G. Neri is the Coretta Scott King award-winning author of the middle-grade books Yummy and Chess Rumble, both ALA Notable Books. He is also the author of  the YA novels Surf Mules, and his newest, the ALA Odyssey Honor-winning Ghetto Cowboy. In 2010, he won the International Reading Association's Lee Bennett Hopkins Promising Poet Award. His work has been honored by the Simon Weisenthal Center, the Museum of Tolerance and Antioch University. He writes for reluctant readers, especially urban boys and teens at risk from ages 8 to 18, creating unique formats and voices that speak directly to young people who don’t like to read. 

Neri has been a featured author/ speaker in schools and libraries around the country. He has spoken at conferences and book festivals in New York, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Houston, Memphis, Miami, Chicago, New Orleans, Nashville, Philadelphia, Orlando, Atlanta and elsewhere.

Prior to being a writer, he was an award-winning filmmaker and new media producer from Los Angeles, who also taught animation and storytelling to inner-city youth. Neri now lives in Tampa, where he is writing full-time.

RATES:

If there is a strong interest, G. Neri can work within any budget or curriculum. Contact him at greg@gregneri.com to talk about arranging a presentation

SCHOOLS - WHOLE DAY
4×50 minute talks during a school day:  $1,200.00*
HALF DAY. 2×50 minute talks during a school day    
$600.00*
QUARTER DAY. One 50 minute talk during a school day    
$300-$500.00*

LIBRARIES
FULL DAY (Conventions/workshop). At one branch or one price split between other branches- optional    
$1,000.00–1,400.00*
HALF DAY. Two talks – second branch optional    
$700.00*
QUARTER DAY. One hour talk at one branch    
$400.00*

*Fees displayed are per day + Travel/Expenses

Book Signings are Encouraged!
These rates are exclusive of actual travel expenses. If Mr. Neri is visiting your area, it is also possible to piggy-back his appearance with a visit to your own school. Please consider an arrangement of a book signing for your students, discounted books for author /illustrator events are available through Mr. Neri's publishers. 

Mr. Neri can speak about his life as a writer with an overview of all his books or focus on one or more of the following subjects:

 • Yummy's World/ The Cowboy Way: the author explores the tough issues that led Yummy Sandifer to gangs and a tragic early ending. Neri also explores the fascinating secret world of black urban cowboys in Philadelphia. (Middle Grades, High School)  

•  Using free-verse to free up your writing: Writing workshop exploring free-verse as a way to discover the inner truths in your writing.

•  Writing the graphic novel: 
Neri talks about this unique form of writing and the amazing opportunities it affords in the craft of storytelling.

•   Finding your Book: reinventing stories for urban boys who don't read (In service for teachers)

“I’m trying to re-think the notion of what a book means to urban teens. Many teens can make it through high school without ever having read a book of fiction. But that’s because to them, books are told in a voice that is alien to them. Most of these kids are now born into a more visual society, so I think playing with graphic novels and illustrations and using voices and characters that you don’t see often in literature is a big plus for reluctant readers in the city. I see my books as gateway books to Jane Austen."       --G. Neri