Rachel Vail, the author of many novels for young readers, never wanted to be a writer.  "Secretly, of course, I imagined myself as an actress."  After graduating from Georgetown University as an English major, Vail began to write, direct, and act in plays - and by doing that learned to write books. 

Her work includes the picture books Sometimes I'm Bombaloo, Righty and Lefty,  and Jibberwillies in a Bucket, which Kirkus Reviews calls  "fresh and compelling" in a starred review.  Vail discusses how she came to write the books and will read to the students.  Children also love to discuss their own experiences with being BOMBALOO and dealing with their own JIBBERWILLIES. 

Vail will speak to three groups, any size. For fifth grade and up, she highly recommends that they choose at least one pizza party or lunch with the author - admission to be earned by writing a report or doing a project on one of her books. "These parties have been very successful," she says  "Kids are excited because they've achieved a reward, their questions in these smaller, more intense groups tend to be sophisticated and complex, and their increased enthusiasm for reading (and meeting the author) seems to spill over to the rest of the school population - for results that long outlast my visit."

Vail has also developed a teacher's/adult ed course in fiction writing, which is a two-session intensive seminar, and a writer-in-residence program in creative writing for students of all grade levels, which run 3-5 days.  These workshops include materials for each participant, including a 3-ring notebook with course materials inside.

Author's home:  New York City
Suggested audience:  Grades K-9/adult groups
Maximum number of presentations per day:  3
Honorarium:  $1500.00 per day plus expenses
                      For fiction writing workshop and multiple day seminars, please inquire