*Ask Me about One Book / One School Presentations!*
Jessica loves engaging with audiences of any age and is available for virtual and in-person workshops or assemblies, festivals, conferences, keynotes, and webinars. She is based in the Kitchener/Waterloo region of Ontario and willing to travel; the nearest airports are Waterloo and Toronto, and she is driving distance to many parts of New York, Ohio, and Michigan. Interactive, educational sessions can be customized for your needs or selected from the following:
Unsinkable Cayenne: The Maiden Voyage
(For ages 10+)
In this interactive presentation, award-winning author Jessica Vitalis will explore what it means to be unsinkable with stories of tenacity and resilience stemming from her life-long journey to become a published author. She’ll also explore how and why she wrote Unsinkable Cayenne in free verse and introduce the audience to the unlimited creative potential writing in free verse can offer.
Coyote Queen: Finding the Magic
(For ages 10+)
Perfect for classes who have read Coyote Queen together! Author Jessica Vitalis shares how she used her love of reading and writing to overcome a difficult childhood and eventually turned those experiences into a magical tale of courage and resilience.
(Topics include the importance of resilience and tenacity, an exploration of the building blocks of story, where to find story ideas, & more)
Stand Out from the Crowd: Creating Compelling Characters
(For ages 10+)
Readers don’t fall in love with plots; they fall in love with fully realized characters. In this hands-on writing workshop, author Jessica Vitalis will guide students to develop their own unique characters and she’ll share her secret technique for making those characters come alive on the page.
Free Verse for the Reluctant Poet
(For ages 10+)
In this hands-on workshop, we’ll look at what free verse is (and what it isn’t), and we’ll work through the mechanics of writing a poem. Participants will complete their own poem during the course of the workshop and leave with a new sense of themselves––as poets!
From Spark to Story
(For ages 10+)
In this session, we’ll look at The Wolf’s Curse and The Rabbit’s Gift through the lens of traditional book publishing, starting with the spark of a story idea all the way to publication (and everything in between)!
(Topics include where to find story ideas, how to turn ideas into stories, agents and editors, revision, book covers & more)
The Reluctant Poet’s Guide to Writing a Novel in Verse
(For adults)
Intrigued by verse novels but don’t consider yourself a poet? In this class, we’ll explore verse novels to understand what types of stories lend themselves to the form and how to meet reader expectations. We’ll also explore writing in free verse, examining different techniques and writing strategies designed to give you the confidence you need to tackle this exciting form of storytelling with confidence.
From Dull to Dazzling: Transform Your Writing with Symbolism
(For adults)
Captivate your readers with indelible images and deep emotional connections by mastering the use of symbolism. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll explore different types of symbolism and practice techniques for generating and incorporating symbolism into your writing in order to make your stories shine.
The Building Blocks of Story
(For adults)
Using the building blocks of story, we’ll work through a flexible pre-writing strategy that provides authors with a framework to draft a novel without bogging them down or making the drafting process feel too prescriptive.
Learn to Revise Like a Pro
(For adults)
Award-winning author Jessica Vitalis will walk participants through her novel revision process from start to finish. Whether they have a newly completed novel, they are stuck in querying purgatory and suspect a revision is in order, or they are struggling to complete a full draft, they’ll leave this presentation with armed with the tools to take their stories to the next level.
“Jessica’s presentation was so inspiring and energizing for our fifth and sixth grade students! Her stories – both on and off the page – are magnetic. A couple of our more reluctant learners sought Jessica out after the talk to connect with her and have their photos taken. What a wonderful celebration of reading and writing!” -Ms. Zuk, Elementary School Librarian
“Jessica did a beautiful presentation for my 7th grade reading classes. My students were engrossed! At the end, she answered all of their questions about being an author, the writing process, and everything in between. It was such a fantastic experience for my students!” -Ms. O’Connell, 7th Grade Teacher
“Jessica . . . told engaging, relatable stories for our middle school students. She . . . also left the kids with a positive message that they, too, can achieve their dreams however out of reach they may seem.” -Ms. Bartlett, 7th Grade ELA teacher
“Jessica is an incredibly engaging, thoughtful, and encouraging workshop facilitator for kids! Kids ages 8-12 attended her character workshop in a public library setting, and they all left with their very own character ready to jump off the page. She is very skilled at crafting activities for kids that balance their own experiences, while also challenging themselves to see things through another person’s perspective.” -Jackie M., Public Library Programmer
“…an incredible presentation! From your personal stories to your written work and the process that led you to becoming the amazing author that you are…you had us all engaged, curious and inspired!” -Intermediate School Librarian
“This was, seriously, one of the best writing classes I have attended!” -Workshop Attendee
“Your presentation totally changed my life! It was so incredibly helpful and exactly what I needed for my writing.” -Amy P., Workshop Attendee
“That was one of the best writing workshops I’ve ever attended. My mind is swirling with new possibilities!” -Workshop Attendee
“I’ve become skeptical about a lot of webinars as many of them seem to be more about promoting the author’s own books than sharing actual useful information. You webinar stands out in total contrast – well assembled and organized, filled with lots of fantastic information, and easy to understand and follow…I learned a lot and i’m a developmental editor and writer myself!” -Workshop Attendee
“This presentation was superb.” -Workshop Attendee
“This was by far the best webinar! Love the examples and the presentation, the interaction. EVERYTHING!” -Workshop Attendee
“Jessica delivered a lot of information clearly and concisely in an actionable manner-super useful!” -Workshop Attendee
“Really helpful information for all level of writers!” -Workshop Attendee
Technical requirements
*Microphone (where necessary)
*Projector and connection cords (Jessica will provide a PowerPoint presentation via her MacBook Air and typically brings a flash drive as a back-up in case of technical difficulties)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you charge for school visits and appearances?
My time is valuable! As an author, it’s best spent writing my next book; I can only justify leaving my desk if I’m compensated accordingly.
Do you speak to non-literary conferences and professional organizations?
Jessica can speak to a variety of topics including death/grief, domestic violence/abuse, poverty, tenacity/perseverance, and more!
Have you completed a background check?
Yes, I have a background check from October 2025.
“Phenomenal presentation! Jessica captivated our audience of several hundred funeral professionals with her knowledge of and passion for middle grade literature centered on grief!” –Kathleen Barry, Wilbert Funeral Homes
Note: Jessica supports equity and inclusivity in the world of books and beyond. She is not available for any literary events that discriminate against marginalized or underrepresented people, either on the page or off.