School Visits, University Lectures, Professional Speaking
THOUGHT-PROVOKING EDUCATIONAL EVENTS FOR ALL AGES
"I think the most important thing to understand about a visit from Amy Sarig King is not just the moment when she is there in front of you, but the ripples she leaves behind. She has a way of making everyone feel seen, heard, and loved that isn't easily forgotten."
—Kate McNair, Teen Services Coordinating Librarian, Johnson County Libraries, KS
A.S. King has spoken about many subjects to many people of many ages in schools, libraries, and educational institutions around the world. She's pretty sure her mission on Earth is to empower people, whether through her years teaching adults how to read or through her message to high school students about their pasts, futures, and "personal suitcases."
These days, most of her school presentations center around positive connection with trusted adults, self-esteem, and facing trauma, all wrapped up in a discussion about how learning to write and communicate effectively is the most important life skill. But Amy can talk about anything, really. She has been a visual artist, a tradesperson, a literacy teacher and trainer, an MFA professor, a curriculum designer, a library trustee and policy writer, an intellectual freedom fighter, a youth activist, a journalist, a grief peer group facilitator, a self-sufficient farmer, and has been trained in mental health first aid and trauma resilience, and has long been a compassionate speaker to school communities in crisis.
To request an in-person or virtual speaking engagement, please contact Christie Hinrichs at Authors Unbound by clicking below.
SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS FOR ALL AGES
How to Write a Good Life: An Exploration of Your Personal Suitcase
A 40-60 minute high-energy school assembly or library program. Amy asks students to consider their past experiences and explains how to use them to positively shape their future and learn from mistakes rather than be defined by them. This is Amy's most popular "Who packs your suitcase?" presentation that has helped tens of thousands of students take control of who they allow in their decision-making space. Recommended for grades 8-12.
ArtPhone!
In this high-energy assembly program, Amy talks to students about the science of smartphone addiction, and how to shift phone usage from the endless scroll into something more creative and useful--art! With the rise of TikTok and other creative social media, the youth of today know the power of creativity--Amy aims to get them to think bigger into the world of visual art, film, music composition / performance, and writing available right there on their phones. Grades 6-12+
What Do Friendship and Pollution Have in Common?
Exploring Me and Marvin Gardens and It Came from the Creek
A 30-45 assembly program about how friendships form, what a healthy one looks like, and how to best take care of people and places we love. The talk, followed by a hearty Q&A, is perfect for a school or community that has read Me and Marvin Gardens or It Came from the Creek and wants to further explore the environmental science or the social science themes within the novel. Additional curriculum and school-wide activity guides are available. Recommended for grades 3-7.
Your Voice Matters—What is Intellectual Freedom and Why Is It Important?
Exploring Attack of the Black Rectangles
A 40-50 minute assembly on what intellectual freedom is and how we can protect it in times of political divisiveness. Amy talks about her experience as a library trustee facing book challenges, as an author dealing with book bans, and as a parent whose child’s book was censored. A non-partisan conversation about voting, reading, and what you can do if your freedom to read is targeted. Additional curriculum and school-wide activity guides are available. Recommended for grades 3-8.
Short Intellectual Freedom Programs!
It doesn’t have to be Banned Books Week to get Amy into your classroom / library to talk to students about their freedom to read, banned books, why it’s important to VOTE, why intellectual freedom matters, and how to work inside your community to protect it. This program can be used as an add-on to a school visit.
How to Write a Novel in Three Easy Steps—An Exploration of Process
In this humorous, compassionate talk, Amy describes the writing process and what it takes to write a good novel. She also talks about WHY writers write. Do you have what it takes? This presentation can be for any age group and can be used as an add-on to a visit.
University Incoming Freshman Reads
Amy's novel Dig. (among others) has been used at several universities as an incoming freshman read. The book explores whiteness and privilege and helps incoming college students connect with a wider worldview and make new connections within themselves, which helps them move forward in their educations and lives in a more confident and compassionate space.
Student Response:
"I was in a . . . class that required me to [attend your event] about your book Dig. At the time, I had no idea who you were or anything about your writing. You lit a spark in me that day, . . . the way you spoke about issues in this country made me reflect on my values, you were the one to push me to do more research, to formulate my own opinions. Thanks to you, I'm coming into my own. Your words impacted me a lot that day, you gave me hope that the world isn't totally full of hateful people, so thank you :)"
Keynotes, Lectures, and Conference Events
Engaging Keynotes, Educational Panels, and Lectures
Amy is an experienced speaker, panelist, and workshop leader. She has spoken at national events, including the National Book Festival, American Library Association's Annual Conference, National Council of Teachers of English, Assembly on Literature for Adolescents, many state library and ELA educator conferences, and literary festivals around the world. She also speaks to larger organizations in the field of mental health and runs professional development for teachers and other professionals.
She is known as a passionate, personal speaker who weaves her life experience into lectures that explore the wider implications of art, the artist's life, and who we are truly serving with our work.
See below for examples of Amy's programming for organizations, universities, and professional development.
Teen Literacy Is the Solution to Everything
In these times of widespread violence, hate, and fear, we look to teenagers as harbingers of a brighter future. Teen literacy has always been important, but as fifteen generations of unresolved shame and dishonesty split our nation into factions and left more than half of the adult population more pliable due to limited literacy skills, teen literacy is the only way out. The truth is the solution—but how do teens find it when so many adults peddle their own version?
We Are Mental
In this 90-minute multi-media master class for educators, Amy talks about teaching students who have experienced trauma, self-care writing for educators, and how emotions and effective writing have always been tied to each other. This is a hands-on talk, and attendees will experience the "A.S. King Character Creation Wizard."
What is Art? And How Do We Make It? (And Once We Make It, What Do We Do With It? And Once We Do Something With It, Where Do We Put It? And Once We Put It Somewhere, Will We Be Happy?)
A feel-good university lecture about how art and the business of publishing meet. (Or don’t meet.) And how to surf feelings of failure and success in our work while figuring out our true place within our field. It’s also about why we write and why we write for children, finding inspiration, money, and happiness. And through all this, the lecture attempts to encourage writers to deepen their characters through inspired visits to art museums, a variety of food trucks, and through their own personal trauma.
Life of an Author—Exciting Students & Writers Through Career Conversation
A one-to two-hour-long discussion and Q&A about the life of a published author and the publishing business. For writer’s groups and conferences, consider ‘Finding Your Writer’s Middle Finger: An examination of persistence, voice, and breaking traditional writing rules’ based on Amy’s popular blog series.
Let A.S. King Write You a Speech Your Audience Will Remember
Amy is known for her inspiring, passionate speeches for special events, professional conferences, and celebrations. Her subject matter is wide and fine-tuned to your specifications. Her goal is to leave your audience in a warm, compassionate blanket of thought alongside an injection of inspiration and insight--all while discussing the adversity of your clients, students, or members head-on. Do you want your audience to feel loved and seen? Get Amy. (And bring tissues.)
"Art is pain made beautiful."—A.S. King
"
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“We have hosted Amy several times at my public library in suburban Kansas City. It is hard to paint these events with a broad brush, as Amy is a master of lectures, workshops, and interviews for a variety of audiences. Each event is uniquely tailored for the moment and the audience, something you don't often see in speakers in my experience. No matter the format or the audience, Amy fosters a safe and creative space with her vulnerability, humility, and humor. She connects with students by being genuinely interested in their opinions, questions, and well-being. In large events and assemblies, Amy has a way of making everyone feel seen, as evidenced by the long line of teens who stay late while chairs are being stacked and lights turned out to share a private word with her.
I think the most important thing to understand about a visit from Amy King is not just the moment when she is there in front of you, but the ripples she leaves behind. She has a way of making everyone feel seen, heard, and loved that isn't easily forgotten. To this day, at the mention of her name, teens, teachers, and librarians who were in the room are transported back to that moment. The memories make us laugh (and cry), but most of all, they make us feel connected to something bigger than ourselves.”
—Kate McNair, Teen Services Coordinating Librarian, Johnson County Libraries, KS
"Amy Sarig King truly gets it. She has an uncanny ability to connect deeply with others, no matter the age. Teens feel seen and validated by Amy, and she handles each individual with care. Amy has been a vital part of the Greater Rochester Teen Books Festival for many years now and her sessions are always packed with teens hungry to address and discuss topics of great importance to them - environmental concerns, equity issues, and perhaps most notably, mental health and suicide awareness. Countless teens through the Teen Book Fest years have shared the impact Amy’s visits have had on them, and I have personally spoken with students who have reported that her presentations changed, or even saved, their lives. Through the years, I have met countless wonderful authors and attended their presentations. Amy is one of the rare few I wholeheartedly endorse and would invite back again and again and again."
—Beth Puckett, Librarian, Johanna Perrin Middle School, Fairport, NY, Founding Member & Former Co-Director, Greater Rochester Teen Book Festival
"A.S. King's fun and lively presentation at Hamilton High School--the largest high school in the state of Arizona-- brought the house down! The kind, intelligent, and very approachable Amy had teens asking her thoughtful and intriguing questions. She's a disarming delight that will appeal to all readers, and I urge you to find this out for yourself by getting her into your library or classroom."
—Tim Loge, Instructional Specialist, formerly of Chandler Public Library & Hamilton HS Library, Chandler, AZ
"Amy's natural and honest bearing, fascinating biography, and her sheer love and respect for teenagers were evident and helped prompt the lively and intelligent questions.”
—Leslie B. Patient, Dean of Student Life, Ranney School, NJ
"I work at a university, where I train preservice English teachers. Amy's virtual session with my class was fantastic, and more than I ever could have hoped for. She shared insights into her writing process, the characters and events in her novel, and her thoughts on the state of reading instruction in schools today. Everything, and I mean everything she talked about fed directly into discussions and activities our class had been doing over the course of the semester. Amy is incredibly open, engaging and funny. She put my students at ease very quickly, and our hour together flew by. I had several students come up to me, after the session was over, and tell me that it had been the 'best last class ever.'"
—Dr. Mark Letcher, Professor, English Education at Lewis University
"Amy connects with all audiences, especially with teens, on profound levels. Her empathy and understanding encourages them to think about and process difficult emotions and provides them a safe space to do so. She seems to know instinctively what each individual teen reaching out to her needs. In my discussions with teens, I have been moved by how deeply they connect with her writing and respond to meeting her in person."
—Olivia Durant, Librarian, Co-Director, Greater Rochester Teen Book Festival
“A.S. King is an award-winning author and compelling speaker. Both her life and novels stand as great examples of strong women excelling in life.”
—Dr. James Blasingame, ASU, Past-President, Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of NCTE