Virtual Author Visits
For Grade, Middle and High Schools

Invite an author to visit

Grade, Middle, and High School Visits

Motivate students to write and illustrate their own stories
Give a boost to your school’s writing program
Increase students’ enthusiasm for reading
Help your school meet the language arts curriculum goals
Help kids understand that writing is a career choice they can make
More tips for author visits

It's easy to host a Zoom author visit

Grade Schools

Fathom's children's picture books are ideal reading for grades pre-K through third grade and provide opportunities to learn about northern animals and life in Alaska. Children would enjoy hearing the stories read by the authors and having a chance to ask questions.

Suggested authors: Janice Schofield, Rachel J.E. Sprague, Connie Taylor.

Fathom’s middle grade books are ideal for fourth grade and above. Some of our authors of memoirs and northern fiction could also share stories and experiences of life in the North.

Suggested authors: Teena Helmericks, W.R. Kozey, Bonnye Matthews, Bradford D. Smith.

Middle and High Schools

Fathom's authors of northern biography can discuss their memoirs, read excerpts, and answer questions about life in Alaska and remote northern locations.

Suggested authors and editors: Teena Helmericks, W.R. Kozey, Bradford D. Smith

Teacher’s guides and a variety of free printable worksheets are available.

Ordering Books for Schools and Libraries

Library rates are available to schools wishing to purchase books for all students in a Zoom Author Visit. Click for Order Form and Terms.

Fathom's Authors

Tami Barrans

Author of Petunia's Grand Adventures: Surprise Trip to SE Alaska

Tami Barrans Tami is a first time author and has traveled the world as a long term "stewardess" for Alaska Airlines. She brings to life the story of a little mouse named Petunia, who is longing for adventure, outside her home in Holly Tree Lane.

Readers will share in her excitement in discovering the beauty of SE Alaska and even some of its dangers, in this first book of the series. Her next book is slated for publication this fall and will take mid-readers to another fabulous destination. Kids and adults alike, will have a great time following this little mouse with a nose for adventure and a heart full of wonder!

As a bonus, Tami's grandson, who was twelve at the time, created the original drawing of Petunia and sketched a number of the other illustrations. She looks forward to answering questions from readers and aspiring young authors!

Perfect for explorers 8 - 12 years of age.

Teena Helmericks

Teena Helmericks Author of Life on the Edge of the Arctic Ocean

Teena grew up on Alaska's North Slope, first in Barrow and then she and her husband raised their family on a remote island on the Colville River near the Arctic Ocean. Her stories of frontier living at the top of the world are fascinating.

Book club members will get to hear more about life in the wilderness and enjoy a question-and-answer time with Teena.

Many of her stories about her children's lives in remote northern Alaskawhere the sun does not even rise above the horizon for nearly 3 months in mid-winter and where seeing a bear hanging out in your front yard would be exciting for children to hear Teena read aloud.

W.R. Kozey

Jerad Kozey Author of the Northern Narratives Series: Tall Tales of Alaska: #1 Red Dog Saloon, #2 Juneau, AK and #3 Sitka, AK

Jerad’s books are fun journeys through some of the most iconic legends and folklore of Alaska. They read like you’re sitting across the counter from an old sourdough telling stories into the night.

Adult book club members will enjoy Jerad's story telling abilities and sharing laughs with him as they discuss his books and inspiration.

Children would enjoy hearing Jerad read some of the historic legends about these Alaskan towns.

Jerad is available from May through October.

Bonnye Matthews

Author of Arctic Dinosaurs of Alaska and Pakky's Tale.

Arctic Dinosaurs of Alaska is a middle grade book about a young pachyrhinosaurus growing up on the North Slope of Alaska.

It’s fiction, but based on real discoveries of dinosaur fossils in the Arctic. Pakky’s Tale simplifies the story so younger children can enjoy it.

Bonnye would enjoy sharing her story with students and discussing all the research she did and the things she learned about Arctic dinosaurs.

Janice J. Schofield Eaton

Janice J. Schofield Author of children’s books Explore Alaska and A Home for Henry, plant books Discovering Wild Plants, Alaska's Wild Plants, and The Wonders of Nettles, and Alaskan memoir Beyond Road’s End.

Explore Alaska and A Home for Henry are grade school books. Janice can read the book to students and talk about developing the story for A Home for Henry. She can share many interesting Alaska facts based on activities in Explore Alaska.

Beyond Road’s End is a memoir of her days living across the bay from Homer, Alaska.

Janice is available for visits during the months of June through October.

Rachel J.E. Sprague

Rachel J.E. Sprague Author of Adaa's Story: The Remarkable Life of a Rescued Sea Otter

Rachel is the author and illustrator of Adaa’s Story, the true story of a lost baby sea otter that was rescued in Alaska and eventually found his way to the Seattle Aquarium where he became a beloved ambassador for sea otter conservation.

Rachel looks forward to sharing Adaa's Story with grade school children. She can discuss how sea otters are rescued and rehabilitated, and what you should do if you encounter an injured sea mammal on the beach.

She will teach the class how to draw a sea otter with easy step-by-step directions.

Bradford D. Smith

Bradford D. Smith Author of Atlin: Where Everyone Knows Your Dog's Name and Murphy and the Mystery of the Black Skull

Editor of Diane Solie Smith's books The Way It Used to Be and Curiously Colorful Kids

Brad grew up in a small town in Atlin, BC, with the wilderness as his playground and enough creativity to find plenty of adventures. His memoir takes readers on a fascinating and heartfelt journey to a different time and place. Brad would be happy to read an excerpt and discuss any of his books with book clubs.

Murphy and the Mystery of the Black Skull is Brad’s first exciting mystery novel for middle grade readers. He would enjoy reading to grade school kids and answering questions about the book. He could also share with them some of his stories and what it was like growing up in a remote northern town.

Connie Taylor

Connie Taylor Author of Growing Up in Alaska: A Baby Arctic Tern and Sik-Sik's Summer: An Arctic Ground Squirrel Tale

Connie's photography was the inspiration and illustration for these Alaska children's books that share the lives of Arctic terns and Arctic ground squirrels. Children enjoy watching the baby tern grow, and the ground squirrel enjoy her busy summer days, and they learn interesting facts about these Alaskan animals. Teacher’s guides and printable activity worksheets are available for both books.

Grade school children will enjoy hearing Connie read the stories and answer their questions. She can share fun videos she took of the terns and squirrels that will bring the characters to life.

Nancy Verlinde

Editor of Howard John Hunt's autobiography Saga of an Aviation Survivor

When Nancy grew up in the 1950s in Anchorage, Alaska, her father, Howard John Hunt, was starting an airline with routes including Anchorage-Seattle. Hunt served as a pilot in World War II and devoted the rest of his life to flying and salvaging airplanes.

Hunt's memoir is of interest to all teens and adults who want to learn about flying during the war, living in Alaska, and adventures while salvaging airplanes in remote locations.

Nancy looks forward to visiting with book club members and sharing her memories.