Elizabeth Raum, Children's Author, Educator, Speaker
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Location:
North Dakota
Willing to Travel
Engaging Readers of all Ages
I have written over 150 books for children and adults including biographies, non-fiction history books, and historical fiction for young readers. I have also published picture books and non-fiction books about animals and weather, topics that fascinate me, as well as a new short story collection, Drive-Through Christmas Eve, designed for families. I enjoy talking with readers and helping them to understand how an author researches and writes books on a variety of topics.
I have been writing full-time since 2003. Prior to that, I taught English and history in elementary, middle, and high schools, and worked as a librarian at both K-12 and college libraries. I have visited schools, libraries, and other organizations, both online and in person, throughout the country and internationally.
The most important thing the author wants readers to gain from her books:
I want readers to find history and historical characters as fascinating as I do. People in the past were not cardboard figures but real people who were shaped by the time in which they lived. Even fictional characters are dependent on the time and place in which the story takes place. Fiction also requires research, and research, no matter the topic, is a treasure hunt!
Why the author is an authority on the subject of her books:
All of my books are extensively researched or come directly from personal experience. Storm Warning, a middle-grade novel, came directly from my own experiences in the 1997 flood in the Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota. Even so, I did research to verify facts. In writing The Big, Bold, Adventurous Life of Lavinia Warren, I visited museums, did research at the Library of Congress, and spoke with experts on her life and times. I include social history so that readers will learn about the tumultuous times in which she lived.
Awards:
The Children's Book Council selected The Big, Bold, Adventurous Life of Lavinia Warren as a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, 2019.
Speaking Engagements and School Presentations:
I tailor my presentations to the unique needs and interests of each group. Since I have so many books, I am able to do up to four presentations a day during an in-person school visit. This allows me to design programs suited to a variety of age groups. For example, I can talk about my Animal Homes series with kids in grades K-2, the novel Storm Warning with kids in grades 3-5, and The Big, Bold, Adventurous Life of Lavinia Warren with students in grades 6-8. I love to do Q&A with kids. It’s fun for them. I enjoy it, too. To learn more, visit my website at www.ElizabethRaumBooks.com.
Presentation Audience:
Grades K-3
Grades 4-6
Middle School
Adult
