Virtual Author Visits
Let’s embrace the digital age and conduct an author visit on-line! Of course, nothing can replace meeting face-to-face, but if your author visit budget is tight, I can visit your classroom or school via the Internet. Click here to download my detailed PDF document entitled Virtual Author Visits With Ken Derby to discover how your school can have a successful author visit with me using Google Meet. If Google Meet isn't an option for you, we can use Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Normally, it costs $1,000 when I visit schools. However, my virtual author visit is a bargain when compared to an on-site visit.
Here's the price tier:
Free for up to 10 minutes
60 USD for 30 minutes
100 USD for 60 minutes
Free for up to 10 minutes
60 USD for 30 minutes
100 USD for 60 minutes
Please click the "Book Now" button to schedule a virtual author visit.
After scheduling a virtual author visit, I will contact you to confirm the date and time of the visit, billing details, etc. I will then send you an invoice that will link to PayPal, so that you can make a secure payment. You will have the option to make your purchase via your PayPal account or by credit card (if you don't have a PayPal account) in your local currency.
My virtual author visit service is featured at Skype an Author Network.
Ken Derby’s Virtual Author visit (via Google Hangouts) with fifth grade kids at Alice Gustafson Elementary School in Batavia, Illinois, USA.
Click here to view a slideshow from the virtual author visit.
Click here to view a slideshow from the virtual author visit.
Presentation Responses
"My 5th grade class at Pohatcong School in Phillipsburg, NJ had the opportunity to have a virtual visit with Ken Derby via a Google Hangout. I read aloud the Top Ten Ways to Ruin the First Day of School at the beginning of the year. My students LOVED this book. They never wanted me to put it down. It's filled with so much humor and visualization. He took questions from the students and shared so much wonderful information about being a writer. The kids used words like "awesome," "amazing," and "cool" when we were finished with our visit. He relates so well to children. Thank you so much for making a lasting impression. Great advice from him . . . to become better writers you must read, read, read! I can't wait to start his next book with our class. He is amazing indeed!"
-Crissy Watcher, 5th Grade Teacher, Pohatcong School, Phillipsburg, NJ
-Crissy Watcher, 5th Grade Teacher, Pohatcong School, Phillipsburg, NJ
"After reading aloud three of Ken Derby’s books, our 5th grade class was eager to meet Ken. We emailed him requesting a Skype author visit and he made the time for us. The kids were inspired by the humor in his book and the unique character that is Ken Derby. As writers, I often observe our students using Ken’s books as models for their own writing. Ken relates well with students and has the ability to empower the future authors of tomorrow."
-Jason Greenway, 5th Grade Teacher, The International School of Azerbaijan, Baku, Azerbaijan
-Jason Greenway, 5th Grade Teacher, The International School of Azerbaijan, Baku, Azerbaijan
“Thank you for taking the time to Skype with us! Being that you live 4,400 miles away, it was an honor and pleasure to ‘meet’ you! We enjoyed how you told us the background about how a book was created and your writing process! Giving us this insight has inspired us to go back to improve our writing. Seeing your classroom and your pepper plant has made us want to encourage Ms. Casey to get a pepper plant. This experience is something that we will remember forever. We look forward to reading more of your books! Keep in touch!”
-Ms. Casey’s Class, Learning Community Charter School, Jersey City, NJ
-Ms. Casey’s Class, Learning Community Charter School, Jersey City, NJ
"Ken Derby's author visit via Google Hangouts allowed our 5th grade students to travel around the world without a passport all the way to Budapest, Hungary! Through this authentic learning experience, students were able to personally connect to a role model who inspired and motivated to become better writers and readers during his engaging and interactive online visit. Google Hangouts offered added benefits beyond the video-conferencing. Ken was able to share true examples of editing/revision feedback, a first-seen cover of a new book, and several slides highlighting his own interesting background! The format offered teachers and students a chance to extend learning beyond the walls of the classroom, to get answers from an expert to their questions in real-time, and to see that anything is possible!"
-Angie Sutherland, Instructional Technologist, Batavia School District 101, Batavia, Illinois, USA
-Angie Sutherland, Instructional Technologist, Batavia School District 101, Batavia, Illinois, USA
“It was great dealing with Ken. The Skype video chat was easy to set up and very clear. The children loved speaking with him. It was a great value and a wonderful experience. I highly recommend Ken Derby’s Virtual Author Visit.”
-Jill Proskin, 5th Grade Teacher, Crompond Intermediate School, Yorktown Heights, New York, USA
Student Responses:
“I liked the video chat a lot. I thought it was great to ask questions to Ken Derby. I understood the book more than before.”-D.M.“I thought Ken Derby was really nice. It was so cool Skyping with him! I learned that he lives in Hungary. His book was so much fun to read! I hope to read another book he writes.”-H.C.
“I thought his presentation was amazing. I really got to know him as an author.”-J.A
“I thought that Ken Derby was really funny. I learned that he is a 5th grade teacher himself.”-C.G.
“I think that Ken Derby is a terrific and funny author!”-K.S.
“Our fifth grade book club meeting was awesome because we got to actually see the author, Ken Derby.” -R.D.
“I loved our Skype author visit with Mr. Derby. I thought he was nice, funny, and creative. He seems like a great guy.”-P.D.
“I think that Ken Derby is really funny and a really good writer.”-M.M.
“Ken Derby is the Best Author Ever! He’s so cool!”-A.L.
-Jill Proskin, 5th Grade Teacher, Crompond Intermediate School, Yorktown Heights, New York, USA
Student Responses:
“I liked the video chat a lot. I thought it was great to ask questions to Ken Derby. I understood the book more than before.”-D.M.“I thought Ken Derby was really nice. It was so cool Skyping with him! I learned that he lives in Hungary. His book was so much fun to read! I hope to read another book he writes.”-H.C.
“I thought his presentation was amazing. I really got to know him as an author.”-J.A
“I thought that Ken Derby was really funny. I learned that he is a 5th grade teacher himself.”-C.G.
“I think that Ken Derby is a terrific and funny author!”-K.S.
“Our fifth grade book club meeting was awesome because we got to actually see the author, Ken Derby.” -R.D.
“I loved our Skype author visit with Mr. Derby. I thought he was nice, funny, and creative. He seems like a great guy.”-P.D.
“I think that Ken Derby is really funny and a really good writer.”-M.M.
“Ken Derby is the Best Author Ever! He’s so cool!”-A.L.
"Our principal here at our school inquired about putting together a Reading Night for our students, and I knew I wanted to think "outside the box" a bit for our main presentation. While author visits are good for the kids, I wanted to integrate technology to prove to the students that sometimes adults can be cool too! Our virtual visit with Ken fulfilled both hopes and while a real visit with him would have been great, the kids were drawn to the idea that we could talk to him live while he was across the world. This also introduced a bit of cultural discussion to our chat as well as the writing process. I enjoyed, as much as the students, learning about Hungarian culture and a little about the school he teaches at. His explanation about the writing process and the difference between revising and editing was extremely understandable for the kids. He also stressed that he rewrote and rewrote, and it wasn't something teachers made students do just to torture them! He didn't sugarcoat the competitive nature of publishing, but encouraged the kids to write, write, write, and to challenge themselves to be the best writer they can be. Being a librarian, I loved how he explained that he was a better writer because he was an avid reader! We couldn't be happier with how well thought out and "cool" the whole hour went - actually longer than that because he stayed a few minutes more to answer our students' questions! Now perhaps I'll get him on board to teach virtually for me also, and I can have a day off! Try a virtual visit - you just may like it!"
-Deena Wiggins, IMC, Hampden Elementary School, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, USA
-Deena Wiggins, IMC, Hampden Elementary School, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, USA
“The minutes seemed to trickle by as my class waited with anticipation to meet Ken Derby over the live virtual author’s chat. It was well worth the wait! The kids had a blast learning about Mr. Derby’s life before he was an author, by watching the prepared Powerpoint presentation that was projected on our screen. They were tickled that he is currently a 5th grade teacher with monkeys for students and were anxious to ask him numerous questions about what life as an author is 'really like.' Ken brought writing down to earth for my kids. Plain and simple. He made it real and memorable. They will never forget this experience and neither will I! Thank you Ken for making a difference in the life of my students!”
-Lauren Carawan, Holland Elementary School, Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA
Check out Holland Elementary Gifted Cluster Students Write to Two Authors . . . and Get Two Replies!
-Lauren Carawan, Holland Elementary School, Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA
Check out Holland Elementary Gifted Cluster Students Write to Two Authors . . . and Get Two Replies!
“After reading The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of 5th Grade (renamed The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School) to my students I wanted to thank Ken Derby for his entertaining novel. I found his website and saw that he made author visits both in person as well as virtual visits via the computer. Because of the great distance and teaching in a financially strapped school district, a virtual visit was the best option, and it was fantastic! Ken is down-to-earth and had a great rapport with the students. Ken spent one hour with my 75 plus students, and they were attentive the entire time. He called them by name, and even though there were thousands of miles between us, it was like he was in the room with all of us. I highly recommend this kind of visit! Thanks Ken!"
-Dixie Parsons, Hill Intermediate School, Bethel, Ohio, USA
Click here to access a press release from the Bethel Journal.
Click here to see a photo from the press release.
-Dixie Parsons, Hill Intermediate School, Bethel, Ohio, USA
Click here to access a press release from the Bethel Journal.
Click here to see a photo from the press release.
“My class loved their virtual author visit with Ken Derby! Not only did they enjoy his sense of humor, but they also really benefitted from his honesty and willingness to engage them as students and as individuals. The students started the visit wanting to know more about Ken’s book The Top Ten Ways to Ruin the First Day of School. But, as the presentation went on, and more and more students’ questions were answered, it became more about Ken Derby the writer. My students really took his advice about becoming better writers and possibly becoming published authors to heart. As a teacher, I loved how willing Ken was to answer individual student questions, and also how he used humor, and personal stories to get his message across. As an added benefit, my students loved hearing his stories about the places he has lived, worked, and visited. It brought a ‘world’ perspective into our classroom. Thanks Ken, we loved your visit!"
-Brian Trimmer, 5th Grade Teacher, Hollywood Elementary School, Brookfield, IL, USA
-Brian Trimmer, 5th Grade Teacher, Hollywood Elementary School, Brookfield, IL, USA
“The Top Ten Ways to Turn On English Language Learners: In our meager library at an international school in Kunming, China, my ESL students found the book The Top Ten Ways to Ruin the First Day of School. These six graders enjoyed reading it, giving them a peak into the lives of American kids. The fun story turned on the curiosity of two shy Korean students, leading to all kinds of class projects. One of the projects was writing Ken Derby. Ken Derby offered a free interactive online phone conference, with the capability of video. We jumped at the chance! It was a nine-hour time difference between his school in Hungary and our school in China. We found a time that worked for both countries. The students wrote questions for Ken Derby and rehearsed what they were going to ask him. These included questions about his book, to his tattoos, and to his shaved head. Once it was time to call, the girls got extremely excited. They were new to the school and to the English Language. Yet, out of all of the students at their international school, the author wanted to talk to them! Just as would be expected, once the video call started and my two students saw Ken Derby, they shut up as tight as clams. But in a few short moments, Ken was able to get the shy Korean girls to talk and giggle. They talked about the power of reading, how books can take you places you never imagined. One of the students’ fathers came to watch the interview. This was a big event for his entire family. It was also a cool moment for me, their teacher. This short interview will become a life-long memory for the two students (and myself), dialing up their desire to read. It also helped them understand the power of writing: not only writing books like The Top Ten Ways to Ruin the First Day of School, but writing letters to the authors. Give your students the opportunity to interact with a real live author! ”
-Ginger MacDonald, ESL Teacher, Kunming International Academy, Kunming, China
-Ginger MacDonald, ESL Teacher, Kunming International Academy, Kunming, China