Self-promotion with the help of others

I'm getting around, but only because of the help of others.
Ms. Mary Jo Walsh, the Principal at Fell Charter School contacted me a few weeks ago. She'd seen an article about me/my book in the newspaper. She invited me to speak to her students about the process of researching and writing. So this past week, I had the opportunity to talk with about 40 inquisitive 7th and 8th graders at Fell Charter. They were finishing a unit on Holocaust literature and were familiar with the basics of the Nazi era and its propaganda. As a class, the 8th graders are reading The Book Thief, and they are obviously really into it. One student even asked me if I visited Himmelstrasse while I was in Munich! (That's where Liesl, the protagonist of The Book Thief, lives.)

Ms. Walsh's purpose for my presentation was to introduce the students to 'someone who has done it.' My own purpose was to let them know that I dreamed it and I did it, so if they dream it, they can do it too. During the presentation, I gave them each four different colored sticky notes to jot down their ideas - 1) for the main character, 2) for the setting, 3) for what the character wants, 4) for what problem he/she has to overcome in order to get it. 
Hopefully I gave them encouragement to follow some of their own ideas into creation of a story.

A couple weeks ago, my friend Brenda Davis told me that she'd attended a WWII exhibit at the Everhart Museum in Scranton. While there, she'd spoken about my book and my presentation to an Everhart employee. So this past week, I followed up and spoke with Stefanie Colarusso who coordinates programs at the Everhart. She has arranged for me to present my research as part of their D-Day Community Day activities on May 31st. So, thank you to Brenda for being my PR gal!

And then my friend Eleanor Kane invited me to participate in the Grand Re-opening of the Factoryville Public Library. I'll be doing a book signing and have some of my primary materials on display on Friday April 18th from 6:30-8:30 during their Grand Re-opening reception. Cool, huh?