I get asked all the time, "Will you come visit my school?" The answer is simple: "Absolutely!" I have a great time visiting schools and getting to meet students. And students love seeing me because they get out of class to hear a guest speaker. LOL! I love meeting young readers and writers and dreamers and I do everything in my power to encourage people with my writer's journey and penchant to never give up.

Fee/Honoraria (subject to change without notice):

• $250* plus travel for one (1) day of presentations**
• $500 plus travel for two (2) days of presentations
• $750 per day for presentations done with my co-author, Patrick Burns of TruTV's Haunting Evidence, plus per diem per person for meals
• Conferences/Workshops – fee is negotiable

Presentations are coupled with a book sale and signing. Schools are asked to inform students ahead of time of book sale (cash or check) so they will have money with them to purchase books and other items.

These are just some possible ideas for presentations. Feel free to ask me about other possibilities or about topics more specifically geared toward your audience.

• Dream Your Dream…and Live it! Take it from someone who has worked in several industries, but always wanted to write the great American novel. This is an exploration of how Marley made it happen for herself and encouragement for how others can do it for themselves.
• The Writer's Journey What is it like writing full time? How do you make it happen? Learn what is involved in getting a book from idea to seeing it on the book shelf and living your dream…no matter what it is.
• Ghost Hunting 101 Do you watch all of the paranormal TV shows? Do you believe in ghosts and the afterlife? Marley will share with you her research for her GHOST HUNTRESS series and what it's like to be a ghost huntress herself.
• BONUS!
  So You Have a YA Voice A little advice on how to write for teens (aka young adults). This talk is mainly geared to people who want to try to write YA.
• WITH TruTV star and co-author of THE OTHER SIDE: A TEEN'S GUIDE TO GHOST HUNTING AND THE PARANORMAL Patrick Burns This dynamic duo (and real life couple) will present evidence from their investigations, as well as discussing the scientific approach to the paranormal and how to blend it into your fictional writing.
• Other topics upon request

Here are some great tips and how to's for a successful author visit to your school:

• Make sure your students are ready! This is one of the most important items for a successful author visit. If possible, have students read my books before I visit. In the least, have them check out my website, read my FAQ and start brainstorming on questions they want to ask. I love questions from young people and any time I can encourage even one person—whether they be students or teachers—then my work is done. Teachers, have your students write down questions they might want to ask ahead of time. They can be turned in to me at the beginning of the talk, if you'd like. The more you prepare, the better the presentation will be for me, the kids, and the teachers and the less likely it'll be for people to want to snooze through the talk.
• Create a classroom or library display of my favorite books, as well as the books I've published. Students love to hear about what authors are reading, or what I read when I was their age. If you have a special rack or display of my own suggested titles for reading, it might inspire more discussion, questions, or reading on your students' part.
• I will want to do a book sale. I travel with copies of my books, so please make time during the day for me to have a book sale/signing for your students. Inform parents and students alike ahead of time so they're prepared and have money to purchase books. I also sell a variety of other items such as temporary ghost tattoos, dowsing pendulums, t-shirts, magnets, and other items. The more information you can get out to your students, the better the event will be for everyone. Flyers or emails to parents will remind them to send cash or checks with their children. I get so upset when a kid tells me they didn't know to bring money and wish they could have gotten an autographed book.
• Targeting the groups. Not every one of your students will have the desire, ability, or inclination to read or hear from someone who published a book. In this event, I am able to just discuss life in general, experiences, triumphs, defeats and overcoming obstacles. I can tailor my presentation to your students' needs. If you have groups of English or writing classes who are interested in a more intimate setting and one-on-one-ish questions and answers, I'm happy to do that on the side or between presentations. If I'm able to motivate just ONE student to pick up a book and read, then my work is done.

*Why do I charge a fee to come speak?

This is quite simple: writing and speaking about writing is my full-time job. You wouldn't ask and optometrist to examine all of the fourth grade class' eyes for free, now would you? You wouldn't, right? Visiting schools is an amazing part of being a published author, but it does take time away from my family and my writing time and are a lot of work to schedule and prepare for.

**What do your presentations consist of?

The answer to this is pretty much anything. Specifically, anything that has me presenting in front of a group of people in an auditorium, gymnasium, library, lunchroom, classroom or anywhere with students, faculty, and teachers. I've done up to four (4) presentations in one day, but then I couldn't talk for a week afterwards. LOL! While I'm able to motivate and inform students, I can't teach class or read any of their writing or critique it for them. Also, I prefer not to babysit an unruly bunch. But I am thrilled to talk about my journey as a writer, my experience, my path to fulfilling my dream, and the publishing industry as a whole and how important it is that they excel in their English classes as a command of the English language will get them far in life, much farther than being asked to find the sum of x + y + z. (English teachers love me; math teachers…not so much!)

Virtual/Online Visit

In the event your school is unable to have me in for an in-person visit, I'd be happy to do a virtual or online visit for your students. I can chat with individual classes, reading groups, libraries or writing groups via Skype.

Cost and Time

• $50/half hour
• $75/per full hour

What to do to prepare

• Download Skype (www.skype.com) beforehand and do a dry run session to make sure it works. That way, when we do the "real" event, it'll help make everything go more smoothly if you know it works.
• Everyone be prepared – the students/audience with me as an author and me with the group I'm speaking to. The best thing for your students is to read my FAQ ahead of time.
• Questions, questions, questions – if at all possible, have your students prepare questions they want to ask ahead of time and then have one "moderator" to ask the questions. That way the chat will run quicker and there will be more time for answers.

Testimonials

I have been speaking to groups from five to three hundred for the last twenty years and am comfortable with audiences of all sizes. My talks are informative, yet entertaining, and while there's always an educational aspect to the talk, it's done through humor and relating life experiences instead of being preachy. Here are so quotes from presentations I've done recently:

"Marley, thank you so much for coming to Boston College High School. What an amazing experience for my students! The middle school students were fascinated by the reading you gave from a cemetery scene in your book. I loved how you had them laughing at some points and sitting on the edge of their seats at others. The high school students from our AP Composition classes who are interested in pursuing careers in writing really appreciated the honest and open question and answer session you had with them about the business of writing. Teachers are still talking about the author who came to the library and had the kids "so excited about books!" The buzz from your visit is still in the air! It was wonderful! " — Tia Esposito, Library Director, Boston College High School, Boston, Massachusetts

"Ms. Gibson's visit was so cool!" — Arrupe Middle School Student, Boston, Massachusetts

"Ms. Gibson's talk was interesting and informative about the writing process with a paranormal twist. I loved it!" — Boston College High Student, Boston, Massachusetts

“Ms. Gibson's books are phenomenal! And so is she." – Apryl McCoy 9th grader at Pike County High School, Brundidge, Alabama

“Marley really connected with the students during her presentations and her books are flying off the shelves.” – Mrs. Gentry Hassett- Library Media Specialist, Pike County High School, Brundidge, Alabama

"Man that presentation was awesome! – James, 12 years old, Monroe County Library, Key West, Florida

"Marley Gibson was a great speaker for both our kids and adult readers." – Adult reader, Monroe County Library, Key West, Florida

"I thought Marley was GREAT!" – Robin, age 15, Monroe County Library, Key West, Florida

"I wanted to thank you for visiting Carroll High School. It means a lot to English teachers to have someone come in and tell our students that they will use English everywhere they go. Also, you challenged me to chase the plots, characters, and stories in my head and put them on paper instead of just talking about doing it." – Trisha Forsythe, teacher, Carroll High School, Ozark, Alabama

"I had fun when Ms. Gibson came to my school because she was funny." – Tommy, 10^th grader, Carroll High School, Ozark, Alabama

"Thanks for coming to speak to my school. I loved your book “Ghost Huntress Book 1: The Awakening”, it was great!!!This book left me speechless but all I can say is WOW…your an amazing writer. I loved it. It was awesome. I use to hate reading I’m the type of person who wouldn’t pick up a book if my life depended on it, but now I love reading thanks to you." – Kali, student, Banks Middle School, Banks, Alabama