Deanna has the BEST TIME visiting schools and doing both presentations and keynote speeches at writing or reading conferences. She’s been an avid speaker since high school, and no crowd large or small, from the teeny toddlers to the professionals, can scare her!
Speaking fees depend on the size of the audience and the length of the day. As a ballpark, you can expect a half-day to be $300 (plus travel if more than an hour from Austin, Texas). Speaking fees are reduced or waived in certain circumstances, particularly if the school or event will be sending out book order forms or selling books, or if the topic is particularly important to her.
Most common speaking requests:
- 4-8 year olds: Dust Bunnies: Secret Agents, a digital story book app from Polycot Labs.
- 9-12 year olds: Jinnie Wishmaker and the trilogy of magical books for tweens. Deanna is also part of an anthology of short stories for this age: 10 Tales for Tweens. She also does kid workshops on creative writing and has helped classrooms prepare for the 4th grade state writing test. (She’s a former schoolteacher and was a Language Arts textbook editor.)
- Adults: Deanna is a regular speaker on numerous topics from her adult books. She often speaks about miscarriage (by itself or in writing), epilepsy (from a parenting perspective) and about living life as an artistic creative person. She is considered an “inspirational” speaker.
- Writers/Publishing: Deanna regularly speaks on the subject of writing and marketing, particularly for independent self-published authors and small presses. She is a six-time USA Today bestselling author under multiple pen names for her self-published works. She owns her own publishing company and is also a founding partner of another middle-grade press.
Some recent speaking adventures:
Summer 2023:
Deanna will be in London for a book signing but shhh! It’s not official yet!
June 24, 2022 in Austin, Texas:
Deanna led the Romance Genre Workshop at the Agents and Editors Conference hosted by the Writers League of Texas.
April 23, 2022 online for the Writers League of Texas:
Deanna taught her workshop “Launch to Success: Self Publishing in 2022” about the current market for independently published books.
April 17, 2021 online for the Writers League of Texas:
Deanna taught her workshop “Launch to Success: Self Publishing in 2021” about the current market for independently published books.
July 25, 2020 online for the Victoria Public Library:
Deanna taught her workshop “Launch to Success: Self Publishing in 2020” about the current market for independently published books.
June 6, 2020 online for the Writers League of Texas:
Deanna taught her workshop “Launch to Success: Self Publishing in 2020” about the current market for independently published books.
August 16, 2018 in Austin, Texas:
Deanna spoke to the Writers Special Interest Group of the National Speakers Association about creativity and marketing stories.
February 9, 2018 in Austin, Texas:
Deanna taught her workshop “Making Heroes Out of Misfits” to several groups of second and third graders at Eden Park Academy.
October 21, 2017 in Austin, Texas:
Deanna participated in the panel “Speed Drafting” at the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators monthly meeting.
September 22, 2017 in Austin, Texas:
Deanna participated in the panel “Marketing Your Novel” at the Writers League of Texas monthly meeting.
July 1, 2017 in Austin, Texas:
Deanna participated in the panel “Identify Your Audience and Market Your Book” at the Writers League of Texas Agents and Editors Conference along with Caroline Casey (Coffee House Press), Colleen Devine Ellis (UT Press), and Elena Meredith (Publicist).
February 25, 2017 in Austin, Texas:
Deanna taught a class entitled “Succeeding in the Current Self Publishing Market” at St. Edward’s University for the Writers’ League of Texas.
January 25, 2016 in Austin, Texas:
Deanna was the guest on the Up Late Austin cable show with host Jake Martin.
July 22, 2015 in New York, New York:
Deanna is signing her new book FOREVER BOUND at the Literacy Signing at the Romance Writers of America National Convention. She is also moderating a panel on Saturday, June 25 during the convention.
June 26, 2015 in Austin, Texas:
Deanna taught a workshop titled “Ten Characteristics of Highly Successful Self-Published Authors” at the Writers League of Texas Agents and Editors Conference.
May 23, 2015 in Austin, Texas:
Deanna was a featured author at An Austin Author Event book signing at the Renaissance Marriott Arboretum.
Oct. 20, 2014 in Austin, Texas:
Deanna taught a workshop on Self Publishing for the Austin Arts and Service Celebration, a week of classes where veterans learn more about working in the arts.
Sept. 27, 2014 in Austin, Texas:
Deanna taught a half-day class for the Writers League of Texas called Writing What You Love in Marketable Packages.
August 9, 2014 in Austin, Texas:
Deanna was a panelist on Alternate Publishing Options at the SCBWI monthly meeting at Bookpeople.
July 23-26, 2014 in San Antonio, Texas:
Deanna signed FOREVER SHELTERED at the Literacy Book Signing at the Romance Writers of America National Convention.
July 17, 2014 in Austin, Texas:
Deanna was a panelist on self-publishing at the Writers’ League of Texas Third Thursday meeting at Bookpeople.
June 27-29, 2014 in Austin, Texas:
Deanna was a panelist at the Writers’ League of Texas Agents and Editors conference on the topic, “Big House, Small House, My Own House” with editors Jill Meyers, Jason Pinter, and Michael Signorelli in the Hyatt Regency Texas Ballroom.
May 13-18, 2014 in New Orleans, Louisiana:
Deanna had two fan events at the Romantic Times Book Lovers Convention.
Nov. 17, 2012 in Lakeway, Texas:
Deanna was a part of a panel on publishing with the Lake Travis Fiction Writers.
Oct. 28, 2012 in Austin, Texas:
Deanna was at the Texas Book Festival as part of the Writers’ League of Texas booth events.
Oct. 6, 2012 at St. Edward’s University:
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Digital Conference: The Nuts and Bolts of Success. Deanna conducted a one-hour presentation in the morning on “Marketing Your Digital Story Book” as well as lead a hands-on activity with attendees in the afternoon to create a story time presentation sure to turn visitors into fans.
July 25, 2012 at KOOP radio:
Deanna was part of a panel on publishing in the modern era for the talk show Writing on the Air. Go listen to the broadcast!
May 15, 2012 in Pflugerville ISD:
Deanna presented her Digital Storybook app Dust Bunnies Secret Agents to six kindergarten classes. In one day! And didn’t die from cuteness overload!
May 10, 2012 at Baby Earth in Round Rock, Texas:
Deanna was invited to do the story time at this environmentally friendly baby store with Dust Bunnies: Secret Agents.
May 2-3, 2012 in Eanes ISD:
Deanna presented Dust Bunnies: Secret Agents to four kindergarten classes.
March 2, 2012 at Learning Ally:
Deanna participated in a Record-a-Thon fundraiser for the blind and dyslexic along with local celebrities and Louis Sachar, author of Holes.
Oct. 15, 2011 at The BookSpot in Round Rock, Texas:
Deanna launched her adult novel Baby Dust.
Oct. 8, 2011 at St. Edward’s University:
The SCBWI Digital Conference. Deanna led a one-hour presentation on “Standing Out in the eBook Crowd” to writers and aspiring authors.
