I participated in two exciting events this week–Career Day at Harriet Eddy Middle School in Elk Grove (CA) and Kids Otter Read Day at Copperfield’s Book in Napa (CA).

At Career Day Linda Joy Singleton and I tagged teamed on what it’s like to be an author. Most of the seventh graders we spoke to had never considered writing books for a living–and after I calculated the author’s percentage minus the agent’s cut, they will probably cross it off their list for good! I wish authors had talked to me when I was in school, so I try to make myself available when asked to volunteer for these programs. Sponsored by the AVID students at Harriet Eddy, Career Day featured professionals from a variety of fields. We were treated to a concert by the talented jazz musicians at the school and to lunch. Here’s hoping Linda and I demystified some of the aspects of an author’s job and encouraged students to consider looking at writing in a new way.

The Kids Otter Read Day Around the Bay was a huge success. Thanks to the publicity efforts of the folks at Copperfield’s in Napa and to Hillary Homzie, one of my fellow presenters, we had a nice crowd. Perhaps my short interview with the host of Kellie in the Morning on 99.3 THE VINE gave us a little more visibility. Marsha Diane Arnold and Katherine Tillotson joined Hillary and me for two hours of readings and activities. Kerana Todorov of the Napa Valley Register covered the event and reported, “Sara Johnson, a fourth-grade teacher at Vichy Elementary School, said she found the event ‘astounding.’She and other parents reiterated their strong belief in the importance of reading to kids. ‘If you can only do one thing,’ said the teacher, ‘read to your kids.’”