Children learn where stories come from, how to organize a beginning, middle, climax, and end, and how to follow through on all that planning.

For younger children, Brenda uses some of her published short stories to demonstrate these principals. For fourth grade and up, she uses her award winning debut novel, JULIA'S KITCHEN.

Brenda speaks for 30-40 minutes and concludes with a question and answer forum. Book sales and signings are optional. Brenda is happy to customize her presentations for your particular needs.

WHAT EDUCATORS ARE SAYING ABOUT BRENDA'S VISITS:

"You did a beautiful job of relating to the children and sharing the intricacies of the writing process in a way all could understand." Mrs. Linda Rageb, principal at Walden School in Deerfield, Illinois

"The fifth grade teachers LOVED you. They RAVED about your presentation." Ms. Anne Shimojima, librarian at Braeside School in Highland Park, Illinois

"Each student was inspired and motivated by your thoughts and words. They couldn't wait to get back into the classroom to begin writing." Ms. Jeanne Sayner and Ms. Carlee Gold, fourth grade teachers at Kipling School in Deerfield, Illinois

WHAT REVIEWERS ARE SAYING ABOUT JULIA'S KITCHEN:

"The emotions are real, the protagonist empathetic and the resolution believable. Poignant." Starred - Kirkus Reviews

"Touching and authentic." --Booklist

"Deftly told." --Chicago Tribune

"Real, raw emotion emanates from this affecting debut novel.  A heartrending tale of loss and healing."  --Publishers Weekly

Brenda received her B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1989. JULIA'S KITCHEN was published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux in 2006. Two of Brenda's short stories were published in Ladybug magazine also in 2006. Brenda lives in Deerfield, Illinois, with her husband and three children. She is currently working on her second middle-grade novel.

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