I have given presentations about all sorts of elements of my writing career to all sorts of audiences – including book groups, writers, travelers, executives, educators and students. For more information (and fee information), contact me at brad@bradherzog.com.

SCHOOL VISITS
About 20-30 times each year, I visit public and private schools around the country, from K all the way through 12th grade. I discuss how I became a writer, the joys of the writing life, how I generate ideas and the process of creating one of my books – from idea to promotion. Click here for more information about my school visit program.

CONNECTING THE DOTS
My theory is that America is not a patchwork quilt or a melting pot. It is a masterpiece of pointillism, a dot painting. From far away, the dots (small-town America – those tiniest dots on the atlas) blend together to form an image. But from up close, each tells its own fascinating story and offers myriad life lessons. In this presentation about my journeys along the roads less traveled (which I have given at venues ranging from the National Steinbeck Center to the Winnebago-Itasca Grand National Rally), I recount some profound and humorous stories from my travels and discuss how epiphanies can arise from seemingly simple encounters. The goal is to entertain, enlighten and inspire.

WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?
For writers’ groups, any group hoping to inspire creativity, I present "13 Paths to a Good Story," each accompanied by a concrete example or two from my own writing career:

1. Wonder out loud
2. Counter conventional wisdom
3. Embrace whimsy
4. Be alert
5. Find glory in the mundane
6. Celebrate the uncelebrated
7. Make lists
8. Remember anniversaries
9. Sell no wine before its time
10. Participate
11. Pursue a search
12. Find the real story
13. Set the tone

HEMINGWAY WAS A SPORTSWRITER
For educators and parents, I offer a personal, anecdotal, historical discussion about how kids’ passion for athletics can translate into enthusiasm for reading and writing. I examine the world of sports as it relates to literature, society, the classroom and my own evolution as a writer. The point: If enthusiasm for sports gets a child to read and write, by all means let them run with it.

THE AUTHOR’S PERSPECTIVE
I have visited with book groups over the years – both via conference call and in person as a special guest. It is a joy for me to discuss my books with people who have just finished reading them, to receive their critiques and questions and to explain my point of view.