Sucheta is passionate about educating young readers about the world and sharing her own personal stories from her travels. Invite her to classrooms, libraries and bookstores for writing workshops, story time and book signings. Sucheta has inspired kids ages K-12, college students and adults to write, travel and give back to the community.
Additionally, Sucheta has given keynote addresses and motivational speeches at conferences, graduation ceremonies, corporate lunch and learn programs, awards receptions, leadership groups, food festivals, cooking expos, travel shows, study abroad programs and more. She has spoken in Italy, South Korea, India and across the US. Sucheta was featured as one of the four authors from USA at BookFest 2018 in Bucharest, Romania.
Past Author Visits
Bookstores:
- Barnes & Noble Booksellers (NY, GA),
- Hills & Hamlets Bookshop (Serenbe, GA),
- Little Shop of Stories (Decatur, GA),
- Posman Books (Atlanta, GA),
- Little Professor Bookstore (Birmingham, AL).
Schools:
- Brandon Hall (Sandy Springs, GA),
- Ivy Creek Elementary (Buford, GA),
- Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw, GA),
- Oakwood Adventist Academy (Huntsville, AL),
- Sarah Smith Elementary School (Atlanta, GA),
- Sanders Elementary School (Austell, GA),
- Teasley Elementary School (Smyrna, GA).
Libraries:
- National Children’s Library of Moldova (Chisinau, Moldova),
- Gwinnett County Super Readers (Gwinnett, GA),
- Buckhead Library (Atlanta, GA),
- Georgia Library Media Association (Peachtree City, GA),
Festivals:
- All About Kids Expo (Gwinnett, GA),
- BookFest Bucharest (Romania),
- Decatur Book Festival (Decatur, GA),
- International Festival of Northern Alabama (Huntsville, AL),
- JapanFest (Atlanta, GA),
- New York Times Travel Show (New York City, NY),
- New York Travel Festival (New York City, NY),
- Mississippi Book Festival (Jackson, MS).
Conferences:
- SCBWI Spring Mingle,
- KSU Conference on Literature for Children and Young Adults (Kennesaw, GA).
Other:
- Consulate of Brazil (Atlanta, GA),
- Delta Aviation Museum (Atlanta, GA),
- Global Ties (Huntsville, AL),
- Gwinnett Literacy Institute (Buford, GA),
- Rotary Club (Marietta, GA),
- Harvard Club of Atlanta (Atlanta, GA),
- Rotary Club (Huntsville, AL),
- Tomadachi Japanese Club (Sandy Springs, GA),
- Samuel Ullman Museum, (Birmingham, AL).
Testimonials
Knowing your audience is key to giving a great presentation. I always tailor my content to my audience (age, demography, etc), but here are main themes I cover.
Author Visit Programs for K-7:
15 mins – Skype: Video call
for classrooms and book clubs. Meet the author and ask your questions about the books. Many schools are using my books as part of their curriculum and this is a great opportunity to hear the story behind the story.
45 minutes – Elementary Schools:
I read one of my picture books and show the images. Then, I talk about how I got inspired to write books, and show photos of the main character (my real-life cat, Beato), other characters (Ruso the dog), and illustrations from the book (which are based on my own travels). Kids get excited to see the parallels between Beato and myself, as we ride a chopper and see a humpback whale.
With younger kids, I also talk about different aspects of a book, introducing them to what is an author and illustrator, genre, cover, publisher, etc.
1 hour – Middle School:
In addition to above, I walk them through the writing and illustration process – how to expand on an idea, create characters, use imagination vs. real life situations, work with an editor, create manuscript, approach publisher, market their books.
2+ hours – Writing Workshops:
Above plus writing workshops where we develop stories together. Class may be divided into authors and illustrators to work on a story concept as a group or individually.
High School and College Students:
I give a 30-minutes presentation about my life – growing up in India, college life in Atlanta, and finding my passion for writing, traveling and entrepreneurship. Broadly, I speak about my career as a food and travel writer (traveling to 80+ countries), nonprofit organization, Go Eat Give (which raises diversity awareness) and my books, Beato Goes To (that teach kids about travel and culture). I inspire students to identify and pursue their passion, even if it means carving out a niche career. I have keynoted graduation ceremonies, conferences and retreats.
Parents and Teachers:
I have offered several workshops on how to raise kids in a diverse environment. Discussions include cultural sensitivity, resources available in the community, cheap travel abroad opportunities, and fun ways to teach kids about the world. I have hosted numerous cultural events, taken people on volunteer abroad tours, and worked with consulates and tourism departments from all around the world. My sessions have been highlighted by The Huffington Post and The Atlantic Institute.
Visit Sucheta’s website for more information about author visits, speaking engagements, and view speaker profile on SCBWI website.
