I’d love to visit your school, library or bookstore, and am open to both virtual and in-person visits. I currently live in Olney, MD and am able to drive to locations within about an hour from here for in-person visits without travel fees.
If you are interested in setting up a visit or a workshop, you can reach out via email; info@mirkah.com.
Thank you for considering me for an author visit. One of the most rewarding parts of being an illustrator, author and a printmaker is the connections I make during visits and workshops. I’ve taught and spoken to people of all ages, from kids to grownups.
I’ve written six and illustrated nine traditionally published books. My books have won a few awards and garnered starred reviews from SLJ and Kirkus. You can see all my books here. All my books have free downloadable activity sheets and games that can be used with the books in classrooms to create excitement before a visit.
I like to keep all my visits lively and up-beat, and bring in original artwork, dummies and tools that I use to make illustrations.
I tweak my presentation for each school depending on what has been requested for topics. My presentation can include combinations of the following topics and activities:
- My background and how I started illustrating books
- Steps of how a book goes from idea to final product
- Where I come up with ideas
- Writing revision
- What an author/illustrator does
- Writing non-fiction
- How I work through obstacles to reach my dreams
- Interactive sensory game
- Interactive graphic novel re-enactment
- Interactive story writing or character design activity
- Book reading
- Drawing demonstration or Drawing together with audience
For upper elementary, and middle school, I talk about the same topics, but I dive a bit deeper and spend more time talking about process of writing, and revising books, showing examples of feedback that I have received from editors and critique partners.
I’ve also done interactive classroom workshops that start with a short slide presentation and then move into the interactive workshop. Topics have included writing and revision, lyrical writing, and creating graphic novels. The workshops work best for upper elementary to high school students.
What others have said:
Mirka’s Preferred Fees 2025-2026
Please don’t let cost prevent you from inviting me to your school. If my preferred fee is outside of your budget, please contact me and tell me what your budget is, as well as your location.
In-Person Author Visit Fees
Standard Whole Day Author Visit
• $1,200 for a full day of author visits. Travel and lodging fees may apply.
• $1,100 for schools within an hour from Olney, MD
Local Half Day Author Visit
• $700 for 2 programs, available for schools within an hour drive from Olney, MD
Travel Fees
• Mirka travels from Olney, Maryland. Travel and lodging fees may be shared between schools.
• Up to 1-hour drive - no travel fee
• 1 - 1.5 hour drive, $0.67/mile
• 1.5+ hour drive, $0.67/mile and safe and clean hotel accommodations
Virtual Author Visit Fees
• Single Presentation - $300. Limited to 150 students
• Single Presentation - $700. No limit on student participants within one building.
• Additional same-day presentations - $150
Helpful Details
Save the Date
If you have a specific date or week in mind, it’s best to contact me 4-6 months in advance. I’m happy to reserve a date (with a signed contract) and work out details later.
Event Day Details
• I want the planning for this event to be as simple as possible for you. For full day author visits, schools usually schedule three presentations, and time to sign books. Please let me know if your needs are different.
• When preparing the schedule, leave about 45 minutes from my arrival until the start of the first presentation so we can set up and test equipment.
• Kindergarten programs should be scheduled for about 30-40minutes, other grades can be 45-60 minutes.
• Leave at least 15 minutes in between sessions for students to file in and out.
Student Book Orders
• If you want to give your students the opportunity to purchase personalized books, I have a flyer prepared for you that you can customize and send home.
• I can bring books, but I prefer to support local bookstores and have you purchase through them. Sometimes they are also able to offer a discount or allow you to earn money toward the purchase of books for the school.
• If I bring books, I need a full month to ensure all of the books arrive in time from my distributors.
Ready to Contact Mirka?
When sending a request for a visit consider some of the following details to help Mirka know how she might best serve your community:
• Are you thinking of an in-person or virtual visit
• Name, address and phone number of the school
• Grades you want to include in the author visit
• Any budget concerns
• Preferred grouping of grades with presentations, and approximate size of groups
• Preferred month/week for visit and flexibility
• (Optional) Interest in partnering with a local school to share travel fees
• (Optional) Interest in purchasing books for students
Email Mirka at info@mirkah.com with some or all of the above information. After everything has been agreed, she’ll send a simple contract so we can understand each other’s expectations.
Before the Event
Thanks so much for all you’re doing to prepare your staff and students for our author visit. The more students know about me in advance, the larger the impact of the visit. Here are some ways to engage students before the visit:
• Visit my website with students
• Read my books in advance with classes
• Use any of the free book related activities available on my website
• Explore the educator guides for language or SEL lessons
• (Optional) Send book orders home with students a month and a half before the visit.