Interactive author programs and storytimes for all ages. Indoor, outdoor, and online programs available!
- For Ages 6 and Up
- For Families/All Ages
- For Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers
- For Ages 12 and Up
- For Adults
- Rates and Policies
For Ages 6 and Up
Nifty Nonfiction: Kathy MacMillan, author of more than a dozen nonfiction books for kids, teens, and adults, breaks down the research process, how to identify credible sources, and how a nonfiction book goes from idea to publication. This workshop can be built around any of Kathy’s nonfiction titles, depending on specific curriculum tie-ins for your school. (May be presented as a large group/assembly program, or a longer workshop session with hands-on writing activities.)
She Spoke: When the world tells you to be quiet, do you listen, or do you raise your voice? Kathy MacMillan, co-author of She Spoke: 14 Women Who Raised Their Voices and Changed the World highlights inspirational women who weren’t afraid to speak up. If desired, Kathy’s co-author, Manuela Bernardi, may join the program via video from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Stories By Hand: Interactive, high-energy storytelling programs that teach basic American Sign Language through stories, songs, and more. Many themes available, including:
- ASL ABCs: Take a trip through the alphabet and learn the American manual alphabet and more through silly stories, songs, and fun!
- Come Sign with Me: What is American Sign Language? What does it mean to be deaf? Learn the answers to these questions and more in this interactive introduction to ASL and Deaf Culture.
- The Great American Sign Language Mystery: Where did American Sign Language come from? Flex your fingers and join in the hunt for clues as sign language detective Kathy MacMillan leads silly stories, songs, and more.
- Once Upon a Sign: Come away to a land of kings and dragons, queens and castles, and learn signs through stories and songs of magic. Learn about Deaf Culture as we visit the land of Eyeth, where we use our hands and eyes to communicate.
- The SIGN-a-long Sing-a-long: Teach your fingers how to sing as we explore American Sign Language through music and stories!
- Sign Language Here, There, and Everywhere: Learn basic American Sign Language and find out more about sign languages around the world through interactive stories, songs, and more.
The Writer’s Life: Kathy MacMillan, author of more than two dozen fiction and nonfiction books for children, teens, and adults, pulls back the curtain on what it’s really like to be a published author, as well as the many different paths to getting there.
Find more hands-on writing programs on our Workshop Page.
For Families/All Ages
Read, Sign, and Play: In this high-energy author storytime, Kathy MacMillan shares her books, along with American Sign Language songs and action rhymes.
Stories By Hand: Interactive storytelling programs that teach basic American Sign Language for all ages. Many themes available, including:
- Flying Fingers of Fall: Learn basic American Sign Language through tales of falling leaves, squirrels, pumpkins and more!
- How Do You Sign “Snow”?: Winter Signs: Warm up those frigid fingers with stories, songs, and activities that explore the snowy season with basic American Sign Language.
- Once Upon a Sign: Come away to a land of kings and dragons, queens and castles, and learn signs through stories and songs of magic. Learn about Deaf Culture as we visit the land of Eyeth, where we use our hands and eyes to communicate.
- The SIGN-a-long Sing-a-long: Teach your fingers how to sing as we explore American Sign Language through music and stories!
- Sign Language Here, There, and Everywhere: Learn basic American Sign Language and find out more about sign languages around the world through interactive stories, songs, and more.
- American Sign Language Safari: Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Go walkin’ through the jungle and learn signs through stories, songs, and fun activities for the whole family.
- Signs of Spring: Explore springtime with American Sign Language , from April showers to May flowers and everything in between!
- Signs Under the Sea: Dive into splashy stories, songs, and fun activities that explore the world of underwater animals through American Sign Language!
- Summer Signs: The sun is shining, the air is warm, and we’ve got a slew of summertime stories and signs just for you! Don’t forget your sunscreen!
For Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers
For Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers
Little Hands Signing: Interactive theme-based storytimes that combine age-appropriate signs and activities with solid information for caregivers. Many topics available, including
- First Signs
- Bathtime Signs
- Bedtime Signs
- Celebration Signs
- Diaper and Potty Signs
- Family Signs
- Feelings Signs
- Food Signs
- Nice Play Signs
- Playtime Signs
- Safety Signs
- Weather Signs
For Ages 12 and Up
She Spoke: When the world tells you to be quiet, do you listen, or do you raise your voice? Kathy MacMillan, co-author of She Spoke: 14 Women Who Raised Their Voices and Changed the World highlights inspirational women who weren’t afraid to speak up. If desired, Kathy’s co-author, Manuela Bernardi, may join the program via videochat from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Meet the Author: A lively conversation with Kathy MacMillan, author of Sword and Verse and Dagger and Coin, about worldbuilding, literacy, and the way fantasy reflects the concerns of the real world.
Storybuilding: No matter what your genre, a rich palette of details brings the world of your story to life. Kathy MacMillan shows how to focus on the specifics you need at each stage of the writing process to build your characters’ world without ever losing sight of the story at its heart.
Choices and Consequences: Kathy MacMillan shows how to analyze your story through the lens of choices and consequences to create coherent plots, compelling characters, and satisfying endings.
Taking off the Training Wheels: Neil Gaiman says fanfiction can act as a training ground for writing original fiction. Is he right? Kathy MacMillan discusses how writing fanfic in the Harry Potter, Star Trek, and Babylon 5 fandoms prepared her for creating fictional worlds of her own.
For Adults
Sign with Your Child: Research shows that signing with all children stimulates language development, eases communication, supports early literacy, and defuses frustration for parents and children alike. Kathy MacMillan, author of Little Hands and Big Hands: Children and Adults Signing Together, introduces the whys and hows of signing with children ages birth to six and shares hands-on activities you can use throughout the day.
Professional development workshops also available.
Rates
Indoor, outdoor, and online programming available.
For programs in the Midatlantic area:
Library/Public/Large group programs (45 minutes, for up to 150 people):
- Single program: 500.00 plus travel expenses.
- Additional same-day sessions: 400.00 plus travel expenses.
School and Childcare Center small group programs (up to 30 people per group):
- 350.00 for the first hour (plus travel expenses)
- 100.00 per additional half-hour
- Time may be split up amongst different classes or groups, but must be used consecutively.
Assembly programs (45 minutes, for more than 150 people):
- Single program: 600.00 plus travel expenses
- Additional same-day sessions: 500.00 each
Workshops and Virtual author visits are also available.
Maryland schools, libraries, community centers, detention centers, other government entities, and nonprofit organizations may be eligible for Arts in Education Grant funding for my visiting performances, online programs, writing workshops, and professional development workshops. Find out more about Arts in Education grants here or contact me to get started booking your grant-funded programs or workshops!
For in-person programming outside the Midatlantic area: Please contact me to arrange a program that best meets your needs and budget.
A flat per-program rate that includes travel expenses may be negotiated for multiple bookings. (Presenter will be traveling from Baltimore, MD.)
Policies
Cancellations: Programs cancelled with less than 72 hours (3 days) notice for any reason will be billed in full including any applicable travel expenses. For programs requiring air travel, programs canceled with less than 2 weeks (10 working days) notice for any reason will be billed in full including any applicable travel expenses.
Acts of God: Payment for cancellation of programs due to natural disasters or severely inclement weather conditions may be waived on the condition that the program is rescheduled within 3 weeks.
Mileage: Round-trip mileage will be charged according to the current IRS business mileage rate.
Early Arrival: Presenter will arrive at least 30 minutes prior to program start time for in-person programs, 15 minutes prior to start time for virtual programs.
Physical Setup: Every effort should be made to ensure that program space provides adequate lighting and clear sightlines.
Photos and Recording: Event organizers and attendees may take as many still photos as they like during the presentations. No videorecording is permitted without express permission of the presenter.
Interpreters: The presenter can present in either spoken English or American Sign Language. If an interpreter is needed, it is the responsibility of the organization hosting the program to provide one. Interpreters may be booked through the presenter for an additional fee.
Book Sales: I request that schools and libraries offer sales of my book(s) in conjunction with visits. I can arrange for book sales through Deaf Camps, Inc. (with all proceeds benefiting this nonprofit organization). I will be available to sign books after the session or at another agreed-upon time during the visit. Your community members may pre-order books at this link to be delivered at the author visit.
Platform: Unless otherwise agreed, virtual sessions will be conducted online via Zoom. Presenter is not responsible for technical difficulties at the receiving end. Rates listed above apply to program access for up to 99 people via Zoom; access for additional participants can be provided for an additional fee.
Captioning: Live captioning must be enabled for live online storytime platforms. Recorded storytimes must have professional captioning. (This applies to both prerecorded content and recordings of live programs made available after the fact.) Open or closed captioning can be provided by the presenter for an additional $3.50 per audio minute.
Collection Fees: Attorney’s fees and court costs will be added to the balance due if necessary to collect.
Proceeding with contractual agreement implies acceptance of terms.
To book an appearance:
- Check my availability calendar and identify your preferred dates and times.
- Fill out the contact form here. Include your contact information, organization name and address, estimated number of program participants, and choices of dates/times.
- I will check dates/times and reply to you with a confirmation.
- Please read Cancellation policy carefully. A cancellation fee will apply as described above.
Stories By Hand with Kathy MacMillan 