Events Upcoming and Past

Interested in a World Read Aloud Day 2025 virtual visit? Please use the contact form on this website so I can send you the scheduling link. 

Meanwhile, you can check out the Magination Press recorded reading and the Pride & Less Prejudice recorded reading and a K-3rd teaching guide for the book. Pride & Less Prejudice is an organization that provides LGBTQ-inclusive books to Pre-K through 3rd grade classrooms by donation.

Also, the illustrator Taylor Barron made a handout of the cover in line drawing without Verity or the title so students can draw themselves on the front surrounded by the things they love to think, learn, and talk about. 

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World Read Aloud Day 2025 virtual classroom visits with Meghan Wilson Duff, author of How Are You, Verity? illustrated by Taylor Barron. Feb 5th, 2025. Illustrated character Verity with giant stack of sea life books. Sea life black and white clip art of a sea star, urchin, and some coral.

Briar Patch Books will be selling copies of How Are You, Verity? and I will be there signing them. 

From the website:

Join us for Maine’s largest authors’ fair and meet 90+ notable local Maine authors, get your books signed, and support the local literary arts with your purchase of personalized books! Enjoy free readings, talks, and panels throughout the day as we “take over” the beautiful Bangor Public Library to celebrate the Literary Arts this winter holiday season.

Authors from all genres will be represented: adult and YA fiction, non-fiction, romance, mystery, adventure, folklore, outdoors, self help, science fiction, fantasy, cryptozoology, children’s books, cookbooks, horror, paranormal, history, and many more. With dozens and dozens of titles by Maine authors to discover, there’s something for everyone. There will also be raffle tickets, sponsors’ vendor tables, and special surprises and events at the day of the show.

The Fair will also feature the special launch of “North Woods at Night” a charity anthology to support the the Forest Society of Maine

Free admission and programming but if you plan to buy books bring cash, Venmo, or PayPal as many authors cannot accept credit cards. Shopping local and supporting the arts locally is Paul Bunyan approved!

This event is organized and hosted by Christopher Packard, Author of Mythical Creatures of Maine in cooperation with the Bangor Public Library.

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Side of building mural that looks a bit like a classic post card. "Greetings from Bangor Maine" Each letter for Bangor has a detailed scene in it. The background is water and hills.

I will be on two kidlit panels at NCTE 2024 in Boston.

Authentic Neurodiversity & Disability Representation As Resistance Against Misinformation and Passive Curricular Violence In The Classroom with authors and illustrators Halli Gomez, Federico Erebia, & Katie Mazeika

Heart, Hope, Humanity & Happiness: Bringing Queer Picture Book Joy to the Classroom with authors and illustrators Jeanette Bradley, Vicki Johnson, Lesléa Newman, Eric Rosswood, & Allen Wells

I will also be signing copies of How Are You, Verity? for Magination Press.

This year's NCTE annual conference logo is a black heart with "Heart, Hope, Humanity 2024 NCTE Annual Convention November 21-24th, Boston, MA" on it and purple, green, orange, and pink behind the heart.

Saturday, October 12th
10:00 AM Kids Lit Bookfair at the Maine LIt Fest
PORTLAND - Portland Public Library

Family-friendly & Free. Featuring 20+ Children's Authors and Illustrators from Maine & New England. Plus Drag Queen Storytime, Illustrator Draw-Offs, Puppets, Music, Crafts, and BOOKS galore!!

This event is co-hosted by Back Cove Books and Portland Public Library.

Minds of All Kinds: Neurodivergence in Picture Books

This event is part of Maine Lit Fest 2024

October 5th at 7 pm

Join neurodivergent picture book authors Samara Cole Doyon, Meghan Wilson Duff, and Steve Asbell, who is also an illustrator, for a conversation about the importance of neurodivergent and autistic-affirming books for children. Thanks to the work of generations of disability rights advocates, the neurodiversity movement, and the publishing industry now seeking more diverse books it is much easier to find stories that center autistic and neurodivergent children’s perspectives and experiences. 

The panelists are neurodivergent creators, parents of neurodivergent and autistic children, and all write neurodivergent and autistic-affirming stories. They will talk about what makes for positive autistic and neurodivergent representation and what inspires their work, as well as the audiences they hope to reach, the impact they hope to create, and the surprises they’ve encountered along the way. Session will include time for questions, and attendees will receive a list of books and online resources for further exploration.

This event will include closed captions and will be moderated by Alexa Gallant, Autism Information Specialist with Autism Society of Maine. 

Interested in meeting Maine authors Samara Cole Doyon and Meghan Wilson Duff? They will be signing books at the Kid Lit Bookfair at the Portland Library on Saturday, October 12th at 10:00 AM. For more information see the Maine Lit Fest list of events.

Steve Asbell was diagnosed with autism and draws a comic strip called Stimmy Kitty that shares childhood experiences through an autistic lens. As a member of SCBWI, he won the Rising Kite Award for illustrations. He lives near Jacksonville, Florida, where he can be found drawing and gardening with his family. You can also find him online at steveasbell.com.

Samara Cole Doyon is a poet, educator, and award-winning children’s book author living on unceded Wabanaki / Abenaki territory. She is a neurodivergent mother of neurodivergent children, and Next Level (Tilbury House, 2024) is her third picture book and a love letter to her amazing, non-speaking, Autistic son. It has been in the world for 4 months, and has already garnered a star review from Kirkus and glowing praise from bookstagrammers like Maya Lê from MaiStoryBook and Kristin from Reading with Red + the Magpie. Samara works at Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance and resides with her husband, two children, and rescue pup in central Maine. More information at samaracoledoyon.com.

Meghan Wilson Duff is the author of the picture book How Are You, Verity?, illustrated by Taylor Barron released by Magination Press. They wanted to be a marine biologist when they grew up, but got distracted trying to figure out people and became a clinical psychologist. They are faculty in University of Maine at Machias’s Psychology & Community Studies program, and love working with students. They are one of the autistic people in their family. www.meghanwilsonduff.com

Professional development workshop for Island Writers & Readers.

What are some ways that the neurodiversity framework might help us better support students, as well as the school community? What are some of the challenges that come with embracing this framework in schools? This workshop will include a brief presentation followed by discussions. 

Participants will receive handouts and a reading list with recommendations for increasing positive neurodivergent representation in their classroom and school library. 

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Island Readers & Writers logo. Line drawn children sailing in an open book toward an island with pine trees on it above Island Readers & Writers written in orange with a splash off the last word.

Professional development workshop for Island Writers & Readers.

What are some ways that the neurodiversity framework might help us better support students, as well as the school community? What are some of the challenges that come with embracing this framework in schools? This workshop will include a brief presentation followed by discussions. 

Participants will receive handouts and a reading list with recommendations for increasing positive neurodivergent representation in their classroom and school library. 

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Island Readers & Writers logo. Line drawn children sailing in an open book toward an island with pine trees on it above Island Readers & Writers written in orange with a splash off the last word.

All information below is also on the flyer image and accessible via the program website.

Desiring Autism and Neurodivergence Symposium
Tuesday, July 23, 20249:00 AM 
Thursday, July 25, 20241:30 PM

Desiring Autism and Neurodivergence in Education: Critical, Creative, and Decolonial Perspectives Symposium is being held July 23-25, 2024 at Queen’s University in what is currently known as Kingston, Ontario. 

We invite researchers, artists, and activists to join us. We seek new conversations, contestations and perspectives that build solidarity and Autistic justice across sites of difference and tension in Autism research, politics and practice including, for example, self-advocacy and parent advocacy; rural and urban experiences; global North and South disability perspectives; unsettling settler and elevating Indigenous understandings of difference; critical educator/practitioner and user/consumer experiences; rethinking biomedical and neurodiversity approaches. 

https://events.fin.queensu.ca/cgi/page.cgi/_eventmgr.html?event_id=133&action=viewdetail

Keynote Speakers:

Nicole Inneese-Nash, Vanessa Dion Fletcher, Grant Bruno, Dorothy Taare Smith, and Jacqui Getfield

Activities:

Round tables - Panels

Student Knowledge Excahnges

Métis Beadwork & Decolonizing Autism

Re-Storying Autism Film Screeening

Workshops and more!

Join us to

• Transform deficit mindsets in education about neurodivergence
• Promote affirming, participatory eduational research and practice
• Advance decolonial and intersectional approaches in disability studies, critical autism studies, education, and more
• Share knowledge through arts to build networks and drive cheange.

Register now: Online or on Queen's University Campus

Sponsors' Logos: 

Re-storying Autism

Social Sciences and Humanities Resources Council of Canada/Conseil de recherches en science humaines du Canada

Canada (with flag) 

Queens's University (with shield) 

Join me and authors and author illustrator Jeanette Bradley, Nancy Churnin, Joëlle Retener, Allen Wells for a panel discussion on Beyond Pride: Reimagining the Use of LGBTQIA+ Books in the Elementary Classroom. 

What's a nErD Camp?

"nErD Camps are FREE professional development sessions for educators and librarians who love books and want to discuss timely topics with the people who create them!" 

nErD Camp PA is sponsored by Millersville University and the Keystone State Literacy Association. It has a public facebook group if you're interested in learning more about the program and this coming years panels. More information should be available in June.

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Three logos: Millersville University is the name of the school in dark blue with one line of the M looking like a cutlass. Keystone State Literary Association's logo is text inside the shape of Pennsylvania. The nErD Camp PA logo is illustrated with four kids with different skin colors holding up signs with a letter for nErD. There is also a dog by one of the kids. Behind/under the kids is the shape of Pennsylvania. Text: nErD Camp PA July 12th, 2024 9-3pm EST online Culturally Responsive Authors & Teachers 

How Are You, Verity? is a finalist for the Maine Literary Awards this years. The book is in good company with Hidden Hope: How a Toy & a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaust by Elisa Boxer and Amy June Bates and The Lobster Lady by Alexandra S. D. Hinrichs & Jamie Hogan. 

Alt Text: Logo for award. Green text is 2024 Maine Literary Awards Finalist. Illustrated pinecone in the center.

What makes for an autistic affirming book for kids? This talk will provide family and friends, as well as school and community folks who work with children some things to look for in autistic representation in children's literature. Attendees will leave with a resource list including some autistic-coded or neurodivergent-coded stories that aren't marketed or described as autistic representation, but are often very meaningful for young autistic kids. The presenter, Meghan Wilson Duff, is the author of the picture book How Are You, Verity? illustrated by Taylor Barron. They are also a former child and family therapist and currently a psychology professor at University of Maine at Machias and will infodump about autistic experience and culture anytime you like. There will be at least 20 minutes for questions and discussion.

This event is free. Link to register (via Zoom)

www.meghanwilsonduff.com

alt text: Finding Autistic Affirming Kid's Book with Meghan Wilson Duff Author and Psychology Professor at University of Maine at Machias Online April 29th 7 pm EST Image is sea life rainbow infinity symbol 

NESCBWI is New England Society for Children's Book Writers & Illustrators. The event is on zoom and costs $10 for members and $15 for non-members. 

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NESCBWI Virtual ShopTalk Building Online Presence For the Social Media Ambivalent April 24th, 2024 online at 5pm EST

NESCBWI logo image: Mouse on a tortoise's back holding a banner that says "50 Years NESCBWI" by Anna Gregoire 

$10 for members, $15 for nonmembers 

Registration link

Visited one of our Creative Arts Program courses to present on Getting Published: Kidlit as an Industry.

Alt Image: Translating Identity Conference logo: A mountain with a trans symbol in a circle. "Established 2002."

Verity visited four classrooms (virtually) this year. It was a lot of fun. Meghan got asked some very thoughtful questions about writing. Students got to color their own covers courtesy of the a sheet that illustrator Taylor Barron made for them. That sheet is available on the site under resources for kids and schools. 

Alt Text: Purple background with yellow start outlines and illustrated kid Verity holding stack out of books World Read Aloud Day 2024 with Meghan Wilson Duff, Author of How Are You, Verity? Illustrated by Taylor Barron

Meghan visited 1st and 2nd graders at Van Ness Elementary School in Washington, DC. Students had so much to share about what they loved to learn, talk, and think about. It was a lot of fun. 1st and 2nd graders ask so many good questions. Meghan was invited by An Open Book Foundation and had support from Magination Press. 

Alt Image 1: Meghan presenting in front of a group of kids sitting on the floor. They are pointing down to a kid while learning back. Many kids have their arms raised high. One the presentation screen is "What's your favorite sea life?"

Massachusetts Psychological Association 23rd Annual Convention

Raising the Next Generation: Innovation to Address the Evolving Needs of Youth and the Profession

Saturday, November 4th, 2023

Norwood, MA

Double Empathy Problem & Building Rapport with Autistic Young People
Presented by Meghan Wilson Duff, PsyD 

Self-diagnosis or identifying oneself as autistic (or AuDHD) is quite common these days because of social media, online communities, and wider representation of autistic characters and creators in the media. While young people are finding social support in peers who understand, there is a desire for neurodiversity-informed therapists, and more specifically, ones who understand and value autistic experience and culture. This session includes ways in which clinicians might be trying to establish rapport and instead signal disconnection that prompts distrust in autistic young people. We will also cover ways to signal that you’re comfortable with autistic experience and that it is safe to disclose. A very brief overview of Neurodiversity as a framework and social movement will be presented and Milton’s Double Empathy Problem provide context for thinking about challenges to rapport and how to address them.

Please join us in Merrill Library as we host Dr. Meghan Wilson Duff who will read from her recently published children's book, How Are You Verity? illustrated by Taylor Barron. The book reading will take place on Thursday, September 28th at 6:00 pm. Light refreshments will be served. The event is open to all.

Meghan Wilson Duff is an associate professor of psychology in UMM’s Psychology and Community Studies Program. They hold a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Antioch University New England and they have previously worked as a child and family therapist and an adolescent substance abuse treatment provider.

Copies of How Are You, Verity?, written by Meghan Wilson Duff, illustrated by Taylor Barron, and released by Magination Press will be available for a $15 donation to Porter Memorial Library.

For more information about the event, call the library at 207-255-3933.

Fun, Creative Provessional Development - on Antioch University Zoom.

You'll learn about:

• Children's Literature (kidlit) as a clinical resource & where to find books
• Why write kidlit? Stretching professionally in a few different ways
• Where to start if you would like to write kidlit?

For more information about joining this Zoom meeting, contact meghan.duff@maine.edu.

Literature for Hope and Change

10:15-11:15 AM Breakout - Neurodivergent Authors Geek out About Neurodivergent Rep in Kidlit.

I'll be joining Halli Gomez, author of List of Ten, Lyn Miller-Lachmann, author of Torch, and Katie Mazeika, author and illustrator of Beulah Has A Hunch.