David A. Kelly
Turning sports fans into readers (and writers), one mystery at a time.
About David
David A. Kelly is the bestselling author of the Ballpark Mysteries series (Random House) and the Football Mysteries series, with nearly 2 million children's books sold. His engaging, interactive school visits take students behind the scenes of writing, from dreaming up ideas and creating characters to building suspense and solving mysteries. By combining the excitement of sports with the power of storytelling, David inspires boys and girls—including reluctant readers—to discover the fun of reading and the joy of creating their own stories.
Books
What educators say
“What a fantastic experience for my students! David Kelly was personable, attentive to individual students and entertaining! As a teacher, I loved that he didn’t talk down to my 3rd graders and treated their questions as very important. The students were thrilled with the visit and we all want to see if we can have him come in person for a school visit! Great opportunity and I would recommend him to any class!”
“David nailed the mystery writing process for our third graders. He provided mystery ideas, an outline and noted the need for clues and red herrings. A parent whose child is learning remotely emailed my principal praising David’s performance.”
“…was an incredible opportunity for our young readers and writers…David kept the children entertained, engaged, and yearning to read more of the book in the hour he spent with the students…It was an enjoyable presentation and the students left knowing the writing process was not just something done in the classroom. David’s interaction with the students was warm and welcoming-this was an enjoyable afternoon for all! Thank you.”
Visit formats
What a visit includes
During my presentation, I cover: • How I became an author and created the Ballpark Mysteries • How I research my books (including fun stories from MLB ballparks!) • The different types of mysteries (ghosts, thefts, sabotage, etc.) • How I outline, draft, and revise my stories (with real examples!) • A look into how books are illustrated and published • And plenty of time for Q&A! Students leave my visits excited about reading and with a better understanding of what it’s like to be a writer—and how they can become better writers too. Presentations are typically about 50 minutes, but adjustable to school needs.
Fees vary by format, travel, and your school's needs. Reach out directly for a quote and open dates.
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