Resources

Directories of Authors:

If you want to get your name out for potential speaking venues, here are a few directories you might want to sign up for:

• CreativeGround: Directory of New England writers, artists, and creative businesses. 
• Romance Writers of America Speakers Bureau
• Science Fiction Writers of America Speakers Bureau
• Sisters in Crime New England Speakers Bureau
• Author School Visits by State: Children’s book author Kim Norman has created a state-by-state listing of authors who do school visits.
• ALAN Online Speakers Bureau for Writers of YA Books
• Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Speakers Bureau: Directory of authors and illustrators who will speak to school groups from pre-school to high school, and to adult audiences as well. Searchable by region and topic.

Helpful Advice

• Writer Beware!: There are a lot of sharks out there in the literary ocean–the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America provides information on how to tell whether an agent or publisher is legit–and how to recognize the ones who aren’t.

Professional Organizations

• The Authors Guild: Authors banding together to protect their rights. The Authors Guild also provides reasonably priced web hosting, legal services, and health insurance.
• Historical Novel Society: Organization dedicated to writers and readers of historical novels.
• National Writers Union: Solidarity for writers – Union reps will help you review your contract, file grievances if neeeded, get health insurance if you’re self-employed, and more. Also features a Job Hotline, Agent Database, and numerous informative publications on contracts.
• PEN America: Advocates for literary and intellectual freedom and human rights, sponsors public literacy programs, writing awards, and assistance for writers in need.

Words, Words, Words

Wordorigins.org: Dave Wilton, author of Word Myths: Debunking Linguistic Urban Legends gives you the lowdown and debunks the myths about the origins of familiar words and phrases.

History web sites

• Connecticut History, Facts, and Quotes: Links to Connecticut history museums and websites.
• Digital Commonwealth: Historic images from more than 100 Massachusetts cultural institutions, including libraries, museums, colleges, and historical societies. Includes photographs, memorabilia, historic documents, and more.
• History Matters: A collection of American history materials for students and teachers, including primary documents and images, interviews, and links to other history sites.
• The Library of Congress: Not just books! Music, photographs, documents, webcasts, and more on just about everything you’d ever want to know about American history.
• NineteenTeen: A fun blog by authors Regina Scott  and Marissa Doyle about what life might be like if you were an elegant teenager in Victorian England.
• Nineteenth-century America: Links to hundreds of web pages with information about American history, maintained by “Teacher Oz,” a teacher in Texas.

Archives and Special Collections:

• American Antiquarian Society: Located in Worcester, MA, the AAS has extensive collections of American publications and manuscript materials through 1876. Online catalog available.

Directories of authors and artists who do school visits:

• CreativeGround: Directory of New England writers, artists, and creative businesses. 
• Author School Visits by State: Children’s book author Kim Norman has created a state-by-state listing of authors who do school visits.
• ALAN Online Speakers Bureau for Writers of YA Books
• Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Speakers Bureau: Directory of authors and illustrators who will speak to school groups from pre-school to high school, and to adult audiences as well. Searchable by region and topic.

History websites and online lesson plans:

Connecticut Historical Resource Guide: Links to many Connecticut history sites, including a list of Connecticut history sites for kids.

Connecticut History, Facts, and Quotes:  Links to Connecticut history museums and websites.

Digital Blackboard: A collection of Web-based American history assignments.

The Library of Congress: The ultimate American history site! The Library of Congress has lesson plans, online collections of photographs and documents, and much, much more.

National Archives: Lesson plans in American history using primary documents from the National Archives collections.

National Humanities Center Toolbox Library: A collection of lesson plans incorporating primary resources in US History and Literature.

Old Sturbridge Village: Lesson plans on a variety of topics pertaining to early-19th-century American history, from education to the abolition movement to Native Americans, tailored to elementary, middle, or high-school students from one of the country’s premier living history museums. Co-ordinate your lesson plan with a field trip to Old Sturbridge Village!

Teaching with Historic Places: The National Park Service has created a fabulous state-by-state collection of lesson plans using historic sites to teach history. Have a historic site in your hometown you’d like to use for a class project? This site also has step-by-step guides for developing lesson plans around historic places. A great way to help organize field trips!