Thomas J. Gilding

Author / Mark Twain Impersonator

Burlington (Walworth County)

W1075 Potter Road
Burlington, Wisconsin 53105
(262) 763-5510
E-mail: twain@wi.net
Web site: http://www2.wi.net/~twain/

Wisconsin Connection
I was born in Fort Atkinson and spent my childhood in both the Madison and the Burlington areas. I currently live in Burlington and teach English, creative writing, and American literature. I attained my Bachelor of Science Degree in History, my Bachelor of Science Degree in English, and my Master Degree in Education at UW-Whitewater.

Published Works
Mark Twain & Me, Mikey T. (Mark Twain Entertainment, October 1996)
Illustrated by: Robert Marr

Jim Smiley & His Jumping Frog (Mark Twain Entertainment, September 1996)
Illustrated by: Robert Marr

A Fable: A Cat, A Mirror, & A Picture (Mark Twain Entertainment, September 1996)
Illustrated by: Matt Bowers

The Buffalo Climbed A Tree? (Mark Twain Entertainment, October 1996)
Illustrated by: Robert Marr

The Ant Is A Fraud (Mark Twain Entertainment, December 1996)
Illustrated by: Robert Marr

The Blue Jay Yarn (Mark Twain Entertainment, December 1996)
Illustrated by: Robert Marr

Presentations
Mark Twain Tales for Children. Mark Twain interacts with children telling stories about cats, ants, riverboats, and tall tales. Twain leaves children with a desire to use their imaginations. Target audience: K-3.

Mark Twain: The Lincoln of Our Literature. William Dean Howells referred to Mark Twain as "the Lincoln of our literature." Ernest Hemingway called Twain's masterpiece, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, "the first great American novel." "Twain" discusses his writings as students and teachers are given the opportunity to ask the author about his work in this unique teaching experience. Target audience: grades 9-12.

The Wit, Wisdom, Life & Times of Mark Twain. Mark Twain takes students back to his Tom Sawyer days in Hannibal, Missouri. "Writing about what you know about" is the theme of this lively presentation. Target audience: grades 4-8.

Fees
One Presentation: $350 Two Presentations: $450 Three Presentations: $550 Full Day: $650. Fees are for performances in same building/same day. Nominal travel fees may be assessed in some cases. Call for special inservice shows.

Additional Comments
During my Mark Twain presentations, I bring the wit and wisdom of the famous author Mark Twain to life for audiences of all ages. My young adult novel, Mark Twain & Me, Mikey T., allows the reader to follow Mikey Thompson, a modern-day Tom Sawyer of Hannibal, Missouri, through a year of his life as he writes a journal in an attempt to raise his grades. This book helps the reader learn about Mark Twain and writing. My Mark Twain Tales allow young children to read actual Twain stories long before they reach the Tom Sawyer years.

Genre(s) of books: picture books, fiction for children, fiction for young adults

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	Quick Guide CCBC Webcasts Original Interviews Wisconsin Book Creators CCBC Directory of Wisconsin Children's Book Creators Thomas J. Gilding Author / Mark Twain Impersonator Burlington (Walworth County) W1075 Potter Road Burlington, Wisconsin 53105 (262) 763-5510 E-mail: twain@wi.net Web site: http://www2.wi.net/~twain/ Wisconsin Connection I was born in Fort Atkinson and spent my childhood in both the Madison and the Burlington areas. I currently live in Burlington and teach English, creative writing, and American literature. I attained my Bachelor of Science Degree in History, my Bachelor of Science Degree in English, and my Master Degree in Education at UW-Whitewater. Published Works Mark Twain & Me, Mikey T. (Mark Twain Entertainment, October 1996) Illustrated by: Robert Marr Jim Smiley & His Jumping Frog (Mark Twain Entertainment, September 1996) Illustrated by: Robert Marr A Fable: A Cat, A Mirror, & A Picture (Mark Twain Entertainment, September 1996) Illustrated by: Matt Bowers The Buffalo Climbed A Tree? (Mark Twain Entertainment, October 1996) Illustrated by: Robert Marr The Ant Is A Fraud (Mark Twain Entertainment, December 1996) Illustrated by: Robert Marr The Blue Jay Yarn (Mark Twain Entertainment, December 1996) Illustrated by: Robert Marr Presentations Mark Twain Tales for Children. Mark Twain interacts with children telling stories about cats, ants, riverboats, and tall tales. Twain leaves children with a desire to use their imaginations. Target audience: K-3. Mark Twain: The Lincoln of Our Literature. William Dean Howells referred to Mark Twain as "the Lincoln of our literature." Ernest Hemingway called Twain's masterpiece, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, "the first great American novel." "Twain" discusses his writings as students and teachers are given the opportunity to ask the author about his work in this unique teaching experience. Target audience: grades 9-12. The Wit, Wisdom, Life & Times of Mark Twain. Mark Twain takes students back to his Tom Sawyer days in Hannibal, Missouri. "Writing about what you know about" is the theme of this lively presentation. Target audience: grades 4-8. Fees One Presentation: $350 Two Presentations: $450 Three Presentations: $550 Full Day: $650. Fees are for performances in same building/same day. Nominal travel fees may be assessed in some cases. Call for special inservice shows. Additional Comments During my Mark Twain presentations, I bring the wit and wisdom of the famous author Mark Twain to life for audiences of all ages. My young adult novel, Mark Twain & Me, Mikey T., allows the reader to follow Mikey Thompson, a modern-day Tom Sawyer of Hannibal, Missouri, through a year of his life as he writes a journal in an attempt to raise his grades. This book helps the reader learn about Mark Twain and writing. My Mark Twain Tales allow young children to read actual Twain stories long before they reach the Tom Sawyer years. Genre(s) of books: picture books, fiction for children, fiction for young adults