You did an incredible job with our kids!!! They were still talking about it several days later. It was amazing!!! I hope we can expect to do more things like this with you! You have no idea the skills that were addressed that I had not even planned in regards to public speaking and learning about the world."
Here is what Lee Ann Burk (Principal at Brown Academy) had to say about this exciting new possibility:
"What a great opportunity for our students to have one-on-one, face-to-face, eye-contact conversations with an author! They were amazed at the technology and so quiet throughout the session that you could have heard a pin drop. Afterwards, however, they were BUBBLING with excitement and they are STILL talking about their special time with Chris. I highly recommend this author visit option to all of my colleagues! It was easy, too!"
Here is what Lee Ann Burk (Principal at Brown Academy) had to say about this exciting new possibility:
"What a great opportunity for our students to have one-on-one, face-to-face, eye-contact conversations with an author! They were amazed at the technology and so quiet throughout the session that you could have heard a pin drop. Afterwards, however, they were BUBBLING with excitement and they are STILL talking about their special time with Chris. I highly recommend this author visit option to all of my colleagues! It was easy, too!"
EVENING PROGRAMS
DURATION: All daytime programs run about 40 minutes.
"FIRED UP ABOUT READING" FAMILY TIME AROUND THE (INDOOR) CAMPFIRE
The "FIRED UP ABOUT READING" FAMILY TIME AROUND THE (INDOOR) CAMPFIRE features hilarious storytelling and highlights the fun of being together in the setting of and ambient lighting of an INDOOR campfire. Our campfire time will include the fun, high-energy reading-incentive songs and other laughter-inducing campfire activities. I will tell some of my classic stories - and encourage some to tell theirs as well - winding up with one directed at the hearts of the parents regarding the value, beauty and power of reading to your children every night. YOU PROVIDE A DARKENED ROOM AND I'LL BRING THE "FIRE" (a high-tech combination of wood, stones, LED lighting, some silk, a fan that looks almost exactly like a fire!). S'mores at the program's end are up to the school (but could be fun!). This session could also be expanded and done in the daytime!
The FUN FAMILY READING NIGHT
The FAMILY READING NIGHT program includes the same high-energy music, drawing of sketches, audience participation and laugh-out-loud hilarity featured in the READING PEP RALLY. PLUS, a very brief motivational talk directed at the hearts of the parents regarding the IMMENSE VALUE OF READING TO THEIR CHILDREN EACH NIGHT.
Extended AUTHOR-ILLUSTRATOR IN RESIDENCE Program
Chris loves the opportunity a residency gives him to develop deeper relationships with students. The length of the residency varies from a few days to an entire month. Each day is filled with your choice of the program options above, all designed to broaden the horizons of your students. For the school that wants the total package, the Author-in-Residence can also include a mural painted on one the school's walls left behind to encourage your students for years to come AND/OR books produced by the students and listed on Amazon!
For a detailed description of the extended residency, please go the “TOOLS FOR HOSTS” page and download the “Author-Illustrator in Residence Proposal” PDF.
For a detailed description of the extended residency, please go the “TOOLS FOR HOSTS” page and download the “Author-Illustrator in Residence Proposal” PDF.
STANDARD FEES
Fees vary according to what a host wants. Chris is always flexible and his fees are always negotiable. Plus, when two or more organizations coordinate events, he offers a discounted rate to the organizing school and travel expenses are shared so everything is more affordable for everyone.
Standard fee schedule for ALL Daytime Sessions is as follows:
$395 for 1 session plus some travel.
$495 for 2 sessions plus some travel.
$675 for 3 sessions plus some travel.
$845 for 4 sessions plus some travel.
$995 for 5 sessions plus some travel.
$495 for 2 sessions plus some travel.
$675 for 3 sessions plus some travel.
$845 for 4 sessions plus some travel.
$995 for 5 sessions plus some travel.
If you will compare these rates to other authors/illustrators, you will find that these are below most of Chris’s colleagues with similar or even less experience.
Standard fee schedule for ALL Evening Sessions is as follows:
The fee for the FUN Family Reading Night or the FIRED UP ABOUT READING Family Time Around the (Indoor) Campfire is $395 plus travel when only the evening event is scheduled. When three or more full-priced daytime sessions are scheduled the fee for these sessions is reduced to $295. (It may, however, make an additional night's lodging necessary.)
IF LODGING IS NECESSARY, the school may provide a place to stay (Chris is not picky) and save the lodging expense. If we book the motel, it typically results in an additional $85 per night for lodging/per diem added to the invoice.
If Chris will be driving to your school, MILEAGE EXPENSES are easy to figure. Simply go to any mapping web site and plug in Chris’s home address (11 Cherokee Camp Trail, Jasper, GA 30143) to calculate the ROUND TRIP mileage to AND FROM your school. Multiply that number by .555 (the standard mileage rate set by the IRS is presently 55.5 cents per mile).
If Chris will be flying to your school, APPROXIMATE TRAVEL EXPENSES are fairly easy to figure. Simply go to a travel site like Orbitz and price flights + car rental from the Atlanta airport (ATL) to your area and then add about $100 to cover mileage to the airport, parking fees, baggage fees and insurance.
A PERSONAL NOTE
MY PRIMARY MOTIVATION IS TO ENCOURAGE YOUR STUDENTS FACE-TO-FACE.
I don't know what kind of funds you have available, but I AM CONFIDENT that if we put our heads together WE CAN WORK SOMETHING OUT WITHIN YOUR BUDGET.
Please let me know what kind of budget you are working with and I will design a great event within your price range.
For the kids,
Chris
