AUTHOR'S NOTE
I've been making presentations to audiences of all ages for nearly forty years. I offer a variety of programs that have proved popular with adult and children's audiences—and sponsoring organizations. I love meeting and talking with readers.
Please note: my schedule fills well in advance.
Programs
The links below provide direct access to program details.
Chloe Ellefson Mysteries
CHLOE ELLEFSON
Chloe Ellefson Historic Sites Mysteries: The Stories Behind the Stories
Audience: Adults and mature teens who enjoy traditional mysteries (i.e., those without explicit sex, violence, or gore).
Sponsors: Public libraries, book festivals, historical societies, and mystery book clubs, as well as Norwegian-American and other ethnic heritage organizations.
Synopsis: This lively, richly illustrated program takes readers behind the scenes to reveal the real-life experiences and historic places that inspired the now nine (soon to be ten) books in her award-winning Wisconsin-based Chloe Ellefson series. These include the latest, The Lacemaker's Legacy, set in Green Bay and Door County, and the upcoming Fiddling With Fate.
Kathleen will talk about how her 12 years working as a museum curator at Old World Wisconsin led to developing the series and its' reluctant sleuth, curator Chloe Ellefson, how her research into police work helps shape Chloe's boyfriend, officer Roelke McKenna, and how she goes about selecting locations, researching the history timelines, and crafting the stories.
Kathleen brings key artifacts that are featured in the mysteries—and door prizes to give away. The program runs one hour, including time for questions and answers, after which Kathleen will be available to meet fans and sign her books.
Kathleen is a frequent guest on Wisconsin Public Radio's popular The Larry Meiller Show to discuss her mysteries—most recently The Lacemaker's Secret. An abridged version of another, A Memory of Muskets, was read by Jim Fleming on WPR's long-running Chapter A Day program.
Book Sales: Kathleen can bring copies of her books to sell, or the sponsoring organization can partner with a local bookstore to sell copies of her books at the program.
Scheduling: Program commitments are typically made on a first come basis. To get a general idea of Kathleen's availability, please check her Calendar by clicking HERE. NOTE: this program is often scheduled with an American Girls Fan program, a description of which can be seen immediately below on this page.
Contact: To send a message to Kathleen about these programs, scheduling, and costs, please click HERE.
AMERICAN GIRL
Program for American Girl Fans
Audience: Readers age 8+, parents/guardians, aunts/uncles, grandparents, and collectors.
Sponsors: American Girl clubs, bookstores, public libraries, and other groups.
Synopsis: This illustrated program reveals the stories behind the stories of Kathleen’s now 20 American Girl books. She shares insights about her original History Mysteries, her Josefina, Kirsten, Kit, and Molly mystery books, what it was like to secretly research and write nine books about Caroline, the American Girl War of 1812 historical character she created for American Girl, and her newest book: Gunpowder and Tea Cakes: My Journey With Felicity.
For details about these books, click HERE.
Kathleen brings artifacts from the stories for show and tell—and door prizes to give away. The program runs one hour, including time for questions and answers, after which Kathleen will be available to meet fans and to sign her books. NOTE: A popular option is for the sponsoring organization to hold a "tea" and invite attendees to dress up and bring their dolls.
Book Sales: Kathleen can bring copies of her books to sell, or the sponsoring organization can partner with a local bookstore to sell copies of her books at the program.
Scheduling: Program commitments are typically made on a first come basis. To get a general idea of Kathleen's availability, please check her Calendar by clicking HERE. NOTE: this program is often scheduled with a Chloe Ellefson Mysteries program, a description of which can be seen immediately above on this page.
Contact: To send a message to Kathleen about these programs, scheduling, and costs, please click HERE.
WISCONSIN PIONEERS
A Settler's Year – Pioneer Life Through The Seasons
Audience: Adults and families interested in Wisconsin history and pioneer life.
Sponsors: Public libraries, book festivals, and historical societies.
Synopsis: Kathleen's award-winning, non-fiction book, A Settler's Year, from the Wisconsin Historical Society Press, provides a rare glimpse into the lives of early Wisconsin immigrants.
In her richly-illustrated program Kathleen discusses the challenges and triumphs found in rural life during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Using excerpts from original letters, diaries, and newspapers she describes the back-straining chores, cherished folk traditions, and annual celebrations of the state's European and Yankee pioneers.
Kathleen presented this program at the Noon Lecture Series at the US National Archives in Washingtn, D.C., where it was broadcast live on C-SPAN.
This program runs one hour, including time for questions and answers, after which Kathleen will be available to meet fans and sign her books.
Book Sales: Kathleen can bring copies of her books to sell, or the sponsoring organization can partner with a local bookstore to sell copies of her books at the program.
Scheduling: Program commitments are typically made on a first come basis. To get a general idea of Kathleen's availability, please check her Calendar by clicking HERE. NOTE: this program is often scheduled with either a Chloe Ellefson or an American Girl Fans program, descriptions of which can be seen immediately above on this page.
Contact: To send a message to Kathleen about these programs, their scheduling, and costs, please click HERE.
AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
Too Afraid to Cry – Maryland Civilians in the Antietam Campaign
Audience: Adults who are interested in American history in general, and the American Civil War in particular, and who want to hear about what happened 150 years ago to civilians caught up in the single bloodiest day in American history.
Sponsors: Civil War roundtables and discussion groups, historical societies, and Civil War battlefield sites and museums.
Synopsis: This richly illustrated program focuses on Kathleen's nonfiction history book Too Afraid to Cry: Maryland Civilians in the Antietam Campaign. Kathleen will also discuss the historical fiction novels that emerged from her research.
For details about Kathleen's Civil War books, click HERE.
Kathleen brings artifacts and photos to show and tell—and door prizes to give away. The program runs one hour, including time for questions and answers, after which Kathleen will be available to meet fans and to sign her books.
Book Sales: Kathleen can bring copies of her books to sell, or the sponsoring organization can partner with a local bookstore to sell copies of her books at the program.
Scheduling: Program commitments are typically made on a first come basis. To get a general idea of Kathleen's availability, click HERE.
Contact: To send a message to Kathleen about this program, its scheduling, and the costs involved, click HERE.
