Whether you think you can or can't, you're right.
                                                                                 Henry Ford

Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
                                   Little Willy’s Grandfather in Stone Fox

The school budget is down to zero and the PTO has left the building. There’s no way you can afford an author visit. But if my years as a teacher and author have taught me anything, it’s that education – even in the best of economic times – is much more about enthusiasm and passion than dollars and cents.

If you and your students supply that passion, I will contribute a little math that will make an author visit more than possible. It will make it a reality.

The Affordable “Coughin” Option...

*Raise $120 by selling the 20 autographed copies of They’re Coming For You included with an author visit. This is not hard to do since the books virtually sell themselves.

*Raise the remaining $180 by doing one of the following: 1) Since I don’t have a limit on audience size, you could have 300 students and 60 adults each bring in 50 cents ($180); or 2) Have a Reading is Fun Run where students collect pledge money based on number of laps run and/or books read. The latter will probably result in more than $180. Not a bad problem to have.

In the end, the presentation and the feelings of accomplishment and ownership in bringing an author to your school will be worth much more than $300 for you, your students, and me.