Brief Bio and Introduction

Siobhan Vivian is the author of the young adult novels A Little Friendly Advice, Same Difference, Not That Kind of Girl, and The List. Her books have received numerous starred reviews and have appeared on Best of the Year lists from ALA, IndieBound, Kirkus and YALSA. A former book editor and screenwriter for children’s television, she currently teaches creative writing at The University of Pittsburgh. siobhanvivian.com

Program Descriptions

BEAUTY & THE MEDIA: HELPING TEENS NAVIGATE THE MESSAGES THEY ARE FORCE-FED

60 min. Suggested Audience: Grades 8+

Here’s the painful truth: we live in a society where value is placed on the way we look. Girls, guys—no one is immune. From tabloid magazines eviscerating anyone with cellulite, to infomercials peddling promises of shiny hair and clear skin and a trim figure, to peer-created hot-or-not lists posted on Facebook, adolescents must navigate a minefield of daily reminders of how they measure up against an impossible ideal. To combat against those external pressures, Siobhan will present a lecture, followed by several break-out creative exercises, that will help teach teens how to decipher what they are being fed by the media—and to challenge how they participate and perpetuate these issues on a smaller scale.

THE WRITER’S LIFE (general school presentation)

30-60 min. Suggested Audience: Grades 6+

Many students have no idea how many creative jobs there are in the world of children’s media, and Siobhan Vivian has held most of them! That is to say, Siobhan has taken quite a circuitous route to becoming a published author, and has worked in publishing, and the film and television world. In this presentation, she touches on her time as a struggling student in high school and how finding creative writing suddenly gave her life direction. Then she discusses her time in the world of children’s film and television, where she worked for such companies as The Disney Channel. Finally, she takes us into publishing, where she worked as an editor of several New York Times best-selling teen series, before selling her first book. The program is supplemented by a brief examination of the publication process and a Q&A.  

THE CREATIVE WRITER TOOLBOX

60-90 min. Suggested Audience: Grades 8+

Character, Setting, and Plot are the three fundamentals of every good story. Siobhan will present three lectures and three creative writing exercises (modified from her university creative writing class curriculum) that touch on each of these fundamentals. Note: for classroom-sized groups only. 

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Conferences & Festivals

GHOST WRITING 101

30-60 min. Suggested Audience: Adults

Ghost writing is one of the more lucrative ways to break into the publishing industry. There are plenty of ghost writing opportunities available for aspiring writers…but how do you get them? A veteran editor for famed book-packager Alloy Entertainment, Siobhan will share her secrets on how to land these cushy jobs. From targeting the best packaging companies, to creating an amazing sample, to negotiating the best deal possible, this presentation touches upon all aspects of ghost writing, and how to use the experience as a ghost writer as a calling card to further your own writing.

Virtual Visits

Siobhan is happy to drop in for a virtual visit and Q&A with book groups and library groups that have read at least one of her books using Skype or iChat. She offers 50-minute Skype sessions for $50. Please note: Siobhan will offer a 50-minute Skype session for no charge if your school or book club orders at least 30 books.

AV Tech Needs:

Projector and AV cords to connect to laptop.

Honorarium:

Honorariums for Siobhan Vivian begin at $500, and increase based on travel and number of presentations. For a detailed quote, please fill out our Author Request form and the Author Visits Manager will respond shortly.

Ordering Books

Schools and libraries may order books at a discounted rate by visiting by calling 1-888-724-1872 (x8015).

 

Book list

 

ISBN	TITLE	PRICE	YEAR
9780545004046	A LITTLE FRIENDLY ADVICE	16.99	2008
9780545477246	A LITTLE FRIENDLY ADVICE (eBook)	8.99	2012
9780545004053	A LITTLE FRIENDLY ADVICE (paperback)	8.99	2009
9780545169158	NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL	17.99	2010
9780545328791	NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL (eBook)	17.99	2010
9780545169165	NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL (paperback)	9.99	2011
9780545004077	SAME DIFFERENCE	17.99	2009
9780545477215	SAME DIFFERENCE  (eBook)	8.99	2012
9780545004084	SAME DIFFERENCE (paperback)	8.99	2010
9780545169172	THE LIST	17.99	2012
9780545443234	THE LIST (eBook)	17.99	2012