Illustration by Kirrili LonerganCBCA Newcastle Branch

I absolutely love talking to adults and children about reading, writing, social issues and anything else that may be up for discussion. Picture books are my passion and I love sharing with the world what I have learnt about making them and my writing journey. I think it’s the teacher in me!

Book Week and Literacy Week are great times of the year to get an author or illustrator to come and inspire kids, but any time of the year is a great time too!

Katrina McKelveyI am keen to visit preschools, day care centres, early learning centres, primary schools, high schools, play groups, public libraries, shopping centres, fundraising events, book launches, professional development courses and workshops, community centres, and special celebrations to share my passion for books, stories, reading and my writing journey.

School Visit by Katrina McKelveyAnother passion of mine is chairing panels or participating on them as part of festivals, conferences and writing courses.

Visits can be catered to suit your needs and budget. They can be author only, or author/illustrator. These would include Kirrili Lonergan, the illustrator of Dandelions.

Click on the links below to find out more information.  If you still have questions, please ask away. Send me a message via my contact page.

School Visit by Katrina McKelvey Appearance with Graeme Base and Katrina McKelvey School Visit by Katrina McKelvey

Some of my public appearances:

Festivals and Conferences:

Some of the festivals I have participated in include:
Creative Kids Tales Conference - adult workshop presentation
Littlescribe Mini-Writing Festival - writing workshops
Lake Macquarie Libraries Write Here! Festival - chaired panels
IF Maitland Festival - panelist
Kidlitvic Conference
Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival - School Program
SCBWI Conference
CYA Conference
Newcastle Writers Festival
Kids & YA Festival at Writing NSW (formally NSW Writers' Centre)
Scone Writers Festival

Community Events:

Some of the community events I have enjoyed include:
CBCA NSW Branch - online Lunchtime Storytime program
Lake Macquarie Libraries - storytime
Heart Open - local community group for creative women - panelist
Read a Story with Pepper - Newcastle Digital Library storytime robot
Dr Karl’s Random Road Trip - Harry Hartog, Green Hills - event facilitator
Love Your Bookshop Day - Harry Hartog, Green Hills
Harry Hartog, Green Hills - storytime
Hippy Program Australia Family Fun Day - storytime
Play World Australia - storytime
Crown Street Public School Light Off! Torches On! - children’s literature event
Festival of Words – St Philip’s Christian College, Cessnock – author talk and writing workshops
You’re Kidding Me Expo (Lake Macquarie) Family Expo – storytime
Gresford Billy Cart Derby - storytime
Play Outside Day (with Newcastle Region Library at Shortland Wetlands) – storytime and craft activities
‘Stories After Dark: Find Your Treasure’ - Newcastle CBCA event – storytime
School holiday activities - Local public libraries in Newcastle, the Hunter and Lake Macquarie
Harry Hartog, Westfield Kotara - storytime
Westfield Kotara - Teddy Bear’s Picnic storytime and Christmas storytime
National Bookshop Day – storytime and craft activities
Lunch with the Stars - Sydney and Newcastle CBCA event
Mum’s Cottage - Holmesville - storytime and promotion of their reading program
CBCA NSW Anticipate! Appreciate! Applaud! Event (AAA) – guest speaker
CBCA NSW High Tea with the Stars – guest speaker
CBCA NSW AGM - guest speaker
CBCA NSW Judge’s presentation at Wallsend Library – guest speaker



Katrina McKelvey



Schools:

Thank you to all these wonderful schools who have welcomed me.
Nords Wharf Public School
Tuntable Creek Public School
Wallsend Public School
Central Mangrove Public School
Kulnura Public School
Jilliby Public School
Wyong Creek Public School
Peats Ridge Public School
Somersby Public School
New Lambton Infants Public School
Tarneit P-9 College
Ngarralingayil Barker College (Wollombi)
William Bayldon Public School
Bonville Public School
Bishop Druitt College, Coffs Harbour
KU The Chase Preschool, Roseville
Bolton Point Child Care Centre
St John Vianney, Morisset
My Stepping Stones Early Learning Centre, Haberfield
West Wallsend High School
Hunter Valley Grammar School
Burnside Public School
Holy Spirit Infants, Abermain
Alphabet Cottage, Castle Hill
New Lambton Public School
St Mary’s Primary School, Warners Bay
Muswellbrook South Public School
Corpus Christi Primary School, Waratah
Mary MacKillop College, Warnervale
St Mary's Primary School, Scone
Scone Public School
Scone Grammar School
Blandford Public School
Murrurundi Public School
Muswellbrook Public School
Martindale Public School
Denman Public School
Muswellbrook Christian School
St James Primary School, Muswellbrook
Aberdeen Public School
Sandy Hollow Public School
Singleton Heights Public School
Mt Pleasant Public School
Broke Public School
Singleton Public School
King St Public School, Singleton\
Australian Christian College, Singleton
Milbrodale Public School
St Joseph’s High School, Aberdeen
Williamtown Daycare Centre
St Philip’s Christian College, Cessnock
DALE Christian School, Waratah
Greta Public School
Fern Bay Public School
Maroubra Junction Public School
John the Baptist Catholic Primary School, Bonnyrigg Heights

Adult Professional Development:


Creative Kids Tales Conference - Know Your Audience for School Visits
SCBWI Sydney meeting - author/illustrator team presentation
CYA Conference – presented workshop for adults, ‘The Picture Book Playground’
NATLA (Newcastle Area Teaching Librarian Association) meeting - author/illustrator talk
Diocese of Maitland/Newcastle - Teaching Librarian Conference - author/illustrator talk
Hunter Writers Centre - live interview about being a children’s author
SCBWI Sketch and Scribble Event (Sydney) - guide and writing prompts

Workshops:

Any topic can be negotiated. Some topics I have delivered include:
Write Your Own Book using Canva - Lake Macquarie Libraries
Writing Realism
Ideas Are All Around Us!
Character Development
Digital Story Writing
Character Development
Chaos! Carts! And Champions!
How To Write Picture Books