For authors

Reach classrooms that need your story.

Join a vetted directory of children's book authors ready to visit schools. Set your visit formats and booking link (your fees stay private), and schools reach out to you directly.

Our standards

Why vetting matters — and how it works

Schools trust this directory. That trust is built on knowing every author here has been verified and reviewed by our team.

Two ways to qualify

Traditionally published (a publishing house — big or small independent press), or self-published with three references from schools you've presented at.

School visit experience

You'll share how many schools you've visited. Self-published authors' references confirm real, in-classroom presentation experience.

Team reviewed

Every author is verified — through their publisher, or their school references — and reviewed by the Find an Author team before being listed.

Ongoing quality

Our team keeps an eye on every listing and follows up on concerns from schools. The bar stays high for everyone.

Common questions

Is it free to be listed?
Yes — always. We don't take a commission. Authors keep 100% of their visit fees.
What counts as traditionally published?
A book published by a publishing house that acquires, edits, and pays its authors — this includes the major houses (Scholastic, HarperCollins, Penguin Random House…) and small independent presses. Self-publishing platforms like Amazon KDP and IngramSpark, and pay-to-publish (vanity) presses, don't count on their own — but see the next question.
Can self-published authors join?
Yes! Traditional publishing is our starting point for vetting, but we don't want to shut out excellent self-published presenters. If you're self-published, you can join by providing three references from schools you've visited — the school name and the email of the teacher or librarian who hosted you. That lets us confirm what matters most: that you're an experienced, engaging presenter.
Can I set my own pricing?
Yes. You control your rates for local, out-of-area, and virtual visits. You can also set the radius within which you don't charge a travel fee.
Do I have to offer free visits?
No, it's entirely optional, and most of your visits will be paid bookings. Find an Author offers a small number of free volunteer visits each school year to Title I and severely underfunded schools. If you're willing, we may reach out when a deserving school requests you, and you can always say yes or no.
How are authors vetted?
Traditionally published authors are verified through their publisher; self-published authors are verified through three references from schools they've presented at. Either way, our team reviews every profile before it goes live. Schools are always encouraged to complete their own district-mandated clearances with you during contracting.

Ready to apply?

It takes about 5 minutes. We'll follow up within 1–2 business days.