STORIES · CURIOSITY · CREATIVE COURAGE
School &
Library Visits
Bring a little wonder
into your world.
Author visits, writing workshops, and lively conversations with Michael D. Young. Let’s get your learners imagining, asking questions, and creating stories of their own.
It’s always time for a quest.
EVERY GREAT VISIT STARTS WITH YOUR PEOPLE
Who’s joining the adventure?
A classroom, a library full of families, or a room of fellow creatives. We’ll shape the visit around their ages, interests, and goals.
Schools & classrooms
Author visits, assemblies, writing workshops, and career days for elementary through college audiences.
Find a school program →Libraries & families
Summer reading, book clubs, festivals, and community events that welcome readers of different ages.
Explore library programs →Groups & gatherings
Conference sessions, educator events, writing groups, interviews, and workshops for adult audiences.
Plan a speaking engagement →CHOOSE A STARTING POINT
A spark for every imagination.
Storytelling, humor, practical writing instruction, music, and participation. Choose a focus, then we’ll work out the right format together.
Author visit
From Idea to Book
Follow a story from its first spark through drafting, revision, publishing, and the setbacks along the way. An interactive look at the work behind the wonder.
Writing workshop
Let’s Make a Story
Focus on a craft skill: character, worldbuilding, revision, humor, poetry, songwriting, or storytelling. Choose a topic that fits your learners.
Assemblies & career days
A Creative Life
Explore creative careers, education, languages, music, and persistence through an energetic presentation with audience participation.
Libraries & families
Wonder for Every Reader
Bring storytelling to a summer-reading event, book club, youth group, festival, or library gathering. Adapt the program for a mixed-age audience.
Virtual visits
A Quest from Anywhere
Connect online for an author visit, writing workshop, interview, or question-and-answer session. Share your time zone and preferred platform.
Custom programs
Your Theme. Our Adventure.
Shape a presentation around your curriculum, reading initiative, event theme, schedule, accessibility needs, or learning goals.
Single classrooms, several grade levels, assemblies, or public events. Programs can be adapted for elementary, middle-school, high-school, college, adult, and mixed-age groups.
CAROLS · COMIC FANTASY · PICTURE BOOKS · AUDIOBOOKS
Talk topics.
Four talks drawn from my books, my music, and my work behind the microphone. Each can be shaped to fit your audience and format.
Music & history
The Stories Behind the Carols
Where did our favorite Christmas carols come from, and why do we still sing them? On my YouTube channel, Song Lore, I tell the stories behind familiar songs. This talk brings those stories to a live audience. It draws on An Advent Carols Countdown, my book of 24 daily carol readings that grew out of my podcast, The Carols of Christmas. It also draws on my years of singing with the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.
Comic fantasy
Writing Funny Fantasy
In A Wonderful Week for a Quest, a prophecy names the kingdom’s hero as “Rod…” and then stops. So a dashing knight and a scrawny sub-assistant goat herder both set out to save the day. Using my complete seven-book series, from A Wonderful Day for a Quest through Oxen and Morons, Well, Well, Well… and beyond, we explore how parody, surprise, footnotes, and a narrator who won’t stop interrupting can make a story funny and still work as a real adventure. A comedic stage-musical version of Book 1 is in development.
Picture books
Writing Picture Books
What happens when the Tooth Fairy decides to try a new career? My funny, rhyming New Jobs for Mythical Characters picture books start with a simple “what if” and a lot of comic timing. Young readers see how an idea becomes a story with rhythm, rhyme, and heart, then brainstorm a new job for a character of their own. With older students and adult writers, we look at the craft of writing a picture book.
Audiobooks
Narrating My Own Audiobooks
I narrated all 12 of my picture-book audiobooks myself and produced them through ACX for Audible. This talk covers what goes into an audiobook beyond reading aloud: preparing a script, developing character voices you can sustain, recording clean audio, and revising by listening. It also covers how choral and stage training carry over to the recording booth. I first taught this subject in my 2015 LDStorymakers class on creating audiobooks.
Want one of these talks for your group? Send me a note with your dates, audience, and preferred topic.
YOUR GUIDE FOR THE DAY
A storyteller.
A teacher.
A fellow curious person.
I’m Michael, a Utah author, educator, instructional designer, and longtime performing musician. I write family-friendly fantasy, picture books, music history, and devotionals.
My background in teaching and instructional design helps me connect creative energy with clear learning goals. I want learners to see that a finished book begins with someone willing to try, revise, and keep going.
I hold degrees in German teaching, educational leadership, and instructional design, create online curriculum for BYU, and sing with the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.
FROM THE CLASSROOM
What educators say.
“The students loved him, and the teachers felt it was a very positive experience. He inspired our students to become authors.”
Janene SaltRoy Elementary Reading Specialist
“The students had lots of great questions and responded with great enthusiasm. If you can bring Mr. Young to your school or library, please do it.”
Virginia MillerLomond View Elementary Media Center/Library
“He was dynamic and elicited participation even from reluctant students. He had them laughing and enjoying themselves, yet they were learning the whole time.”
Christina NelsonRoy Jr. High German and Creative Writing Teacher
LET’S MAKE IT EASY TO PLAN
Big imagination.
Practical details.
Tell me what works for your school or library. We’ll discuss the schedule, program, and arrangements before the visit.
SUGGESTED DONATION
$100 per day
A starting point for the conversation.
The donation is negotiable, especially for limited school budgets, multiple-day visits, or customized arrangements. I do not want cost to be the reason a school or library cannot invite me.
Let’s talk about your visit →A STORY TO TAKE HOME
Signed books
Signed books can be available at a substantial discount from the cover price. Advance orders help me prepare the right titles and quantities for your group.
Browse the books →NEAR OR FAR
In person & online
Utah visits are easiest to arrange. Travel depends on location, schedule, and event details. Virtual visits are available for groups anywhere.
THE FIRST STEP IS A CONVERSATION
Let’s plan
something memorable.
Tell me about your learners and the kind of experience you have in mind. I’ll help shape a program around your audience, schedule, and goals.
Request a visit or talk →Use the contact form to ask about dates and arrangements.
A FEW THINGS YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING
Before we set out.
Have another question? Send me a note.
What ages do you work with?
Programs can be adapted for elementary, secondary, college, adult, and mixed-age audiences. Share the ages and goals of your group when requesting a visit.
Can you present virtually?
Yes. Virtual classroom visits, library programs, workshops, interviews, and question-and-answer sessions are available. Include your time zone and preferred platform in your request.
Can a program be customized?
Yes. Presentations can be adjusted for curriculum, event themes, time limits, group size, accessibility needs, or a particular writing, education, music, or creativity topic.
How far do you travel?
Travel depends on location, schedule, and event details. Utah visits are easiest to arrange, and virtual programs are available for groups anywhere.
Can books be sold or signed?
Yes. Signed books may be offered at a substantial discount from the cover price. Advance orders help ensure the right titles and quantities are available.
What does a visit cost?
The suggested donation is $100 per day, but it is negotiable for school budgets, multiple-day visits, and other circumstances. Provide your budget when you inquire.