Aileen gives presentations, talks and leads discussions.
Talks Aileen has led or moderated include:
Presenter: CUNY for Center for Black Literature
Scholarly Conference Presentation on “Jacqueline Woodson: From Dreaming To Meaning, Literature of Resistance, Resilience, and Rejoicing,” Presented by the 16th National Black Writers Conference at the Center For Black Literature / Medgar Evers College, CUNY, The Beautiful Struggle: Black Writers Lighting the Way (March 31, 2022)
Speaker: Vermont College of Fine Arts Craft Connections
On “Craft in the Real World,” April 24, 2023.
Presentation and discussion of CRAFT IN THE REAL WORLD: RETHINKING FICTION WRITING AND WORKSHOPPING by Matthew Salesses. This session explored the author’ re-examination of craft elements, craft conventions, and conventional Western Hemisphere workshop methods. Quoting Salesses: "Perhaps we all know about the privilege it takes to write. Yet somehow writers seem to forget that this context influences how we evaluate fiction, what we think of as moving what we think of as correct or well-written."
Co-Moderator
“Elevating Queer Voices: LGBTQIA+ Writers in Community,” A Creative Connections Panel of The Writing Barn (April 22, 2021).
A panel discussion that offered LGBTQIA+ writers and illustrators a safe space to share concerns, to examine challenges, to celebrate successes, and to collaborate about charting a path for making continued progress.
Co-Moderator
“Black Joy for the Black / African American Writer,” A Creative Connections Panel of The Writing Barn (May 20, 2021)
A panel discussion celebrating Black joy in children’s literature, and the writers and illustrators who are devoted to amplifying Black joy within the publishing industry.
Co-Moderator
“Marketing, Self-Promotion, and Building Your Author Brand,” A Creative Connections Panel of The Writing Barn (November 17, 2022)
A panel discussion addressing the unique challenges and concerns that writers of diverse backgrounds face navigating the publishing industry, with collaboration about marketing and self-promotion strategies.
Aileen is available to give presentations, or lead discussions for conferences, book festivals, library’s, book groups or other writer & reader gatherings on writing that informs and inspires.
Discussions, book groups, and presentations on writing that inform & inspire.
She is especially interested in celebrating the creativity of the fiction of Jacqueline Woodson, and discussing craft through the lens of the scholarship of Mathew Salesses. She also organizes panel discussions about queer and BIPOC representation in the children’s book industry. Contact Aileen if you have something specific in mind!
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Discuss the craft of Jacqueline Woodson’s picture books, middle grade, or young adult novels, especially as relates to the demonstration of heart and emotional resilience.
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15 minute to 1 hour presentations discussing writing craft in your real world. Based on Salesses’ teachings on rethinking fiction writing and critiques.
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Contact Aileen if you have something specific in mind! Aileen also organizes panel discussions about queer and BIPOC representation in the children’s book industry.