School Visits

currently booking for the 2026–2027 school year!

I’ve published eight books (and written many more), and one of my favorite things to do is to talk to kids about the nuts and bolts (and ups and downs) of the creative process. If you bring me to your school or library, your students will conclude our time together feeling inspired and empowered to CREATE!

“We had a great experience hosting Kathryn Holmes in the library. Our 2nd and 3rd graders were captivated hearing her read from Tally Tuttle Turns into a Turtle. They also thoroughly enjoyed learning about her recipe for a story. The students were left feeling very excited about reading and writing. We look forward to future visits to our school!”

~Lelia Fain, Library Media Specialist, Prospect Elementary School, Seymour, TN

in-person: Recipe for a Story

What are the ingredients that come together when I write my books? We’ll talk about things like ideas, questions, research, and imagination, as well as story elements like plot, character, setting, conflict, and motivation, using excerpts from my books as examples. Then, we’ll put the recipe into action with a creative exercise that transforms students into storytellers and invites them to start imagining, writing, and/or drawing a tale of their own.

  • Kindergarten through 3rd grade: For these young readers, I focus on my Class Critters chapter books. I ask students, what if you turned into an animal for a day?! They’ll leave the visit having imagined all of the ingredients they need to tell a complete story about their animal day.

  • 4th–8th grade: For middle-grade readers, I focus my presentation on The Thirteenth Circle. For the creative exercise, we will brainstorm an original speculative/sci-fi story, working individually, in small groups, or as a large group, depending on the group size and setting.

  • Duration: generally 30-40 minutes before Q&A time

Courtesy Sam Houston Elementary School, Maryville, TN

Courtesy Pine Crest School, Boca Raton, FL

live virtual visits:

  • Recipe for a Story can be adjusted for a virtual format for any age group. (30-40 minutes before Q&A)

  • My Thirteenth Circle coauthor MarcyKate Connolly and I offer a joint virtual author presentation about our book. Learn how we wrote together, what research we did, and more. Perfect for school and library middle-grade book clubs! (30-40 minutes before Q&A)

  • I offer FREE “Meet the Author” Zoom visits for any age. These include a brief read-aloud followed by a short Q&A with students. (approx 20 minutes total)

e-visit:

For The Thirteenth Circle, MarcyKate and I offer an “e-visit” (a prerecorded virtual school visit). For $50, you’ll receive access to a series of short videos about our publishing journeys, our process of writing a book together, the research we did, and more. You’ll also get discussion questions, writing prompts, and other classroom activities related to The Thirteenth Circle. The $150 e-visit Plus includes a live virtual Q&A with us, as well as a signed book. Ideal for whole-class or whole-grade read-alongs, book clubs, and more! Learn more on MarcyKate’s website.

Contact me at kathrynholmesbooks@gmail.com for more details, and to discuss rates for a live virtual/in-person visit.

Courtesy PS10, Brooklyn, NY

Courtesy PS321, Brooklyn, NY

Courtesy Prospect Elementary School, Seymour, TN

Courtesy St. Joseph Hill Academy, Staten Island, NY

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