Speaking

Speaking Info and Requests for Kalisha Buckhanon

Speaker Bio

“At the root of my work is concern over all the lost voices we’re not hearing.” -Kalisha Buckhanon

Kalisha Buckhanon’s celebrated novels have had her hailed as “A timeless voice for a new generation” (School Library Journal). Kalisha's debut novel Upstate is the classic American Library Association Alex Award-winning and National Book Foundation-honored story of Antonio and Natasha, two Harlem youth in love but torn apart by America's criminal justice system. The book is a favorite of English teachers, literacy groups and school librarians as part of the New York Public Library's "Best Books for Teens" list. Her novels Conception and Solemn are touching portraits of African-American girlhood also loved by youth as well as adults. Her most recent novels Speaking of Summer and Running to Fall established her as a new strong voice among mystery/suspense, crime and thriller writers.

Kalisha has visited numerous high schools, libraries, colleges and universities nationwide to speak about the importance of education, community values and following dreams. She is a frequent panelist for publishing industry conferences and events. She has done commentary on true crime cases for BET, TV-One and ID Channel. She also visits women's groups and book clubs to discuss the themes of her novels. Kalisha has English degrees from University of Chicago and an M.F.A. from The New School in New York City. She travels from Chicago and New York City.

Select Engagements 2005-Present

  • Sundays at Calabar: Art, Film, Fashion + Talks

  • Tulisoma South Dallas Book Fair

  • ThrillerFest

  • UN Women Generation Equality Forum

  • John Oliver Killens Reading Series,

    Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College-CUNY

  • African-Americans on the Move Book Club,

    Black Writers Weekend

  • National Book Club Conference

  • St. Louis Bookfest

  • Well Read Black Girl Festival

  • Library Journal “Day of Dialog” Book Expo America

  • Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association Annual

  • National Book Foundation “Literature for Justice” program launch

  • American Writers Museum Tribute to Gwendolyn Brooks

  • Printers Row Book Fair

  • FLOW Authors in partnership with Lawyers for the Creative Arts

  • eta Creative Arts Foundation

  • Harlem Arts Salons in benefit to The Gloster Project

  • American Writers Museum Celebrates Gwendolyn Brooks

  • University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa History Department

  • Winter Tangerine Review’s “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” at Poet’s House

  • University of Chicago Emerging Writers Series

  • University of Chicago Gender Studies Department

  • Northwestern Lane Humanities Series

  • School of the Art Institute Chicago

  • Chicago State University’s Gwendolyn Brooks Black Writer’s Conference

  • New York University’s Institute of African American Affairs

  • Oakton College Women’s and Gender Studies Conference

  • Waubonsee Community College Department of English

  • University of Arkansas-Fayetteville English Department

  • American Library Association Annual Conference

  • National Council of Teachers of English Annual Conference

  • Literature For All of Us

  • Harlem Book Fair

  • Judge Greg Mathis’s Youth Empowerment Conference

  • Kankakee Community College

  • Kankakee Public Library

  • New York Public Libraries

  • Chicago Public Libraries

  • Brooklyn Public Library

  • Free Library of Philadelphia

  • Many high schools, youth programs and centers for speeches on Upstate