trevordayschool

From Wish List to Reality Visiting Authors: From Wish List to Reality Visiting Authors: Behind the Scenes Behind the Scenes Every year, Dacel Casey, Every year, Dacel Casey, Grades 6–12 Library Media Specialist and Director of Community & Global Partnerships, takes on a hugely important role: She meets with Middle and Upper School English department faculty to develop a wish list of writers they hope will speak to and work with Trevor students. Candidates are limited to authors whom students are slated to study that academic year so every author visit ties directly to the English curriculum. Visiting authors generally spend separate time with the Middle and Upper School students, though some authors have worked only with 9th–12th graders. With a list of prominent writers in hand, Ms. Casey then contacts the California-based Steven Barclay Agency, which represents "some of our culture's most distinguished and thought-provoking voices," and with which she has developed a long and close working relationship. From past experience, she knows that she needs to begin making arrangements for an author's visit some eight to ten months prior to Trevor's ideal date, which corresponds with students having just completed reading that author's work. Additional practical considerations for booking an author include their availability, speaker fee, and location-related costs; most authors don't live locally, so flight and hotel reservations must be arranged. According to Ms. Casey, Eliza Fischer, the Steven Barclay Agency's Associate Director and Senior Agent, has been an "awesome asset" to Trevor for many years; Ms. Fischer routinely tells Ms. Casey how to connect with an author, even if the agency doesn't represent them. Following Jamaica Kincaid's visit in 2011, a "Visiting Authors" budget was established, a measure of Trevor's commitment to this program. For each author, Ms. Casey submits an offer to the agent. If it is accepted, logistics progress to selecting dates and events. Some authors simply address an assembled group of students and other Trevor community members; others do that and also convene directly with students in one-on- one writing workshops. is year, of necessity—and to everyone's disappointment—all author visits were virtual. As their primary Trevor contact, Ms. Casey spends the day with each author and has wonderful memories to share. For example, when Dave Eggers visited Trevor, she had to give her personal copy of What is the What to a student participating in the session. By way of thanks, Mr. Eggers sent her a signed first edition of the book with the inscription: "To Dacel, World- class librarian, savior of all books- loving people. Dave Eggers." Time with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (with whom she is pictured to the left) was another highlight: "We got to know each over coffee, and I learned a lot about Nigerian culture. It was an eye-opening experience. On a personal note, as a Black American, reading Americanah, a novel about a non-American Black person, was a unique experience. I was so honored to have one-to-one time to talk to her about my feelings on what it means to be Black and American." Referring to past in-person author visits, Ms. Casey notes that "the best part is always watching the students get fan-struck around the authors and wanting to know more about them and talk to them. It makes all the methodical planning worthwhile." And, it appears, the admiration goes both ways. "All of our visitors love, love, love our students," Ms. Casey says. "ey enjoy their openness, their personalities, and embrace their questions and thoughts. e writers' workshops with the kids are the best to witness because you can see how enamored both groups— students and authors—are with each other." roughout the 12 years that she has spearheaded Trevor's Visiting Author Program, Ms. Casey has encountered authors' agents who make a long list of requests for their clients' visits: "Be sure to have

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