Chris Crutcher with Kadir Nelson.
Would you like Chris Crutcher to speak at your school, library, conference or event?
He'd love to share a day (or two) with your audience. And here's the lowdown.
FEES & EXPENSES
For $2000 a day plus expenses (flight, lodging and ground transporation) Chris will do up to three daytime presentations and one evening presentation per day, when he visits your town. He will also sign books (and scraps of paper, shoes, backpacks, sandwich bags), of course. And he will share some meals with more casual gatherings, upon request.
If you'd rather Chris rents a car, that's fine, but we will have to invoice you for that added expense. If a representative from your group provides Chris's transportation to and from the airport and to each presentation location, it will save you a little money.
PREFERRED DATES
His calendar fills up very quickly, so be sure to contact his assistant Kelly as early as possible to see if your preferred dates are available. She will hold your date, even if your funding is not yet confirmed, for at least two weeks -- longer if possible. Or she'll work with you to find an alternative date, if your date has already been booked by another host.
TOPICS
What Chris talks about depends largely upon your needs. Because his speaking career is so diverse -- his services are often booked by therapy conferences, universities, education and library conventions, libraries, public and private schools -- he adapts his program to each host's specifications. But he has several topics he often addresses.
FEES & EXPENSES
For $2000 a day plus expenses (flight, lodging and ground transporation) Chris will do up to three daytime presentations and one evening presentation per day, when he visits your town. He will also sign books (and scraps of paper, shoes, backpacks, sandwich bags), of course. And he will share some meals with more casual gatherings, upon request.
If you'd rather Chris rents a car, that's fine, but we will have to invoice you for that added expense. If a representative from your group provides Chris's transportation to and from the airport and to each presentation location, it will save you a little money.
PREFERRED DATES
His calendar fills up very quickly, so be sure to contact his assistant Kelly as early as possible to see if your preferred dates are available. She will hold your date, even if your funding is not yet confirmed, for at least two weeks -- longer if possible. Or she'll work with you to find an alternative date, if your date has already been booked by another host.
TOPICS
What Chris talks about depends largely upon your needs. Because his speaking career is so diverse -- his services are often booked by therapy conferences, universities, education and library conventions, libraries, public and private schools -- he adapts his program to each host's specifications. But he has several topics he often addresses.
PAST PRESENTATION DESCRIPTIONS:
TURNING REAL LIFE INTO FICTION
As a working family therapist and child protection advocate, novelist Chris Crutcher is witness to compelling real life stories of pain, recovery and survival. Turning those gritty tales into works of fiction has helped make the Spokane-based author one of the most popular and critically acclaimed young adult writers of our time -- and one of the most frequently banned. How does he do it? Why does he do it? He'll explain in this powerful presentation.
BANNED: WHEN REAL LIFE FICTION MEETS THE CENSOR
Countless stories drawn from his work as an educator, mental health expert and child protection advocate have made author Chris Crutcher's novels realistic, compelling, unflinchingly real. Incest, rape, abortion, racism and neglect were more common in his 25 year therapy practice than they are in his books. But what happens when realistic fiction draws heat from the censor? How does Crutcher respond? And why does the discussion matter? Find out in this eye opening discussion.
DIVERSITY: THE FACTS BEHIND THE FICTION
Meeting the challenge of racial diversity is one of an educator's highest hurdles. Each student carries generations of baggage into every classroom -- issues they're not likely to confess. How can discussion prevail without defensive complications? Author Chris Crutcher believes in the power of story. "If I'm a kid in trouble, I'm not likely to talk about the powder keg at home. But I might talk about explosive characters in a fictional story." Join him as he leads a discussion on defusing bigotry through literature.
REALISTIC RESPONSES: REACHING OUT TO ABUSE VICTIMS
Though he does not necessarily consider his fictional work "bibliotherapy," author and consultant Chris Cr utcher has collected an overwhelming body of evidence that indicates the power of realistic fiction can act as an outreach and therapeutic catalyst to victims in crisis. He'll discuss this and other experiences in his second break-out session.
MINING PERSONAL TRUTH FOR STUDENT WRITING
In King of the Mild Frontier, Chris Crutcher mined intimate details of his past to craft an autobiography that's both entertaining and provocative -- and highly readable. Those same personal truths find their way into his fiction, as composite characters and realistic life scenarios. Mining those same qualities can inspire student writers to put pen to page. Crutcher will explain the how and the why.
TURNING REAL LIFE INTO FICTION
As a working family therapist and child protection advocate, novelist Chris Crutcher is witness to compelling real life stories of pain, recovery and survival. Turning those gritty tales into works of fiction has helped make the Spokane-based author one of the most popular and critically acclaimed young adult writers of our time -- and one of the most frequently banned. How does he do it? Why does he do it? He'll explain in this powerful presentation.
BANNED: WHEN REAL LIFE FICTION MEETS THE CENSOR
Countless stories drawn from his work as an educator, mental health expert and child protection advocate have made author Chris Crutcher's novels realistic, compelling, unflinchingly real. Incest, rape, abortion, racism and neglect were more common in his 25 year therapy practice than they are in his books. But what happens when realistic fiction draws heat from the censor? How does Crutcher respond? And why does the discussion matter? Find out in this eye opening discussion.
DIVERSITY: THE FACTS BEHIND THE FICTION
Meeting the challenge of racial diversity is one of an educator's highest hurdles. Each student carries generations of baggage into every classroom -- issues they're not likely to confess. How can discussion prevail without defensive complications? Author Chris Crutcher believes in the power of story. "If I'm a kid in trouble, I'm not likely to talk about the powder keg at home. But I might talk about explosive characters in a fictional story." Join him as he leads a discussion on defusing bigotry through literature.
REALISTIC RESPONSES: REACHING OUT TO ABUSE VICTIMS
Though he does not necessarily consider his fictional work "bibliotherapy," author and consultant Chris Cr utcher has collected an overwhelming body of evidence that indicates the power of realistic fiction can act as an outreach and therapeutic catalyst to victims in crisis. He'll discuss this and other experiences in his second break-out session.
MINING PERSONAL TRUTH FOR STUDENT WRITING
In King of the Mild Frontier, Chris Crutcher mined intimate details of his past to craft an autobiography that's both entertaining and provocative -- and highly readable. Those same personal truths find their way into his fiction, as composite characters and realistic life scenarios. Mining those same qualities can inspire student writers to put pen to page. Crutcher will explain the how and the why.
Too much for your budget?
If Chris's honorarium is more than you can budget, don't assume he'll say no to your alternative offer. He knows times are hard, especially in the world of education. So work up your proposal and send it to Chris's assistant, Kelly. She'll run it past Chris and see if he can make an exception. It doesn't happen often, because his fee is already lower than most speakers of his experience. But he considers each event on an individual basis.
Chris will also meet with your groups via a Zoom or other Internet discussion forums for next to nothing, so keep that in mind.
Chris will also meet with your groups via a Zoom or other Internet discussion forums for next to nothing, so keep that in mind.
Many thanks to Kristin Howell at Hillview Middle School in Menlo Park, CA for the video conference photo (11/30/2011). For a look at their class blog, click HERE.
