Appearances & Public Speaking
Upcoming
Office Hours
August 26, 1-2pm - Online
Join this FREE virtual open office hour to ask questions, get advice, and connect with a publishing expert and tenured professor of publishing.
Have questions about writing, editing, publishing, or marketing your work as an author? Looking to connect with others already working in the literary and publishing world?
Join Sara Wigal, Your Publishing Professor, for Open Office Hours on Teams, a casual, drop-in virtual session designed for:
Aspiring authors looking for tips on craft and marketing.
Aspiring authors who want information on how to publish a book.
Publishing professionals wanting to network and share insights.
Publishing students seeking guidance on writing and publishing careers.
Anyone with questions about the writing and publishing process.
This is your chance to ask questions, chat, and meet others in a welcoming, collaborative space. Whether you need advice on editing, strategies for book promotion, or just want to talk about the industry, this is the place for you.
Whether you stay for five minutes or the full hour, you’re welcome!
Keynote
November 14, 2026 - Memphis
Carnegie Writers' Annual Conference is held every November and offers a hands-on experience covering a variety of writing, editing, and publishing topics. The conference encourages professional and personal development, redefining the art of writing through connection, community, and progress.
This event brings together writers of all experience levels, ages, and backgrounds; educators; and agents, editors, and other literary professionals for a day of inspiration and collaboration. The conference features presentations, engaging workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.
Past Appearances
INFORMATION, MEDIUM & SOCIETY: 24th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PUBLISHING STUDIES poster presentation "Blue State Book in a Red State America” (July 1-3, 2026)
PARNASSUS BOOKS LAUNCH PARTY FOR A FORTUNE OF SAND IN CONVERSATION WITH RUTA SEPETYS (May 26, 2026)
UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NASHVILLE (April 25, 2026)
• Author Talk with Randi Smith
PARNASSUS BOOKS LAUNCH PARTY FOR ADA HOLLOWAY’S HAD ENOUGH April 24, 2026
TENNESSEE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE April 23, 2026
· Co-presented with author Randi Smith, “Love, Libraries and the Freedom to Read: A Story of Mentorship and Advocacy”
BELMONT UNIVERSITY SPARK April 22, 2026
· Poster presentation, “Blue State Book in a Red State America”
BELMONT UNIVERSITY WELL CORE EVENT April 22, 2026
· Co-planned and Co-presented with author Randi Smith, “Love, Libraries and the Freedom to Read: A Story of Mentorship and Advocacy”
DAVIESS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY April 21, 2026
· Co-host and planner, Randi Smith Launch Event
CARNEGIE WRITERS GROUP
Paths to Publishing: Craft A Plan for Your Books (April 18, 2026)
• Featured speaker for online workshop
WriterFest Series: ACCESS TO AGENTS (April 1, 2026)
• Featured Panelist and event planner
KENTUCKY COUNCIL OF TEACHERS OF ENGLISH ANNUAL CONFERENCE March 14, 2026
· Co-presented with author Randi Smith, “Love, Libraries and the Freedom to Read: A Story of Mentorship and Advocacy”
WINE & WORDS BOOKFEST (March 8, 2026)
• Featured SPEAKER
OHIO COUNCIL OF TEACHERS OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS ANNUAL CONFERENCE MARCH 7, 2026
· Co-presented with author Randi Smith, “Love, Libraries and the Freedom to Read: A Story of Mentorship and Advocacy”
PIPELINE MEDIA SYMPOSIUM
Polish Like a Pro: Self-Editing Strategies for Aspiring Authors
(February 4, 2026)
Novel Writing Intensive Retreat (Steven James and Robert Dugoni)- Guest Literary Agent (November 8, 2025)
WriterFest Series: DRINKS & DIALOGUE (August 9, 2025)
• Featured Panelist and event planner
WriterFest Series: ACCESS TO AGENTS (June 10, 2025)
• Featured Panelist and event planner
SISTERS IN CRIME MIDDLE TN CHAPTER MEETING MAY 22, 2025
• Featured Speaker with author Patricia Shanae Smith in celebration of her novel launch REMEMBER
WRITERFEST PRESENTS AN AUDIOBRARY EVENING BENEFIT FOR THE PORCH (MAY 30, 2024)
• Emcee (and event planner) for fundraiser event/ author in conversation between Audie Award winning actor Julia Whelan and Julian R. Vaca. The event also served as a launch party for Julia Whelan’s Audiobrary
SISTERS IN CRIME MIDDLE TN CHAPTER MEETING MAY 14, 2024
• Featured Speaker: Why Every Author Needs an Intern and How You Can Get One
BELMONT UNIVERSITY RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM MAY 7, 2024
• Presenter: Pausing for More: Help Your Students Avoid Burnout with One Classroom Presentation
WOMEN IN PUBLISHING MAY 7, 2024
• Presenter: Content Production Made Easy for Authors
TENNESSEE WRITING WORKSHOP APRIL 20, 2024
• Presenter: Writing Life Productivity Tips & Tools
KILLER NASHVILLE AUGUST 18, 2023
• Featured Panelist: Getting Booked at Reader Events & Festivals
• Featured Panelist: Research: Writing What You DON’T Know for Story, Pacing and Confidence
NEXT CHAPTER SOCIETY JUNE 6, 2023
• Event Emcee: “I’m with the Banned” Fundraiser for NPL
SISTERS IN CRIME MIDDLE TN CHAPTER MEETING MAY 9, 2023
• Featured Speaker: Content Production Made Easy for Authors
NEW HORIZONS, UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM APRIL 28, 2023
• Featured Speaker: The Publishing Process
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSE, KNOXVILLE – INNOVATIVE TEACHING AND LEARNING CONFERENCE MARCH 29, 2022
• Featured Co-Presenter: Pausing for More: A Mindfulness-Centered Classroom Intervention for Student Learning (Peer-reviewed)
HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY JUNE 24, 2021
• Featured Speaker: : Pick A Platform: Brand Before You Query
SISTERS IN CRIME MIDDLE TN CHAPTER MEETING JUNE 8, 2021
• Featured Speaker: How to Get Book Industry Reviews
ROTARY CLUB OF NASHVILLE SEPTEMBER 10, 2020
• Guest speaker with fellow NCS councilmember
SISTERS IN CRIME MIDDLE TN CHAPTER MEETING MAY 12, 2020
• Featured Speaker: Developing Your Author Brand
THE BOOKSHOP (NASHVILLE, TN) FEBRUARY 7, 2020
• Reader: Lonely Hearts Valentine’s Event
WRITERFEST, NOVEMBER 12 & 13, 2019
• Moderate panel: Contracts: The Skinny on Intellectual Property
• Moderate panel: Compelling Characters
• Panelist: Making “Friends” with Social Media
KILLER NASHVILLE, AUGUST 25, 2019
• Panelist: Career Management for writers
• Featured Speaker: Developing Your Brand Workshop
FRANKLIN BOOK FESTIVAL, JUNE 2, 2019
• Panelist: The Business of Publishing
BRYN ATHYN WRITER’S WORKSHOP, AUGUST 2018
• Presented to a group of authors on building a Digital Marketing Platform, took part in a speed-dating session, and answered Q&A on a panel.
NONFICTION WRITER’S ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE, MAY 2018
• Presenter: Building Digital Book Tours
WIZARD WORLD COMIC CON, SEPTEMBER 2017
• Panelist: Path to Publishing
KILLER NASHVILLE, AUGUST 2017
• Panelist: The “I Win, You Win” Method of Networking for Writers