Find out how Jerri became an author and started Ravenstone Press.  Jerri regales you with her writing and publishing adventures and reads selections from her work.  This is a good program for any age group, but it works best from third grade through adult.

Hear about writing this eerie ghost story and mystery that appeals to all ages -- the inspiration, the research, and the "story behind the story."  Enjoy a reading selection from the book.  Are you curious about ghosts?  What are they? Why do they haunt?  Jerri presents theories about ghosts and what they do and why from a variety of sources.  She even has a ghost storytelling or writing game.  Best for fourth grade and up, through adults.  45 - 60 minutes.  (More time is required for the storytelling game.)   Learn more about the book.

We explore what is important to the audience by pretending to "time travel" into the future . . . what would they want to save to show their great-grandchildren about their lives today?  We compare that to life over a hundred years ago in Izzie's childhood.  Hear how Izzie's stories came to be written and published and a reading of one or two stories from the book.  Jerri likes present this with her mother (and co-author), Marion Kundiger, since she knew Izzie and brings some of Izzie's actual toys and her wooden ice skates from the 1880s!  This program is usually planned for grades 1-5 but we also present it for adults.   It has been well received by audiences for historical societies and senior citizens.   Learn more about the book.

Imagicat  - Jeff, Mortimer, and Becoming a Writer

Why did Jerri write it?  Where did the ideas come from?  Are there any "real" people in it?  Could a kid really write a book?  Jerri reads from the book and brings her Mortimer puppet and can also share a story she wrote in sixth grade.  This program works best if the kids know the story so they can participate fully.  Best for 4th grade and up.  Learn more about the book.

Writing Workshop

Jerri uses StoryCrafters, a game she invented as a librarian to get the participants thinking of new story ideas and structure. With a short time (an hour or so), participants can start on written stories.  This program can be focused on writing tall tales using her Kansas tall tales as a basis, if desired.  With more time, Jerri expands the writing workshop into a complete unit and also talks about: How does an author work?  Where do ideas come from?  How does a story become a published book?  Best for grades 4 to 8 or for a librarian or teacher workshop.  It can be tailored as a one-time short workshop (minimum one hour), a morning or afternoon, or with successive visits as part of a writing curriculum.  Best for third grade and up, but it has been done successfully with second graders.  This is a good teacher or librarian workshop.  (one classroom size, no more than 22 participants, please)

"Illustrating Your Story" Workshop for Children

Jerri talks with children about the differences between drawing and illustrating, what a picture should convey, media to use, and how other artists illustrate their picture books.  She reviews the specific requirements for picture books and ends with a short illustration exercise.  Minimum of one hour.  Best for children 6-13.

Spooky short stories for adults (or seventh grade and up) from the anthology by four authors; Barbara J. Baldwin, Jerri Garretson, Linda Madl and Sheri L. McGathy.  Jerri edited and published the book in addition to contributing four of the stories.  Learn some of the stories behind the stories. What are ghosts? What are the theories about them? Why do they haunt? Why are we afraid of them? Jerri might be accompanied by one or more of the other authors if they visit Florida. Enjoy chilling, poignant, or even humorous selections read from the book. Not intended for children under thirteen; best for high school and adult audiences. 60 minutes or more.  Learn more about this program and the four authors.   Learn more about the book.

How does a children's book get published?  What is the difference between commercial publishing, self-publishing and vanity presses?  How does an author or illustrator submit a book for publication?  How much do they get paid and how long does it take?  How do the books get designed, printed, reviewed, distributed and marketed? Jerri can bring materials such as manuscripts, illustrations, "F&Gs" (folded and gathered pages).  Most people have little idea of the creative process and none about the business and manufacturing processes in getting books published and to market.  Best for grades four to adult.