Dear Readers –

Are you a published author and a member of SCBWI? I have a challenge for you.
My goal is to get 1,000 teachers and librarians who have hosted author visits in the past to respond to a very brief Author Visit Survey at http://tinyurl.com/kzjnutv

How can you help? Send a short personal message along with this link to at least 10 (ten) of your past author visit hosts. http://tinyurl.com/kzjnutv

Why am I doing this survey? Because many teachers and librarians who want to host author visits have met with resistance to hosting one in their schools. As a result, I’ve been working on a study to provide statistics and stories to assist them in making a case for bringing authors and illustrators to their schools.

The study, which was piloted successfully in 2013, will gather data on what effects an author visit has on students’ attitudes toward reading writing and revision.  Right now, I’m “taking the temperature” of anyone who has hosted an author visit at their school or library through this 5-minutes-or-less survey. http://tinyurl.com/kzjnutv

What’s in it for you? No one has ever done an empirical, quantitative study on author visits. Not only will you be helping contribute to this groundbreaking study that will benefit young readers, but this will give you an opportunity to connect again with your past hosts.

Need help framing your letter to hosts? Click here: Sample appeal to past school visit hosts

As of today, I have 177 responses to the survey. Will you help me push it up to the top?

Warmest best wishes,

ALEXIS