In addition to being an author, Katya is also a University lecturer. She completed a PhD (at the University of Melbourne) in 2014 and have been teaching since 2015, winning multiple awards as an educator. She regularly gives guest lectures on creative writing, Young Adult literature, writer motivation, and representation in books to a variety of audiences, including festivals, libraries, book clubs, school and university classrooms and online workshops. As an immigrant, writing in English as a second language, Katya loves talking about her author journey to inspire and mentor new talent. Katya has a current Working with Children check.
Her Young Adult novels are appropriate for the 12-18 age group, and she can tailor her presentations and activities to the audience as well as specific learning and teaching goals/curriculum. Teachers, please find this Teaching Resource for Katya’s debut novel, What the Woods Keep –
Katya’s novels are genre-benders that explore the topics of identity, family, memory and trauma via mixed media formats. For example, her debut What The Woods Keep (2018) utilised the technique of ‘found documents’ to help unearth the multi-layered secrets of the protagonist’s complicated family, while her third book, Aurealis-winning When Ghosts Call Us Home (2023) mixes social media and video transcripts with first-person narration to build suspense and create an immersive environment for the reader.
Katya is available for in-person* and virtual visits to schools, libraries, book clubs, festivals, and conferences for educators, librarians, writers and general audiences. Please reach out to her via email [katyadebecerraauthor [@] gmail.com], if you’d like to schedule a visit.
*Katya is based in Melbourne and can generally travel within the metro area, as long as it is accessible via public transport. In-person travel is subject to availability as Katya has a full-time university job in addition to her writing commitments. Interstate travel is possible, at the cost of the organiser.
What’s available (reach out to discuss other options!)
Free virtual classroom visit
Free 45-minute virtual visits – Katya will talk about her writing journey and her books as well as her experience with the publishing industry. Ideally, the students are familiar with her work; however, her talks are accessible and engaging to all. Teachers and librarians, please feel free to reach out to discuss possible dates and what topics you would like Katya to focus on to align with your curriculum.
Free virtual book club visit
Free 30-minute virtual visits for book clubs (teens or adults!). The virtual visit may include an introduction, a short reading from one of Katya’s books (or a short story) of your choice, Q&A with the book club members, and (maybe) a sneak peak of Katya’s current work/next book. Book clubs, please email Katya with a few possible dates.
Writing, Editing, & Getting Published: Where do ideas come from and how do they turn into books?
45-minute presentation, including a group writing/brainstorming exercise and Q&A; focused on the writing process, ideas generation, the joy of reading and coming up with unique ideas of your own. Katya’s writing and publishing journey provides plentiful examples to draw from.
Exploring Young Adult Fiction
45-minute presentation, including a self-paced creative writing exercise and Q&A; focused on history, developments and trends in YA, with examples and interesting facts, taking the audience on a journey of YA across the genres.
Representation & Critical Awareness in Creative Writing
45-minute presentation, including a self-paced creative writing exercise and Q&A; focused on representation in creative writing, with a focus on Young Adult literature, grounded in reflective practice to master critical awareness in your own craft.
How to Read Like a Writer
45-minute masterclass and Q&A; ideal for aspiring writers, with practical advice on how to improve your craft by reading like a writer.
Get Inspired by Your Favorite Published Books
45-minute masterclass and Q&A; learn how to find inspiration and bring your creative writing ideas to life.
Putting a Spin on Familiar Tropes
45-minute masterclass and Q&A; learn about tropes and how to reimagine them for inventive, fresh storytelling that is uniquely your own.
Breaking Into the Industry
45-minute masterclass and Q&A; for writers keen to learn about entering and navigating the publishing industry.
Testimonials
