Author Visits
Melissa loves talking to young people about reading and writing! Her programs are ideal for students in grades 4-7, whether through large or small groups at school, book clubs, library events, homeschool meetings, or in other settings. She is based in New York City and can meet in person or virtually.
Photo credit: Shulamit Photo + Video
“Melissa's visit to our school was not only engaging but inspiring for students and staff alike. Not only did J.R. Silver Writes Her World sound like fun story to read, but it gave us the exciting idea to craft our own short stories off of magazine covers and other images. Melissa also provided insight into being an author, which is invaluable for young writers to hear about.”
—LA, Manhattan
Interactive Presentations
Inspiration and Perspiration: Finding Ideas For Your Stories
(45 minutes)
Adaptable for large or small groups, Melissa will walk through where she gets ideas for her writing and what she does when she gets stuck. She will share anecdotes from various crossroads she reached while writing J.R. Silver Writes Her World and Greta Ever After—two novels starring protagonists who themselves love (and struggle with) writing—and offer tips for students looking to mine their own experiences to tell their next story. Time will be included for Q&A.
Perseverance vs. Perfectionism: Getting from Plot to Page
(45 minutes)
Suitable for large or small groups, Melissa will share her path from childhood writer to published author and discuss the power of trying, failing, and trying again along the way. Melissa’s presentation will look at why it’s hard but valuable to explore new things—in writing and in life—and why her protagonists learn that it’s more important to be true to yourself than to be perfect. Time will be included for Q&A.
Small-Group Workshops
Write Your World
(45-60 minutes)
In J.R. Silver Writes Her World, the protagonist writes stories in school that magically come to life. Students will work with Melissa to explore some of the writing prompts from the novel and draft their own stories. Time will be included for sharing work and Q&A.
Creating Compelling Characters
(45-60 minutes)
Creating compelling characters is key to hooking readers. In this workshop, Melissa will share how she crafted some of her favorite characters and work with students to bring their own characters to life in short written pieces. Time will be included for sharing drafts and Q&A.
Virtual-Only
Author Q&A
(30 minutes)
Ideal for classes, clubs, or homeschool or book groups that have read Melissa’s work, these sessions provide an opportunity for students to ask questions about her stories and about writing more generally. Melissa will also speak to the inspiration behind her books and her writing—and rewriting!—process.
Looking for something else? Please ask! Melissa is happy to develop programs that work best for young readers and writers.
“J.R. Silver Writes Her World was the perfect choice for our book club this past summer. The students were interested and engaged each week and easily related to the characters in the story. They were thrilled to meet the author during our last meeting. Melissa took careful steps to make sure the Zoom visit was as meaningful as possible. She spoke to the children about her inspiration behind the book and prepared a fun writing exercise for them that encouraged their own creativity. She was patient with their questions and motivational with her responses. Melissa established a great rapport with my book club friends from the very beginning and the hour flew by because we were all having so much fun! Praise to Melissa for her captivating presentation and ability to hold the audience's attention, even in an online format.”
—Elaine Volpe, Bethel Park Public Library
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Book a Visit
To schedule a visit or learn more, please reach out to Melissa at melissadassori@gmail.com or to Louise Campbell at The Booking Tree at thebookingtree.agency/contact-us. Signed book sales can also be arranged.