I’d love to visit your school, reading group, or writing workshop!
I can talk to your group about the journey from idea to publication, plotting a novel, writing strong characters, showing your character’s emotion, and more. Each session will allow time for Q&A. Presentations can be tailored to fit the needs of the audience.
To request an appearance, contact Christie Hinrichs at christie@authorsunbound.com, or (541) 797-2217. View my speaker profile here. (For online or Houston-area visits, you can contact me directly).
Please note: Lynne supports equity and inclusivity in the world of books and beyond. She is not available for any book events that discriminate against marginalized or underrepresented people, either on the page or off.
Click here to watch a video for the Gaithersburg Book Festival about the inspiration for Song For a Whale and answers to questions from students.
Presentations for Writers
Keynote: A Writer Writes and a Whale Sings
When we sit down to create, we don’t know how the finished product will turn out or how our audience will receive it. Yet there’s something that drives us to keep working on our craft.
Lynne Kelly will share her fascination with a whale who sings like no other and what he has in common with those of us who create books.
Get In, Writer, We’re Going Plotting: How Your Character Drives the Plot
All stories have obstacles, but every character responds differently to those obstacles. Whether you like to plan your whole novel before you start writing or figure it out as you go, the characters you create determine how your story unfolds. In this session we’ll work on developing characters that drive the plot, and plot points that reveal who our characters are.
Once More With Feeling
The books that stick with us most are ones that make us feel like we’re traveling the journey alongside the character. In this workshop, we’ll work on showing emotions and motivations so readers will feel pulled into your story and connected to your characters.
A Bridge Over Muddy Middles
Often our stories start out strong, but turn mushy somewhere along the way. Writing a powerful midpoint gives you clarity about where your character is going and what they’ll need as they step into the last half of their journey. Whether you like to plan every scene before drafting or discover the story as you go, firming up the midpoint will give your work a stronger foundation.
“Lynne Kelly was the perfect choice as the young adult author for our annual All Pueblo Reads project. Not only did Lynne deliver a wonderful presentation to our young viewers, she also promoted the event on her own social media page by sharing and liking the library posts. Lynne was knowledgeable, friendly and a pleasure to host!” —Pueblo City-County Library District
“The visit ran very smoothly and the students really enjoyed being able to ask lots of questions. Lynne Kelly’s presentation gave great insight into what the writing process can look like!” —Mary Mosley, Langley Elementary School librarian, Northside ISD, San Antonio, TX
“Ms. Kelly discussed the in-depth research that went into her book and offered a wealth of thought-provoking information about the real 52 hertz whale, the inspiration for the whale in her book. The session was insightful, engaging, and allowed for plenty of participant interaction. Participants (comprised of students, school staff members, and parents) remarked that they enjoyed the opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes peek at the writing process of a favorite author. Although nothing can compare to an in-person visit, our virtual visit with Lynne Kelly still packed plenty of magic and excitement in during a tough time for our students. I highly recommend connecting with Ms. Kelly for a virtual author visit. Students will find Iris’ story inspiring, and will cherish the opportunity to learn more from an engaging writer. Our group of readers at Iroquois Central look forward to future books from Lynne Kelly, and will look back on her visit as one of the highlights of their quarantine learning.” —Maria Muhlbauer, Iroquois Middle School librarian
“Young audiences are eager to learn about animals in the wild and ways that we can protect them too. Lynne Kelly’s presentation addresses both issues while teaching students about craft of writing.” —Paula Morton, Librarian, Garcia Middle School, Sugarland, TX
“Lynne Kelly was cool. She was funny and serious at the same time. Hearing about her life and how she wrote the book was interesting.” —Madi J., 6th grader, Collins Intermediate School
“Lynne Kelly did a great job with both informing and entertaining my 4th and 5th graders. All of us, students and teachers alike, were fascinated with the story of Hastin and Nandita from Chained and at the same time, we all learned a lot that we didn’t realize about elephants and their way of life. I would definitely recommend this book and its author!” —Cathy Lancaster, librarian, Giddings Intermediate School, Giddings, TX
