Sonya Sones can speak at your school, library, or conference

The

only thing I like doing as much as writing, is talking about writing. I love traveling around the country talking about my writing process and about the long and winding road that led me to become an author. And it turns out that I even love reading my poems aloud to audiences, which was a big shock to me because when I tried acting in high school I absolutely hated being on stage.

So, if you would like me to come and speak at your school, library or writer's conference, I'd be happy to! I could read some poems, talk about my writing process, and answer questions, or I could run poetry writing workshops that are guaranteed to help bring out the inner poets in your students. Each of my presentations are tailor-made to suit the specific needs of the organization that has invited me to speak.

By the way, now that my daughter goes to college in Boston, I am always especially happy to accept speaking engagements in the New England area!

To find out about my availability on a certain date, contact me at SonyaSones@aol.com.

Here is what the hostess with the mostess, Rosanne Trissler, said about my recent visit to her school in Providence, Rhode Island:

“La Salle Academy had the very good fortune to have young adult author, Sonya Sones, visit our school during National Teen Read Week in October. Ms. Sones won the 2006 Rhode Island Teen Book Award for her newest title, One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies, and it was amazing to witness the enthusiastic response of the student body to having her on campus. Obviously Ms. Sones already had many fans prior to her visit, and without doubt she has hundreds more following her classroom workshop and assemblies.

During her day at La Salle, Sonya taught a Poetry Writing Workshop for our senior Creative Writing Class. Feedback from both the instructor and students praised her skills as a motivational teacher who provided foundational frameworks for her talk as well as practical advice. Following the class, Ms. Sones did a community book signing, and she then met for lunch with our Book Club members.

Two assemblies took place in the afternoon in which Ms. Sones first spoke to an audience of 375 students in grades 7-12, and she later had a more informal "chat" with the Academy's middle school program for gifted and talented children. During the large assembly, Ms. Sones provided the audience with information on her career path and challenges, background for her books, and an entertaining reading of a wide selection of her poems. Sonya obviously has the gift to reach and inspire young adults of a wide range of ages and interests. Weeks later, students continue to stop me in the hallway to express their thanks for inviting Ms. Sones to the Academy and to praise her presentation.

Ms. Sones is an exceptionally talented writer and versatile speaker. Please, feel free to contact me at 401-351-7750x198 or rtrisser@lasalle-academy if you have any further questions about our Teen Read Celebration with Sonya Sones.

And here’s what two students from Corona Del Mar High School in Newport, California had to say about my poetry writing workshop:

“Your presentation was amazing! Thanks for teaching me how to “show not tell.” Poetry has become sooo much easier. Your workshop was as delicious as an Oreo cookie!

“Your presentation of poetry was like Prometheus bringing fire to the world!! That’s a simile.

Here’s a note from Randi Wall, the librarian at Cheltenham High School near Philadelphia:

“On behalf of the entire CHS Community, I would like to thank you for your visit and presentations. Your performances were very exciting and inspiring for the students and faculty. We received rave reviews from all who participated.”

And here’s what Amy Cummins, the librarian at Corona Del Mar High School wrote:

“Thank you so much for your special presentation at our school. Your way with students and the ability to bring out the poet in even the most reluctant is amazing! We enjoyed every minute of your time.”

Here’s a nice note from Jordana Shaw (librarian) and Sue Wurster (8th grade English teacher) at Nashoba Brooks School in Concord, Massachusetts:

“Thank you so much for coming to Nashoba Brooks last week. What a pleasure it was to have you visit with us. Thank you for sharing your writing and yourself with our girls. You have a wonderful way with girls of this age!

Your presentation (and presence) was engaging and inspiring. We hope you’ll come back next year (and our friend at Milton Academy is interested, too).”

Here's what Carol Jago, Santa Monica High School English teacher and director of the California Reading and Literature Project at UCLA, has to say about my visit to her classroom:

"Sonya Sones may be a born writer, but she is also a born teacher. She walked into my classroom at Santa Monica High School and immediately captured the students with her stories about writing from experience and from the heart.

Teenagers sometimes ask the quirkiest questions, but Sonya took every one seriously, hearing the deeper question that the student couldn't quite articulate. My students have responded powerfully to Stop Pretending, so much so that it is very difficult to keep a copy in the room. The book keeps wandering away, lent to a friend or a sister... I know when this happens that it's the real thing."

Here is what Dr. Paul Stein, principal of F.A. Day Middle School in Newton, Massachusetts has to say:

"Ms. Sones was a particularly effective speaker. She brought life to the craft of writing poetry by reading and commenting on her work. Part of her effectiveness was her ability to convey the steps in her own growth as a writer. Students were drawn in by her autobiographic tale. Her poetry was very accessible to them. Her unassuming style conveyed the fact that the roots of artistry are in all of us."