Kate’s Virtual Author-in-Residence Program for 2026-2027

Want to get your readers excited about writing everything from spooky stories to poetry and songs? I’m offering a FREE virtual author-in-residence program for the coming school year!

It’s our thank you gift fro everyone who pre-orders my new novel from a participating indie bookstore. KEEP THE GHOST LIGHT ON comes out in February 2027, and I’m wildly excited for this book. It’s a multi-modal Broadway ghost story, told through traditional narration as well as text messages, song lyrics, historical documents, and musical theater scenes directed by the ghost. If you’re a reviewer or librarian who would like a sneak preview, you can request it on NetGalley now!

I’ll be on book tour for KEEP THE GHOST LIGHT ON (and THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES paperback!) in February and March. If you’d like me to visit your school during that time, here’s a request form to fill out. It has all the information about book tour author visits, which are by their nature, limited by time and geography, but hopefully I’ll get to see some of you this winter! (Note: these are free in-person author visits with all travel expenses paid by the publisher. The school/PTO’s only responsibility is a minimum book order!)

Now…more about that FREE Virtual Author-in-Residence Program for 2026-2027. It’s perfect for classrooms, libraries, and homeschoolers who are excited about KEEP THE GHOST LIGHT ON as well as those reading and loving THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES (which has already made its way onto 23 state book award lists!) Here’s how it works…

KATE MESSNER’S VIRTUAL AUTHOR-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM FOR 2026-2027

Offered at no cost with your preorder of KEEP THE GHOST LIGHT ON from a participating independent bookstore below. (Booksellers! If you’d like to be on this list, please send me a note via the contact form on my home page – it’s super easy, I promise, and I’d love to add you!)

Kate’s virtual author-in-residence program includes:

An exclusive pdf excerpt with the first 40 pages of KEEP THE GHOST LIGHT ON delivered to your inbox

Writing Scary Scenes – a 20-minute on-demand writing workshop for grades 4-8 with author Kate Messner

Songwriting is Poetry – a 20-minute on-demand workshop for grades 4-8 with author Kate Messner & Broadway music director and composer Haley Bennett, who wrote music to go along with the song lyrics in KEEP THE GHOST LIGHT ON.

A Live Virtual Author Visit on February 11th – A 45-minute virtual author visit sharing Kate’s research and writing process for her NYT Bestseller THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES and her new novel KEEP THE GHOST LIGHT ON, including live Q&A with readers. (Each pre-order provides access to the live webinar for one device. A recording will also be available after the live event, with unlimited access through the 2026-2027 school year.)

Just preorder your copy today from one of the participating bookstores below, and you’ll automatically be signed up for the virtual author-in-residence program. You’ll get an email on October 1st (or on the first of the next month after you order, if it’s later) with the excerpt and links to the on-demand writing workshops as well as your invitation to register for the live Zoom author visit.

PREORDER FROM Kate’s local independent bookstore, The Bookstore Plus in Lake Placid, NY (for signed copies!)

The Bookstore Plus – Lake Placid, NY (signed copies from Kate’s local indie!)

https://www.thebookstoreplus.com/item/R888A8PhO_6HuwFYUjqIDQ

CALIFORNIA

Once Upon a Time Bookstore – Montrose, CA

https://shoponceuponatime.com/book/9781547621903

COLORADO

Composition Shop – Longmont, CO

https://www.compositionshop.com/item/R888A8PhO_6HuwFYUjqIDQ

FLORIDA

Books on Third – Naples, FL

Keep the Ghost Light On: Deluxe Limited Edition (Available February 23, 2027)