Authors Who Skype with Classes & Book Clubs

Note: Please note that due to the pandemic and lost income, many authors have had to limit or suspend free Q&A sessions  and are instead offering paid visits or low-cost author visit webinars. Please reach out to individual authors to request current information!

Welcome to the Authors Who Skype with Classes & Book Clubs List!  I’m Kate Messner, the children’s author and educator who maintains this site.  I started it because I’ve found that virtual author visits are a great way to connect authors and readers, and I realize that many schools facing budget troubles don’t have the option of paid author visits. With that in mind, this is a list of authors who offer free 15-20-minute Q and A sessions with classes and book clubs that have finished reading one of their books.

How does a Skype virtual visit work?  Click here to read a blog entry about my students’ virtual visit with the fantastic Laurie Halse Anderson. It includes an overview of how a virtual chat with an author might work, as well as tips for teachers, librarians, & book club organizers to help your virtual visit run smoothly.  You can click here to read my first School Library Journal technology feature on virtual author visits, called “Met Any Good Authors Lately? Classroom Visits Can  Happen Via Skype” and this follow-up SLJ feature, “An Author in Every Classroom: Kids Connecting with Authors via Skype. It’s the next best thing to being there.”

Authors Who Skype With Classes & Book Clubs (for free!)

The following authors offer free 15-minute virtual chats with book clubs and classes that have read one of their books! (Most also offer more in-depth virtual visits for a fee.) To arrange a virtual visit, check out the authors’ websites for book choices and contact information.  Then ask for their books at your favorite bookstore or visit IndieBound to find a store near you!

For Picture Book & Young Chapter Book Readers 

Beth Anderson

Marsha Diane Arnold
Sarah Aronson
Mike Artell
Louise Borden
Donna Janell Bowman
Larry Dane Brimner
Leslie Bulion
Rachelle Burk
Nancy Castaldo
Tracey M. Cox
Katie Davis
Keila Dawson
Erin Dealey
Lori Degman
Elizabeth Dulemba
Kathy Duval
Carol Gordon Ekster
Jonathan Emmett
Jill Esbaum
Carol Gordon Esker
Julie Falatko
Terry Farish
Alison Ashley Formento
Julie Fortenberry
Sonia Clark Foster
Josh Funk
Laura Gehl
Kristin L. Gray
Jenna Grodzicki
Susan Hood
Laurie Jacobs
Lisa Jahn-Clough
Shelli R. Johannes
Rebecca C. Jones
Jacqueline Jules
Jess Keating
Jane Kohuth
Jane Kurtz
Kevin Kurtz
Lindsey Lane
Heather Lang
Kara Lareau
Tara Lazar
Gail Carson Levine
Nancy Tupper Ling
Deb Lund
JoAnn Early Macken
Wendy Martin
Sarah Jane Marsh
Jamie Michalak
Kate Narita
Christopher Silas Neal
Judy Carey Nevin
Kim Norman
Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Wendy Orr
Ammi-Joan Paquette
Erica Perl
Gina Perry
Annette Pimentel
Sally J. Pla
J.L. Powers
Candice Ransom
Elizabeth Raum
Jean Reidy
Mara Rockliff
Madelyn Rosenberg
Barb Rosenstock
Michelle Schaub
Jody Jensen Shaffer
Michael Shoulders
Amy Sklansky
Margo Sorenson
Ruth Spiro
Sarah Sullivan
Jane Sutcliffe
Jennifer Swanson
Debbie A. Taylor
Holly Thompson
Laurie Ann Thompson
Carmella Van Vleet
Nancy Viau
Stef Wade
Laurie Wallmark
Jennifer Ward
Lee Wardlaw
Dianne White
Robin Yardi

For Middle Grade Readers (Ages 8-12)

Sarah Albee
John David Anderson
R.J. Anderson
Aubre Andrus
Kathi Appelt
Sarah Aronson
Hannah Barnaby
Tracy Barrett
Nora Raleigh Baskin
Dale Basye
W.H. Beck
Brooks Benjamin
Eric Berlin
Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
Julie Berry
Jenn Bishop
Megan Frazer Blakemore
Karen Blumethal
Ellen Booraem
F.T. Bradley
Larry Dane Brimner
Leslie Bulion
Tamara Bundy
Lisa Bunker
Stephanie Burgis
Rachelle Burk
Kathleen Burkinshaw
Dori Hillestad Butler
Rebecca Caprara
Caroline Carson
Nancy Castaldo
Jennifer Cervantes
Paula Chase
Samantha M. Clark
Melanie Conklin
Lindsay Currie
Debbie Dadey
Elisabeth Dahl
Tara Dairman
Danielle Davis
Katie Davis
Kenneth C. Davis
Karen Day
Julia DeVillers
Jill Diamond
Erin Dionne
Bonnie Doerr
Rebecca Donnelly
Gail Donovan
Jen Swann Downey
Kathleen Duble
Kathleen Duey
Brianna DuMont
Sarah Beth Durst
Peggy Eddleman
Terry Farish
Mary Cronk Farrell
Jody Feldman
Greg Fishbone
Jo Franklin
D. Dina Friedman
Kimberly Newton Fusco
Dee Garretson
Dan Gemeinhart
Karina Yan Glaser
Chris Grabenstein
Mike Graf
Kristin L. Gray
Amy Butler Greenfield
Danette Haworth
Mary Winn Heider
Bridget Heos
Tess Hilmo
Shannon Hitchcock
Bridget Hodder
Sara Lewis Holmes
Amanda Hosch
Jacqueline Houtman
Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Michele Weber Hurwitz
Mark Jeffrey
Janet Johnson
Terry Lynn Johnson
Rebecca C. Jones
Jess Keating
Lynne Kelly
Derek Taylor Kent
Rose Kent
Morgan Keyes
Kristen Kittscher
Jo Knowles
Jane Kurtz
R.L. LaFevers
Irene Latham
Jessica Leader
Lindsey Leavitt
Claire Legrand
Jarrett Lerner
Gail Carson Levine
Debbie Levy
Joanne Levy
Cynthea Liu
Nikki Loftin
C. Alexander London
Dayna Lorentz
Eric Luper
JoAnn Early Macken
Wendy McLeod MacKnight
Diane Magras
Andrew Maraniss
Leslie Margolis
Nan Marino
Sarah Jane Marsh
Laura Williams McCaffrey
Stephen McCranie
Robin Mellom
Laurie Morrison
Rita Murphy
Mahtab Narsimhan
Richard Newsome
Wendy Orr
Alexandra Ott
Ammi-Joan Paquette
Mitali Perkins
Erica Perl
Jen Petro-Roy
Sally J. Pla
J.L. Powers
Sarah Prineas
Katie Quirk
Candice Ransom
Elizabeth Raum
Laura Resau
Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
Yolanda Ridge
Anica Mrose Rissi
Mara Rockliff
Dee Romito
Madelyn Rosenberg
Susan Ross
Dianne Salerni
Augusta Scattergood
Laura Schaefer
Lisa Schroeder
Heidi Schulz
Rachel Searles
Adam Selzer
Liesl Shurtliff
Shari Simpson
Laurel Snyder
Margo Sorenson
Tricia Springtubb
Anna Staniszewski
Nanci Turner Steveson
Amy Stewart
Catherine Stine
Sarah Sullivan
Jane Sutcliffe
Jennifer Swanson
Elly Swartz
Erin Teagan
Holly Thompson
Laurie Ann Thompson
Melissa Thomson
Jennifer Trafton
Anne Ursu
Greg van Eekhout
Carmella Van Vleet
Nancy Viau
Rob Vlock
J and P Voelkel
Beth Vrabel
Lee Wardlaw
Cynthia Willis
Dianna Winget
Barry Wolverton
Barbara Wright
Robin Yardi
Karen Romano Young
Tracie Vaughn Zimmer

For Teen Readers
(Also check out the list of adult authors below; many also work with teens.)

Karen Akins
E. Kristin Anderson
R.J. Anderson
Ann Angel
Kathi Appelt
Heidi Ayarbe
Kim Baccellia
Pam Bachorz
Cyn Balog
Tracey Baptiste
Tracy Barrett
Janice Gable Bashman
Lauren Bjorkman
Deborah Blumenthal
Karen Blumethal
Sarah Rees Brennan
Larry Dane Brimner
Jessica Burkhart
Kay Cassidy
Angela Cerrito
Crissa-Jean Chappell
Paula Chase
Bethany Crandell
Mary Crockett
Ellen Dee Davidson
Kenneth C. Davis
Christa Desir
Stephanie Diaz
Jaclyn Dolamore
Kathleen Duble
Kathleen Duey
Sarah Beth Durst
Debby Dahl Edwardson
Terry Farish
Christina Farley
Beth Fehlbaum
Alison Ashley Formento
Megan Frazer Blakemore
D. Dina Friedman
Margie Gelbwasser
David Macinnis Gill
Lori Goldstein
Carla Gunn
Teri Hall
Brendan Halpin
S.A. Harazin
Sue Harrison
Cheryl Renee Herbsman
Jim C. Hines
Jennifer Hubbard
Jennifer Jabaley
Denise Jaden
Lisa Jahn-Clough
Christine Johnson
Jennifer Kam
Tara Kelly
James Kennedy
Jo Knowles
Daniel Kraus
Nina LaCour
Marie Lamba
Kristen Landon
Lindsey Lane
Mackenzi Lee
Claire Legrand
Anita Liberty
Catherine Linka
Sarah Darer Littman
Cynthea Liu
Dayna Lorentz
Amber Lough
Elisa Ludwig
Eric Luper
Sarah Maclean
Torrey Maldonado
Andrew Maraniss
Leslie Margolis
Peter Marino
Laura Williams McCaffrey
Kate McGovern
Neesha Meminger
Dawn Metcalf
Marissa Meyer
Lynn Miller-Lachman
Megan Miranda
Saundra Mitchell
Mike Mullin
Elisa Nader
Greg Neri
Patricia Newman
Caragh O’Brien
Sarah Ockler
Micol Ostow
Maria Padian
Ammi-Joan Paquette
Mark H. Parsons
Jackson Pearce
Ashley Perez
Mitali Perkins
Erica Perl
Amy Plum
Gae Polisner
J.L. Powers
Laura Resau
Beth Revis
Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
Emily Ross
Lena Roy
Amy Kathleen Ryan
Carrie Ryan
Dianne Salerni
Peter Salomon
Sydney Salter
Karen Sandler
Eliot Schrefer
Lisa Schroeder
Inara Scott
Adam Selzer
Kristina Springer
Alison Stine
Catherine Stine
Laurie Stolarz
Holly Thompson
Laurie Ann Thompson
Tiffany Trent
Melissa Walker
Lee Wardlaw
Carly Anne West
Amy Brecount White
Kathryn Williams
Elaine Wolf
Mary Rose Wood


For Adult Readers
(Also check out the authors listed above; middle grade & teen novels can be great book club selections!)

Michele Albion
Alma Alexander
Amy Alkon
Christa Allan
Charlene Ann Baumbich
Sandra Gulland
Carla Gunn
Sue Harrison
Gail Carson Levine
M.M. Holaday
Sarah Maclean
Andrew Maraniss
Louise Mathewson
Maryann McFadden
Kitty Morse
Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
Kelly Simmons
Garth Stein
Amy Stewart
Holly Thompson
Gwendolyn Zepeda
 

For Authors & Illustrators:  If you’re an author or illustrator of a traditionally published book who would like to be added, please email me (katemessner books at gmail dot com) with your name, website, and publisher, and whether you write picture books, MG, YA, or adult.  For the sake of being clear, traditionally published means published in print by a widely recognized children’s book publisher. I recognize that e-books and self-published titles are also part of the publishing world, but a list that encompasses all of those would simply be too overwhelming for me to maintain. If someone would like to start a list of ebook and self-published authors who Skype, I think that would be great, and I’ll happily link to it here. So again…this is a list of traditionally published authors who offer FREE 15-20 minute Skype chats with classrooms & book clubs that have read one of their books.

If you’re a bookseller or book club member, teacher, or librarian, thanks for stopping by – and feel free to comment with any questions!

50 Replies on “Authors Who Skype with Classes & Book Clubs

  1. Kate,

    What fantastic photos! How close were those gators?! You are brave, girl!

    Danette

  2. I think I would probably be a big-leaf maple… I’m on the tall, sturdy side, and love growing slowly above the other trees so I can see the sun. Moss shawls drape my arms. Writers like to sit beneath my shade.

  3. Skype

    Thanks for putting this on the list serve and pulling it together.
    YA Librarian

  4. Re: Skype

    Many thanks for such a wonderful resource. Live author talks are so expensive.

    Victoria Merriman
    The Athenian Middle School Library

  5. Re: Skype

    Thanks for commenting! I’m glad the list is helpful to you. In-person author presentations can be expensive, though in my experience, they’re worth every penny if you can swing it. (I’m the author visit coordinator for my school, and we’re lucky enough to have a line item in our budget for author visits, but we haven’t always so I know that it can be tough to pull together funding.)

  6. I’m an Author using Skype

    Hi Kate,
    I have also used and will use Skpye with book clubs for readers of my book, MAGGIE: the dog who changed my life.
    Thanks,
    Dawn Kairns
    Author of MAGGIE: the dog who changed my life
    http://www.dawnkairns.com

  7. Skype

    Thanks Kate for a great resource! I hope you keep adding to the author list. With school and library budgets as tight as they are lately, this is a fabulous way for kids and authors to connect.

    Carolyn del Rio
    Loma Verde Elementary School Librarian

  8. skyping

    I wanted to use skype last year with my high school library book group, but I could not find an author willing to do it. I will use your list for the students to pick out someone whose books that want to read. We were not familiar with the work of many on your list. That is not a bad thing; we just need to broaden our horizons. Thanks, Elizabeth Kahn, Library Media Specialist, Patrick Taylor Academy

  9. Re: skyping

    Thanks for checking out the list, Elizabeth! Many authors are excited to Skype with students, so I do hope that checking out the YA authors on the list leads you to some great new writers to share with your students.

  10. Re: skyping

    Thank you so much for this list. I tried setting up a “virtual author visit” with a more well-known author last year, to no avail. So I jumped on it immediately when I read the article in SLJ, and we’re already planning a visit with another author widely read in our junior high. It sure helps to know the author is interested in Skype visits before sending that first e-mail!

    I’ll be checking the list often — I hope many more authors will join the “virtual visit” movement.

    Anna Watkins
    JH & HS Librarian
    Paideia School
    Atlanta

  11. Re: skyping

    Oh, I’m so glad this worked out for you! I’d love to hear back after your virtual visit and find out how it went. And of course, if your junior high kids are ever reading THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z, I’d be more than happy to chat with them, too.

    Best,

    ~Kate

  12. Re: skyping

    Please add me to your list of YA authors who will Skype. My book is Courage in Patience. Thanks!
    Beth Fehlbaum

  13. Author Visits

    Hi Maggie,

    I will be available for free 20 minute Skype visits for my picture books, Princess Justina Albertina and Zoe, the Misfit, and Young Adult, Stolen Voices, after the holidays. Also happy to do longer, paid visits. (Stolen Voices is good for Junior High School students, too, and is classed 10 and up.)

    Thanks for getting this list together.

    Ellen Dee Davidson

  14. Author/illustrator Skype visit

    Kate:

    Please add me to your list of authors/illustrators who will do short, free Skype visits with students. In addition to sharing some of my 35 books with students (science books, picture books, joke/riddle/tongue twister books) I also actually show students how to draw cartoons. They’ll draw along with me as I draw on the screen. Great fun!

    Mike Artell
    http://www.mikeartell.com
    mike@mikeartell.com

  15. That’s so great. Middle schoolers can be really volatile so it’s awesome to hear you had such a great experience.

  16. Thanks!

    Thanks for including me in this post, Kate.

    I only came across it this morning, or I would have thanked you sooner!

  17. Add Carol Cassella (author of Oxygen) to your list of FREE authors who skype with adult book clubs. We had a wonderful visit with her a couple of weeks ago.

    1. Glad you had a great visit with Carol! To avoid confusion (and surprises!) I only add authors when they contact me directly to request it, though.