Spotlight Author Visits

SAL’s Spotlight Author program brings nationally renowned visiting writers to local K-12 public schools for free, one-time visits.

Visits can take place in small, intimate classroom settings or in large auditoriums, with students of all ages. Spotlight Author Visits are usually about 45 minutes long and can include some combination of a brief reading, a talk on the writer’s life in reading and writing, a mini-workshop, and a Q&A. These visits often have a powerful impact on the students and provide a valuable window into the life of a professional creative writer.

Recent Spotlight Author Visits

Chris Abani at Orca K-8 School

Raymond Antrobus at TOPS K-8 School

Ross Gay at Alan T. Sugiyama High School

Jason Reynolds at Evergreen High School

Jenny Xie at Seattle World School

This opportunity for students to hear from a brilliant and compassionate thinker and ask questions about writing or life in general is such a privilege. I really want to thank Seattle Arts & Lectures for initiating this and making it happen! They are such a wonderful gem of an organization here in Seattle!

-Teacher from OrcaK-8 School

Ways to Get Involved

For Teachers and Principals

Spotlight Author Visits can happen at any K-12 public school in the region. Your school does not need to be a WITS partner school in order to participate.

Interested in learning more about our Spotlight Author program and/or bringing an upcoming visiting SAL writer to your school? Please reach out to Director of Youth Programs, Jennifer Lobsenz ([email protected]).

For Parents

Interested in learning more about our Spotlight Author program and/or bringing an upcoming visiting SAL writer to your school? Please reach out to Director of Youth Programs, Jennifer Lobsenz ([email protected]).