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TikTok
Goodreads
Amazon Author Page
Bookbub
Email:
[email protected]
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For Teachers and Librarians! My School Presentations! |
I do presentations for several of my novels. I am happy to adapt for large groups, individual classrooms, or small book clubs. My rates are negotiable. I do charge additional travel fees if I need to go more than 50 miles from my home near Nashville.
Speaking at W. A. Wright Elementary School.
I am available to speak at elementary and middle schools about my middle grade novel No One Needed to Know. This book is about a girl dealing with the pressures and responsibilities that come with having an older autistic brother. It is based loosely on my personal experience growing up with an older Autistic brother.
My presentation includes:
"I felt really good about the entire presentation and the way the kids behaved," Librarian at Stoner Creek Elementary School.
My presentation includes:
- Sharing some of my memories as an autism sibling and teacher of special needs students and how that inspired the writing of this novel.
- A quick overview of autism
- A discussion about bullying with an emphasis on being kind to people with special needs
- Taking a pledge to not be a bully.
"I felt really good about the entire presentation and the way the kids behaved," Librarian at Stoner Creek Elementary School.
Speaking at West Wilson Middle School in Tennessee
From concept to publication, it took 13 years to make Cry of the Sea the story I wanted it to be. My presentation for schools, libraries, and special events is about the process of revision. Sometimes the first version of a story, poem, song, drawing, etc. isn't the best it could be. Sometimes it takes stepping away for a while and looking at it with fresh eyes. Sometimes it takes several times to get it right.
I tell the story of how I came up with the idea for this novel about a teen environmental activist who discovers real mermaids and the process I went through to write it and revise it until it was of publishable quality. It is an educational and motivational presentation perfect for students 6th-12th grade or any creative people!
In addition to speaking about writing and revision, I have an alternate presentation available about the environmental themes in this award-winning series. I will be happy to speak to classes about the effects of ocean pollution, oil spills, and logging.
I tell the story of how I came up with the idea for this novel about a teen environmental activist who discovers real mermaids and the process I went through to write it and revise it until it was of publishable quality. It is an educational and motivational presentation perfect for students 6th-12th grade or any creative people!
In addition to speaking about writing and revision, I have an alternate presentation available about the environmental themes in this award-winning series. I will be happy to speak to classes about the effects of ocean pollution, oil spills, and logging.
Lost on the Water - A Ghost Story is a spooky contemporary adventure story perfect for middle school and younger high school readers. It's the story of a girl visiting her grandmother in rural Tennessee who sneaks out in a rickety old rowboat to catch up to a group of boys camping overnight on an island in the lake. Only, the boat just might be haunted.
The writing of this book got a little lost, too, as I went through many rewrites to find the right setting and traits of the main characters to tell the story effectively. I do a presentation about choosing setting and characters and why they make a difference. This is an especially fun book and presentation for schools in middle Tennessee, as this book is set at Center Hill Lake, TN.
The writing of this book got a little lost, too, as I went through many rewrites to find the right setting and traits of the main characters to tell the story effectively. I do a presentation about choosing setting and characters and why they make a difference. This is an especially fun book and presentation for schools in middle Tennessee, as this book is set at Center Hill Lake, TN.
I have been a speaker or panelist at many schools, libraries, and special events. Some of my favorites include: Middle TN Youth Writing Workshop (at MTSU), Alabama School Library Association conference, Tennessee Association of School Librarians, Wizard World Comic Con Nashville, Southern Kentucky Festival of Books, LibertyCon, Chattacon, and Hypericon. I would love to speak at your special event, so please contact me at [email protected].
What am I working on right now? (as of September 24, 2023)
It's been a busy year! I've been doing theatre and publishing books back and forth all year long! My newest (and probably last) YA novel, Dragon Surf (co-authored with Jeni Bautista Richard) came out in late February. At the time I was costuming a production of Arsenic and Old Lace. Then I got cast in Memphis the Musical, which performed in June. In July, my very first full-length romantic women's fiction novel Anything but Graceful was released by Satin Romance Books. Then I was immediately busy again directing my original musical Songwriter Night: A Nashville Inspired Musical Comedy. That ended a week ago.
I'd like to say I get to slow down now, but I don't. About three weeks ago I was elected to be the new Managing Administrator for The Keeton Theatre in Nashville. Yes, finally putting my Theatre degree to use. One of my first jobs was to find a director for our December offering, White Christmas the Musical. Alas, no one is available, so I'm jumping back in and directing that. Auditions are tonight, actually. Maybe I'll breathe between Christmas and New Year's Eve.
What does all this mean for my writing career? I'm not sure yet. I am 3/4 of the way through another genx, seasoned romance novel that I have tentatively titled The Cabin Plan. I would like to finish it and ready it for submission. I just don't know when I'll have time. I've also really slowed down on my TikToks. I was trying to post once a day, and now I'm lucky to do once a week. I want to keep writing, but, honestly, it's a lot of work for little reward. Theatre seems to be the thing calling me right now, so I'll put my focus on that and see what happens with the writing.
What would help, and always motivates me, is that if you happen to read one of my books, to please leave reviews. Or recommend it on your social media. It boosts my confidence and helps others trust that they should pick up the book, too.
To keep up with my progress, please follow me at Facebook https://www.facebook.com/donnagdriver/
Or follow me on Instagram and Twitter.
It's been a busy year! I've been doing theatre and publishing books back and forth all year long! My newest (and probably last) YA novel, Dragon Surf (co-authored with Jeni Bautista Richard) came out in late February. At the time I was costuming a production of Arsenic and Old Lace. Then I got cast in Memphis the Musical, which performed in June. In July, my very first full-length romantic women's fiction novel Anything but Graceful was released by Satin Romance Books. Then I was immediately busy again directing my original musical Songwriter Night: A Nashville Inspired Musical Comedy. That ended a week ago.
I'd like to say I get to slow down now, but I don't. About three weeks ago I was elected to be the new Managing Administrator for The Keeton Theatre in Nashville. Yes, finally putting my Theatre degree to use. One of my first jobs was to find a director for our December offering, White Christmas the Musical. Alas, no one is available, so I'm jumping back in and directing that. Auditions are tonight, actually. Maybe I'll breathe between Christmas and New Year's Eve.
What does all this mean for my writing career? I'm not sure yet. I am 3/4 of the way through another genx, seasoned romance novel that I have tentatively titled The Cabin Plan. I would like to finish it and ready it for submission. I just don't know when I'll have time. I've also really slowed down on my TikToks. I was trying to post once a day, and now I'm lucky to do once a week. I want to keep writing, but, honestly, it's a lot of work for little reward. Theatre seems to be the thing calling me right now, so I'll put my focus on that and see what happens with the writing.
What would help, and always motivates me, is that if you happen to read one of my books, to please leave reviews. Or recommend it on your social media. It boosts my confidence and helps others trust that they should pick up the book, too.
To keep up with my progress, please follow me at Facebook https://www.facebook.com/donnagdriver/
Or follow me on Instagram and Twitter.