Speaker Bio

Kalisha's debut novel Upstate is the classic American Library Association Alex Award-winning and National Book Foundation-honored story of Antonio and Natasha, two Harlem youth in love but torn apart by America's criminal justice system. The book is a favorite of English teachers, literacy groups and school librarians Kalisha joins in promoting education to youth.

Her novels Conception and Solemn are searing, deep portraits of African-American girlhood also loved by youth and adults. Her most recent novels Speaking of Summer and Running to Fall established her as a strong new voice among mystery/suspense, crime and thriller writers. Since 2011, she has published short works at her blog negression.com, which led to her communications and arts/letters firm negression Creative.

Kalisha is a frequent special guest of literary gatherings and publishing industry events. She has commentated true crime cases for BET, TV-One and ID Channel. She visits women's groups and book clubs to discuss themes of her novels. She speaks at libraries, colleges and universities about writing and the arts, education, and Black history and culture in America.

Kalisha has an M.F.A. from The New School in New York City. She has English degrees from University of Chicago and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She was born in Kankakee, Illinois.

Select Engagements 2005-Present

• Chicago Black Women’s Expo

• International Thriller Writers’ ThrillerFest

• UN Women Generation Equality Forum

• John Oliver Killens Reading Series,

  Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College-CUNY

• African-Americans on the Move Book Club,

  Black Writers Weekend

• National Book Club Conference

• St. Louis Bookfest

• Well Read Black Girl Festival

• Library Journal “Day of Dialog” Book Expo America

• Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association Annual

• National Book Foundation “Literature for Justice” Program

• American Writers Museum Tribute to Gwendolyn Brooks

• Printers Row Book Fair

• FLOW Authors in partnership with Lawyers for the Creative Arts

• eta Creative Arts Foundation

• Harlem Arts Salons in benefit to The Gloster Project

• American Writers Museum Celebrates Gwendolyn Brooks

• University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa History Department

• Winter Tangerine Review’s “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” at Poet’s House

• University of Chicago Emerging Writers Series

• University of Chicago Gender Studies Department

• Northwestern Lane Humanities Series

• School of the Art Institute Chicago

• Chicago State University’s Gwendolyn Brooks Black Writer’s Conference

• New York University’s Institute of African American Affairs

• Oakton College Women’s and Gender Studies Conference

• Waubonsee Community College Department of English

• University of Arkansas-Fayetteville English Department

• American Library Association Annual Conference

• National Council of Teachers of English Annual Conference

• Literature For All of Us

• Harlem Book Fair

• Judge Greg Mathis’s Youth Empowerment Conference

• Kankakee Community College

• Kankakee Public Library

• New York Public Libraries

• Chicago Public Libraries

• Brooklyn Public Library

• Free Library of Philadelphia

• Many high schools, youth programs and centers for speeches on Upstate