As a former classroom teacher and media specialist, it’s no surprise that I love connecting with students! 

I have presentations for groups of all ages and sizes. And we always begin with a game!

Click here for testimonials from teachers, librarians, and students!

IN-PERSON AUTHOR VISITS:

VIRTUAL VISITS:

  • I offer a limited number of free 20-minute Skype sessions to classes or groups who have read my book(s) in advance.
  • I also offer a 1-hour paid presentation with a Q&A session included.

BOOK FESTIVALS, CONFERENCES, AND OTHER ENGAGEMENTS:

These are my favorite! Please inquire for availability and fees.  

Note: I am deaf, but thanks to a cochlear implant, I’m able to do author visits without the need for an interpreter. However, question and answer sessions—which are my favorite—can sometimes be challenging. 

  • If we meet in an auditorium or cafeteria, it’s helpful that you have a microphone available for participants to ask me questions. 
  • Or I’ll ask participants to join me up front to present their questions while next to me.
  • In a classroom setting, it’s helpful to have kids write their questions down as I speak, and when we get to Q/A they can ask me the question while I read it from the card.

I thank you so much for accommodating this need, and I look forward to working with you and meeting your readers!

PRESENTATIONS:

If one of the following doesn’t fit your need, let’s chat, and I’ll be happy to customize a presentation for your readers. Note: All presentations include Q&A

  • General author presentation

    Join award-winning author Kerry O’Malley Cerra for an interactive, behind-the-scenes look at the world of books! Kerry shares the inspiration behind all of her novels and picture books, how real-life experiences shape her stories, where ideas come from, and what the writing and publishing process is really like. Along the way, she’ll talk about themes that matter to her—including animal advocacy, resilience, disability representation, and finding your voice.

    Presentations can also include a fun introduction to basic American Sign Language (ASL), giving students the opportunity to learn a few signs while exploring Deaf culture and communication.

    Every presentation is tailored to the audience and includes plenty of audience participation, a lively Q&A session, and a book signing. Whether students are aspiring writers, passionate readers, or simply curious about how books are made, they’ll leave inspired to tell their own stories and make a difference in the world.

    Can lean into one of her specific books if you’d like.

  • Creating Superhero-Worthy Main Characters interactive workshop

    Every unforgettable story starts with an unforgettable character. In this energetic, hands-on workshop, award-winning author Kerry O’Malley Cerra helps writers create a main character readers can’t help but root for. Using examples from her own books and favorites like Be a Friend, Because of Winn-Dixie, and The Hunger Games, Kerry explores character flaws, motivations, internal conflict, and the one question every writer must answer: What does your character want more than anything? (Spoiler: We’ll keep digging until we find the real answer!)

    By the end of the workshop, every participant will have a fully developed main character and the spark of a story ready to write. Along the way, Kerry shares insights into her writing process and publishing journey, with plenty of opportunities for discussion and questions.

    Best for sessions of at least 1 hour and 45 minutes, this workshop is filled with breakthrough moments, big discoveries, and the kind of excitement that sends writers hurrying back to the page.

  • Ride that Bus: Injecting Heart into Your Stories interactive workshop

    Readers may forget plot twists, but they’ll never forget how a story made them feel. In this interactive workshop, award-winning author Kerry O’Malley Cerra reveals how to transform personal experiences into universal truths that resonate with every reader. Through examples from children’s literature, writing exercises, and stories from her own journey, participants explore the building blocks of emotional storytelling—from discovering the heart of a story to creating authentic, unforgettable connections with readers.

    The workshop’s title is inspired by a bus ride Kerry once took to write a scene in one of her own novels—a journey that took five tickets before she found the courage to climb aboard. That experience became a powerful reminder that the most meaningful stories often begin where fear ends, and that the emotional risks we take as writers are often the ones that connect most deeply with readers.

    Writers will be challenged to dig beneath the surface, uncover why they feel compelled to tell a particular story, and discover that the deepest truths are often the ones readers recognize in themselves.

    Participants will leave with practical tools for adding heart to their writing—and the courage to ride the bus.

  • The Visual Writer: Using Images, Calendars, Maps, and Other Tools to Get Your Creativity Bouncing
  • Keys to the Gatekeepers: How to Get on the Radar of Librarians, Make State Lists, and Sell More Books Marketing presentation