Speaking Engagements

 
 

I am represented by Blue Flower Arts for speaking engagements, and I am currently scheduling appearances for fall 2024 and beyond. To inquire about my availability, please contact Anya Backlund (anya@blueflowerarts.com) at Blue Flower Arts.

Experience

I’ve spoken at dozens of conferences, libraries, and festivals including: the American Library Association Annual Convention, the National Council of Teachers of English convention, the ALAN Workshop, School Library Journal’s Day of Dialog, the YALSA Young Adult Literature Symposium, the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library, the Cambridge Public Library, the San Francisco Public Library, Comic Con, the World Fantasy Convention, the Texas Book Festival, the Boston Book Festival, Wordstock, Litquake, and more. I’ve spoken at schools and colleges including Boston University, Vermont College of Fine Arts, Wellesley College, Brown University, the University of Connecticut, and many high schools. Finally, I’ve taught writing at writing conferences and workshops including SCBWI National, the Lambda Literary Foundation’s Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices; and the Alpha Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Workshop for Young Writers.

Possible Topics

  • Reimagining the World — A 45-minute talk about the challenges and joys of my career as a queer author of color, including the effects of the recent movement to ban books.

  • Inside the Telegraph Club: On the Real History Behind Last Night at the Telegraph Club — A 45-minute presentation about the historical research behind my novel Last Night at the Telegraph Club, including a reading.

  • Book Banning and Artistic Freedom

  • How To Be a Writer

  • Writing With Diversity

  • How to Write Books That Influence People: On Developing Authority as a Writer

  • Building Fictional Worlds

  • In conversation — I am available to be in conversation with an interviewer of your organization’s choice, to speak about writing, books, etc.