AUTHOR VISITS AND OTHER FUN APPEARANCES AND EVENTS

Talking with kids and teens about books and writing is one of my favorite parts of being an author. If you would like me to visit your school or library, in person or online, I’ll be delighted to try to make it work. Please email me at anicamroserissi at gmail dot com to discuss.

I offer interactive, engaging, in-person and online writing workshops and presentations for small and large groups of all ages—including elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and adults. I pack each visit—from a 20-minute Q&A session with a small group of readers, to a full day of writing workshops and presentations with an entire school—with writing and revision tips, techniques, and encouragements for students to apply to their own writing in the future.

My goal for each visit is to leave every single student feeling excited about reading and empowered to create new stories of their own. 

PRESENTATIONS & WRITING WORKSHOPS

Here are a few examples of virtual and in-person programs offered. I’m happy to adjust both timing and content to suit your school’s schedule and needs.

That Would Make a Good Story… (great for groups of all sizes; adjusted for any grade level): What makes a good story? The answer differs from reader to reader! In this interactive presentation, Anica encourages kids to find what excites them as readers, and to follow that excitement into the stories they create. She shares her own writing from when she was a kid, talks about the inspiration behind the books she’s published, and shares some of the bumps and challenges she has encountered along the way, as well as how she overcame them. Includes time for a Q&A, into which she’ll pack lots of writing tips and encouragements.

Yes! And Then… Interactive Writing Workshop (best for smaller groups or single classrooms; adjusted for any age level, but best for grades 2 and up): In this hands-on writing workshop, Anica leads the students in a fun activity that starts with an original brainstorming game played together as a group, and ends with students creating new stories of their own, following the same process through which Anica developed the early spark of an idea into her first published book. Writing workshops (for kids, teens, or adults) are tailored to fit the students' ability levels, interests, and needs. Anica has taught writers of all ages and skill sets, from full-day (or full-weekend) workshops with teenagers and adults, to 30-minute sessions with 2nd-graders. She'll be happy to design a program that will inspire and engage the writers at your school.

Spooky Stories Writing Workshop (best for smaller groups or single classrooms; adjusted for any age level, but best for grades 4 and up): Through a series of fun brainstorming exercises, group storytelling games, and individual writing prompts, students explore how to use sensory details, foreshadowing, and reader expectations to craft short, spooky tales that thrill. Writing workshops (for kids, teens, or adults) are tailored to fit the students’ ability levels, interests, and needs. Workshops may be paired with presentations or stand alone.

Living a Creative Life (great for groups of all sizes; best for grades 6-12): In this energetic, interactive presentation, Anica discusses how the issues and ideas about which she was passionate as a young teen shaped her interest in the power of story and made her the writer she is today. Participants get an intimate, detailed look at Anica's writing and revision process, as she opens up about some of the bumps and challenges she encounters as a writer, and how she works through or around them. She discusses her approach to living a creative life, and offers practical and inspiring advice for students who'd like to cultivate and pursue their own creative passions. The session includes time for a Q&A, into which Anica packs lots of writing tips, techniques, and encouragements for the students to apply to their own writing and other creative endeavors. Her goal is for every student to leave the presentation feeling empowered and excited to create—whether new stories of their own, or other creative work.

Story Time plus Q&A (great for groups of all sizes; best for grades pre-K through 6): An interactive story time with the author! Anica will share her love of reading—and offer behind-the-scenes insights into her books’ creation—through an engaging, interactive read aloud. After the story (or stories!), she’ll answer students’ questions about writing, revising, the life of an author, or anything else inquiring minds want to know.

For information about rates and availability, please email anicamroserissi at gmail dot com.

Recent school visits, library talks, book festivals, and writers’ conferences include: 

Schools and libraries: Afton Elementary School (PA), Alexander Hamilton Elementary (NJ), Belvedere Elementary School (VA), Berkeley Elementary School (NJ), Blue Hill Public Library (ME), Brunner Elementary School (NJ), C.B. Jennings Elementary School (CT), Central Middle School (NJ), Chase Emerson Memorial Library (ME), Community Park Elementary School (NJ), Cotsen Children's Library (NJ), Cranbury School (NJ), Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School (ME), Dorcas Library (ME), Edmunds Consolidated School (ME), Ella Lewis Elementary School (ME), Endeavour Elementary (NJ), Ethical Culture (NY), Fairmount School (IL), Gillette School (NJ), Grace Church School (NY), Greenwich Village School (NY), Harrison Elementary School (NJ), Heards Ferry Elementary School (GA), Hillside Elementary School (NJ), Hopewell Elementary School (NJ), Johnson Park Elementary School (NJ), Jonesport Elementary School (ME), Lalor Elementary School (NJ), Lewis Elkin Elementary School (PA), Little Red School House (NY), Livingston Manor Central School (NY), Macungie Elementary (NJ), Mary S. Shoemaker School (NJ), Maurice Sendak Community School (NY), McGalliard Elementary School (NJ), McKinley Elementary School (VA), Metea Valley High School (IL), Milbridge Elementary School (ME), Nathan Hale Arts Magnet School (CT), NEST+m (NY), NYPL Jefferson Market (NY), Ocean City Intermediate School (NJ), Orchard Hill Elementary School (NJ), Pace Charter School (NJ), Park Slope School (NY), The Parkside School (NY), Passaic County Technical Institute (NJ), Piscataquis Community Elementary School (ME), Princeton Charter School (NJ), Princeton Day School (NJ), Princeton Elementary School (ME), Princeton Friends School (NJ), Princeton Public Library (NJ), Princeton Young Achievers Program (NJ), Reiche Elementary School (ME), Richard E. Byrd Elementary (NJ), Ridge Elementary School (NJ), Riverside Elementary School (NJ), Rose Hill Elementary School (VA), Schneider Elementary School (IL), School One (NJ), SeDoMoCha Elementary and Middle School (ME), Springfield Estates Elementary School (VA), Steck Elementary School (IL), Stonington Public Library (ME), Stratford Landing Elementary School (VA), Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart (NJ), T. Baldwin Demarest Elementary School (NJ), Thomas Memorial Library (ME), Truro Public Library (MA), University Heights Elementary School (NJ), Washington School for Girls (D.C.), Waubonsie Valley High School (IL), Woodrow Wilson School #5 (NJ), Yavneh Academy (NJ).

Festivals and conferences: Anderson’s YA Literature Conference (IL), Anderson’s YA Fandom Frenzy (IL), Association of Writers & Writing Programs Annual Conference (FL & OR), Bath Book Bash (ME), Brooklyn Book Festival (NY), Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Ghouls & Gourds Festival (NY), Cape AuthorFest (ME), Cecil County Public Library’s Children’s Book Festival (MD), Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival (NY), Decatur Book Festival (GA), Glen Rock Children’s Book Festival (NJ), Hudson Children’s Book Festival (NY), Maplewood South Orange Book Festival (NJ), Miami Book Fair (FL), NCTE (MA, MD, PA), nErDcampLI (NY), nErDcampMI (MI), nErDcampNJ (NJ), Newburyport Literary Festival (MA), NJASL Spring Mini-Con (NJ), Princeton Children's Book Festival (NJ), Rutgers One-on-One Plus Conference (NJ), SCBWI Winter Conference (NY), SCBWI Summer Conference (CA), Shreve Memorial Library Children’s Book Festival (LA), Southern Kentucky Book Fest (KY), Sullivan County Youth Book Festival (NY), Warwick Children's Book Festival (NY), William Paterson University Annual Spring Writer’s Conference (NJ), Word Blue Hill Literary Arts Festival (ME).

For news of upcoming public appearances and events, please visit the events page. 

Student and educator testimonials:

"You were fantastic with the kids and we had a run on your books as soon as our doors opened this morning. All of our copies flew off the shelves and many more students placed a hold to be next in line. Several teachers and our principal also commented on what a great event it was." —Pam, Library Media Specialist

"The day with you was just about everything I dream of happening in an author visit. It was a genuinely inspiring event. I heard one student say, 'Now that I've written this much, I'm going to write a chapter a week!'" —Janet, Education Director

"You were fabulous and my staff and students loved you! We were so impressed with your background, your discussion about your books, and the process that it takes just to write one book. You are a passionate and outstanding speaker. It is very apparent that you love what you do!" —Barbara, Principal

"I have received 100% positive feedback from teachers and students alike! Your storytelling was masterful and you totally connected with the students. Thank you, thank you, thank you for giving us an amazing experience!" —Dawn, Teacher Librarian

"The students are inspired to write more and we may even have some future authors. :) Just hearing about your journey shows students (and adults) that we all have bad days but the most important thing is to keep going. When the students heard you they could relate to that powerful message. You also showed all of us that writing should be fun and creative and not just an assignment from a teacher. Your visit will hold lasting memories for students and we hope you can come visit again soon!" —Amy, Reading Specialist

"We are so lucky, as a school, to have experienced your work and process first hand. I am always touched to see how creativity begins in childhood and how it is nurtured and cultivated through to adulthood. Your literary beginnings via the conduit of birthdays and love of animals was clear and provided such a deep understanding of narrative and its connection to a life lived. When my daughter returned home, we immediately began reading one of the Anna, Banana books and she didn't want me to stop until she was ready to go to sleep. This morning, instead of eating breakfast, she reread The Teacher's Pet." —Tina, Meet the Author Program Chair

"Thank you for visiting us! I really liked when you told us that tip about the first draft should be horrible. My favorite part was when you read the part about Banana going missing. It made me get really interested in the book. When I grow up I will be a writer." —Sylvie, grade 2

"Thank you for coming to our school! I really enjoyed learning about your book! Thank you for teaching us about how you write! My favorite part was Anna and learning about why Anna was mad. Thank you for sharing. I love learning." —Ethan, grade 2

"You taught me quite a bit about writing a book, and I will always remember the event." —John, grade 4

"Thank you for coming. You really inspired me. One way that you inspired me was that you were just a little kid and now you are an author." —Ambra, grade 3

"When you came to our school, you inspired me to write books and write about things you love! And you also teached me how to keep going even when you don't want to!" —Olivia, grade 3

"You have inspired me to become an author when I grow up." —Kaia, grade 2