| Upcoming School Visits! August & September 2025 |
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Date:
Monday, 25 August 2025 |
Time:
8/25/25 9:45 am - 9/5/25 1:30 pm |
Venue:
Arizona Elementary Schools |
School Visit Presentations
Book an in-person or virtual School Visit!
• The Elephants Come Home — Presentation, reading, fun elephant quiz with prizes, Q&A, and optional book signing
• The Truth About 5th Grade — Presentation, excerpt reading, poetry fun, audience interaction, Q&A, and book signing
| Date |
Time |
Grades |
School |
| Mon, Aug 25 2025 |
8:30 AM |
K – 3 |
Towne Meadows Elementary School |
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9:45 AM |
4 – 5 |
Towne Meadows Elementary School |
| Tue, Aug 26 2025 |
8:20 AM |
3 |
Patterson Elementary School |
| Wed, Aug 27 2025 |
8:40 AM |
5 |
Sanborn Elementary School |
| Thu, Aug 28 2025 |
9:45 AM |
3 – 4 |
Neely Traditional Academy |
| Fri, Aug 29 2025 |
1:45 PM |
K – 4 |
Val Vista Academy |
| Fri, Sep 5 2025 |
1:30 PM |
K – 1 |
Mesquite Elementary School |
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| Author in Residence at Prescott Valley Public Library September-November 2025 |
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Date:
Thursday, 4 September 2025 |
Time:
9/4/25 12:00 am - 11/13/25 12:00 pm |
Venue:
7401 E. Skoog Blvd. Prescott Valley, AZ 86314 |
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 From September 4th to November 13th I will be the Author in Residence at Prescott Valley Public Library.
Patrons are invited to come into the library, attend my workshops, ask me questions, or set up one-on-one appointments!
You can visit the Writers in Residence page for more information!
*This project is supported by the Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records, a division of the Secretary of State, with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
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| Big Birthday Bash – 9 Authors! Dozens of Activities! Fun Prizes |
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Date:
Saturday, 6 September 2025 |
Time:
9/6/25 11:00 am - 9/6/25 1:00 pm |
Venue:
Literally, a Bookshop, 397 S. Gilbert Road, Gilbert AZ 85296 |
Fun FREE family weekend!
Activities + Games + Crafts + Prizes
WHEN: Saturday, September 6th from 11am-1pm!
WHERE: Literally, a Bookshop 397 S. Gilbert Road, Gilbert AZ 85296.
WHAT: Help your kids fall in love with reading!
Meet 9 authors, grab free bookmarks, do a craft, participate in raffles, and/or win stuff!
HOW: 11:00 am – 1:00pm – Simply show up at Literally, a Bookshop! We will make the fun easy!
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| Introduction to Picture Book Writing |
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Date:
Wednesday, 24 September 2025 |
Time:
9/24/25 5:00 pm - 12/10/25 8:00 pm |
Venue:
UCLA Extensions |
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September 24, 2025, live via ZOOM class hosted by UCLA Extensions: Picture Book One – an Introduction to Picture Book Writing.
You have the dream—I’ve always wanted to write a children’s picture book. But … how? This inspiring class offers you practical tools to help you realize that dream. It includes writing exercises, examples of current picture books and behind-the-scenes stories and practical advice me, an award-winning author. By the end of this class you’ll have tools to guide you in this vibrant field.
For details and enrollment, contact UCLA Extensions.
Weeks run asynchronously from Wednesday- Tuesday. You can travel, be anywhere in the world, show up at a time that works for you, so that you can participate in the weekly writing sprints, recorded video lectures, and online discussions.
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| FREE Dynamically Paced Picture Books Class |
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Date:
Saturday, 25 October 2025 |
Time:
10/25/25 10:00 am - 10/25/25 1:00 pm |
Venue:
via Zoom hosted by UCLA Extensions |
Free Registration HERE
Wrangle your story’s structure and pace (novel or picture book) by examining story beats within picture books and then reworking your own beats. You’ll leave with tips, techniques and tricks to engage readers with fast-paced plots.
About this free morning:
For novelists and picture book writers: For novelists who’d like to see a microcosm of the hero’s journey and for picture book writers who are creating a character-driven picture book and would like to understand how 10-14 story beats can be achieved at a rewarding pace. In this one-day introduction, I’ll cover Freytag’s Pyramid and dissect several award-winning picture books that show a protagonist on the Hero’s Journey (a journey that is completed in 500 words or less!). Students will learn how to dissect their stories in terms of the western structure of the three-act play. They will also learn about characters in agency and how to land story beats—the pulse points that actively move a tale from the opening image, to the inciting incident, to breaking into each act and the rising action that goes with each beat. We’ll get to the “big gloom” and more. By the end of this class, students will have stretched their storytelling skills so that they are equipped to write exciting page turns—pages that feature a compelling protagonist who traverses a meaningful plot line at a rewarding pace.
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| Ask Me Anything with Kim Tomsic & Dianne White |
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Date:
Saturday, 1 November 2025 |
Time:
11/1/25 8:30 am - 11/1/25 10:00 am |
Venue:
via Zoom hosted by Arizona SCBWI |
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Join Kim Tomsic and Dianne White for an open “Ask Me Anything” session specially tailored for SCBWI members, whether you’re prepublished or published. Bring your questions about writing and the publishing process!
- Registration required
- For SCBWI prepublished and published members
- Covers all things writing & publishing
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| Picture Book II – WRITING-X 441.2 (registration required) |
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Date:
Tuesday, 6 January 2026 |
Time:
1/6/26 12:00 am - 3/22/26 12:00 am |
Venue:
Via ZOOM class hosted by UCLA Extensions |
More about this event (link coming soon)
❄️❄️ Winter Quarter ❄️❄️
January 5, 2026 – March 22, 2026 | Wednesdays, 5 – 8pm (Pacific)
Live via Zoom through UCLA Extension
Go beyond picture book basics! In this supportive Zoom workshop hosted by UCLA Extension, you’ll master the craft that brings winning picture books to life: strong beginnings and endings, the power of the page turn, audience engagement, playful language, humor, and musicality.
Through focused writing exercises and ongoing feedback in a safe, instructor-guided environment, you’ll deepen your understanding of story elements and critique skills—while working toward a complete manuscript and a polished query letter.
In this course, students will:
- Review essentials from Picture Book I
- Examine picture book structures
- Workshop manuscripts in a safe, structured critique group
- Sharpen craft and revision with writing sprints
- Explore fractured fairytales & epistolary forms
- Write for deeper emotional connection with close POV
- Expand skills: tension, stakes, language, pace, plot, theme, voice, POV, and more
- Analyze beginnings, middles, page turns, and crafting satisfying endings
- Learn to trust your reader & illustrator—discover when less is more
- Discuss “killing your darlings” & suspension of disbelief
- Experiment with word choice, tone, poetic elements & musicality
- Develop characters with agency
- Build a collections journal
- Create a logline, jacket flap, query letter, and query strategy
- Gain industry insights for publishing success
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| Ink and Agave Writing Retreat – Registration Required |
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Date:
Friday, 10 April 2026 |
Time:
4/10/26 1:00 pm - 4/12/26 5:00 pm |
Venue:
Franciscan Renewal Center, Scottsdale, AZ |
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Ink and Agave KidLit Writing Retreat April 10-12, 2026 
🌵 What Awaits You
Nestled at the serene Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, this intimate weekend retreat is designed exclusively for aspiring picture book authors ready to grow, polish, and connect.
Over three soul-nourishing days, you’ll participate in four small-group workshops, each led by a seasoned editor, agent, or author. You’ll receive focused, personalized feedback on your manuscript(s) and have dedicated time to revise, reflect, and elevate your work in a truly creative setting.
“This retreat isn’t just about writing. It’s about reigniting your purpose, nurturing your craft, and walking away with clarity and confidence.” Kim Tomsic
Limited space:
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