Bring Steven to your school.
250+ schools and counting.
Author assemblies that get kids excited about reading. Classroom workshops that connect books to Virginia Studies. Full-day residencies built around your curriculum. Whatever your school needs, Steven leaves kids inspired to read — and signed books in their hands.
Visits that turn kids into readers.
Steven shows kids that the author behind their favorite mystery is a real person who started exactly where they are. He digs into the real Virginia history behind The Virginia Mysteries, walks through how a book actually gets made, and takes their questions along the way — and by the end, reading feels less like an assignment and more like something they want to do.
Schools that have hosted Steven typically see a noticeable bump in library circulation of his books for weeks afterward — and a lot of new readers discovering the series for the first time.
- Inspiring author presentation tailored to your grade level
- Q&A and student interaction
- Book signings for students
- Printable promotional poster for school display
- Discount student book order forms
- Classroom and library set orders
Choose what works for your school.
From a single assembly to a multi-day residency, Steven offers a range of formats to fit your school’s calendar, budget, and goals.
Sample residency schedule
A glimpse at what a full-day residency typically looks like. Every visit gets tailored to your school — this is just a starting template.
What Steven talks about
Every presentation can be tailored to your school’s focus. Some of the most-requested topics:
How a book actually gets written — from sloppy copy first drafts to library shelves.
The Virginia landmarks behind the books and how research becomes story.
Plotting, clues, red herrings — how mysteries get built for young readers.
Writing what you’re passionate about with detail and description.
How bedtime stories for my sons turned into a career.
Have a specific theme or unit in mind? We’ll build a session around it.
250+ schools and still going.
From Virginia public schools to private academies to libraries from coast to coast — Steven has shared his books with elementary and middle schoolers across the country. References available on request.
What educators say after Steven’s visits
“Our school used Summer of the Woods as our ONE SCHOOL, ONE BOOK title this year… Steve’s willingness to come in and do writers workshops and book chats elevated the reading experience to a whole new level. Steve worked with us every step of the way.”
“We were so fortunate to have Mr. Smith come speak to our school in small groups. He captivated the students and gave them great advice on crafting their own stories.”
“I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Smith as part of an author visit to my school — he loves the craft of writing and sharing it with students… my students are obsessed!”
“We went to a book signing this summer and our daughter loved it! She is dyslexic, and first thing told him she hated reading! He handled it so well… it made her want to try reading more.”
FAQ
Check availability for your school.
Tell us a bit about your school, the dates you’re considering, and what kind of visit you have in mind. You’ll get a detailed response within 48 hours — pricing, availability, and a tailored proposal.
Prefer to talk first? Email Steven directly or reach out via phone — both work great.
Quick form — we’ll follow up with details. No commitment to book yet.