Book a Class Visit with Kitty Felde

Kitty Felde is a writer of children’s books and plays, but she’s also an award-winning public radio talk show host and journalist. She offers these programs for school visits related to her work:

Contact: kitty@kittyfelde.com

Writing 101: How Do You Write and Publish a Book?

Ages 7-12

“Welcome to Washington, Fina Mendoza” is the story of the daughter of a congressman who solves the mystery of the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill. 

Have the class read the book and be prepared to ask questions. Kitty will talk about creating characters and plot, research, and separating fact from fiction. She will discuss the publishing process and how books get made into films, TV shows, and even podcasts.

Kitty can also teach a writing workshop to a group of no more than 20 students.

WELCOME TO WASHINGTON, FINA MENDOZA – Black Rose Writing, 2019

Civics 101: Who Runs The United States?

Ages 7 -12

“Welcome to Washington, Fina Mendoza” is the story of the daughter of a congressman who solves the mystery of the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill. But it’s also a behind-the-scenes peek at how Congress really works.

Have the class read the book and be prepared to ask questions. Kitty will discuss with students what the federal government does and does not do, the three branches of government and who’s the boss, and all the odd and quirky things that happen on Capitol Hill.

The class visit will include a Q&A session with Kitty and a writing session with every child writing  a pre-stamped postcard to their member of Congress.

Playwriting and Adaptation

Ages 8-17

Have the class read the play and be prepared to ask questions. If there is a longer session, the class can read the play aloud with Kitty. (everyone will need a copy of the script) Kitty will talk about the difference between plays and prose, and the importance of dialogue in both. She will also talk about how you adapt a piece of fiction to a work of drama.

Write a Play in an Hour (or a week)

Ages 8-18

For smaller groups – no more than 20 students

Kitty led the playwriting program for nearly a decade at HOLA – Heart of Los Angeles Youth – an inner city youth center. She works with students to write a play in a day. Kitty uses a technique to create characters and conflict that allow students to write either a one-page play (one hour session) or longer plays (four to five 45 minute sessions in the space of a week.)

Kitty covered the war crimes trials for the Bosnian War and Rwandan Genocide, including this case about a 25 year old Bosnian Croat who served in every army, but insists he never killed anyone…until his unit was sent to a corn field outside Srebrenica. He says he didn’t want to shoot anyone.

International Justice 101

Ages 14-25

Have the class read the play and be prepared to ask questions. If there is a longer session, the class can read the play – or portions of the play - aloud with Kitty. (everyone will need a copy of the script) Kitty will talk about why the International Criminal Tribunals and the International Criminal Court were created, how they work, why some countries (the U.S.) are opposed to them, and some of the cases.  

The class will debate three topics:

 o   what they would do if they were in the situation of the young soldier who was told to shoot or be shot (and then have his family killed as well)?

o   what’s an appropriate sentence for someone who confesses to killing “no more than 70” of the 1200 people killed that July afternoon?

o   Is an international criminal court the best way to ensure that “never again” never happens again?

Writing Fiction from Fact

Kitty has written numerous plays based on real facts – from a one-woman show about Theodore Roosevelt’s tart-tongued daughter Alice Roosevelt Longworth to an early environmentalist Helen Shaw Fowler, the woman who fought the government to save her water lily farm and in the process, saved DC’s last remaining tidal wetlands. She’ll talk about research, when to let the research go in favor of story, and how much allowance a writer is granted to write fiction. Class will discuss popular fictional takes on factual characters and situations.

Write a Play in an Hour (or a week)

Appropriate for Ages 14-25

For smaller groups – no more than 20 students

Kitty led the playwriting program for nearly a decade at HOLA – Heart of Los Angeles Youth – an inner city youth center. She works with students to write a play in a day. Kitty uses a technique to create characters and conflict that allow students to write either a one-page play (one hour session) or longer plays (four to five 45 minute sessions in the space of a week.)

BOOK CLUB FOR KIDS PODCAST – free 20-minute show where young readers discuss a middle grade novel, interview the author, and hear a reading from the book by a celebrity. Winner DC Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Humanities and California Library Association Technology Award. Wherever you get your podcasts or www.bookclubforkids.org.

Ages 11-14

Kitty is also host and executive producer of this award-winning podcast. She will come to a classroom to tape an episode with a trio of readers age 11-14. Teacher or librarian chooses a novel by an author not yet discussed on the show, makes sure the kids read the book, and gets permission slips signed. There is also an opportunity for more students to participate by sharing the name of their favorite book and why they love it. This audio will become a new Book Club for Kids episode.

For pricing and information, contact kitty@kittyfelde.com