Speaking Engagements, Presentations, and Workshops for Teens


Ms. Hayes loves to speak with teens and tackle adolescent issues through a variety of workshops. These interactive workshops are thought provoking and can be tailored to fit any size group. The school may select the program that best meets the needs of the student body.

If you would like to schedule a speaking engagement, presentation, or workshop with Ms. Hayes, please contact her today!

Some of her presentations include:

  • Get Your Shine On

    Presented in a forty-five minute to one-hour workshop-style format, Get Your Shine On will examine the concept of self-esteem and empower adolescents’ age twelve (12) to eighteen (18) to improve upon their relationship with themselves.

  • Stumbles Make You Pick Up Your Feet

    Presented in a forty-five minute to one-hour workshop-style format, Stumbles Make You Pick Up Your Feet will empower adolescents' age twelve (12) to eighteen (18) to overcome adversity within their lives and inspire them to achieve regardless of personal circumstances.

  • Flavor of Love

    Presented in a forty-five minute to one-hour workshop-style format, Flavor of Love will invite adolescents' age twelve (12) to eighteen (18) to explore the concept of love in various types of relationships, such as friendships, familial, romantic and most importantly, self-love.

  • Author Presentation

    Presented in a forty-five minute open forum, the Author will read selections from her novels and discuss the origin of her books as well as the creative writing process.

  • Book Discussion

    Presented in a one-hour to an hour and a half workshop-style format, the Author will discuss her novel to create an open forum to tackle today's teen issues. Under the guise of discussing characters in a book, teens will develop skills in an open discussion forum, by examining issues and controversial topics that are otherwise hard to discuss.

  • Creative Writing for Young Adults

    Presented in a forty-five minute to 1-hour workshop-style format, Creative Writing for Young Adults will invite writers to explore the genre of fiction through reading, critical analysis and writing exercises.

  • Helping America's Youth through Literacy

    Presented in a forty-five minute to one-hour workshop-style format, Helping America's Youth Through Literacy will offer workshop participants tips to encourage America's youth to read.

What attendees have said:

  • Posted: Thursday, October 09, 2008

    "We would like to thank you to coming to Harding High School and speaking to the students. We really enjoyed your speech. We wish you the best and keep writing great books! Janee' McClain and JaBria Burden"

  • Posted: Monday, May 26, 2008

    "Ms. Hayes. Earlier this year you visited us at ACCE High School and I am still so thankful. My kids have been tearing through your books. When I told one girl that your new book just came out she jumped up and down. Thank you for what you do - it makes my job as an educator much easier when there are quality books for them to enjoy. Thank you, Elise DeLamatre 9th Grade English Teacher ACCE High School"

  • Posted: Monday, March 17, 2008

    "Hi Ms. Hayes, I just wanted to thank you once again for coming out to ACCE last week and it was a pleasure meeting you. I heard nothing but great things and our students enjoyed meeting a published author. I finely got a chance to sit and finish reading Ms. Thang. It reminded me of some of my previous students who have dealt with some of the same issues as Shaniqua, Brittany, and Natasha. As an educator, over the past 8 years I have not only had to be a teacher but a counselor, parent, and so on. I truly appreciate what you do for youth. Reading is such a powerful tool that will help our students be successful. I am looking forward to reading Urban Goddess and Eye Candy. God Bless, Marie A. Taylor"

  • Posted: Tuesday, October 02, 2007

    "Hey Mrs. Hayes, My name is NaKeidra McCauley but my friends call me Ke Key. I go to Greenwood High School you came there Friday. I really did enjoy your book and you talking to us about ourselves and love I really did learn a lot from that. Well I just want to tell you how much I enjoyed you. NaKeidra"

  • Posted: Wednesday, September 26, 2007

    "Hey Mrs. Sonia Hayes......You came by Emerald High school and had a discussion with us and I just wanted to let you know that I enjoyed it a lot......Your discussion was very real and was exactly what is happening now in our school...but luckly I play 3 different sports and I'm in all the pageants...so im pretty much popular around Emerald.......You really made me realize to not worry about people who dont like me (which we teenagers call HATERS) because I'm nice to everyone and their should be no reason why someone shouldn't like me...So thank you for making me realize that.......But I'm currently getting ready to start on your other book Ms. Thang......From what I've heard from people who have read it, it's very good...So I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed your discussion and hope to see you again later on sometime in my life....Oh yea and your books really do influence me to read and I'm beginning to like reading more and more everyday.......And if you can't really remember me I was one of the students who took the picture with you that was put in our yearbook....... Courtney"

  • Posted: Wednesday, September 26, 2007

    "I just wanted to say it was a honor having you at my school(Emerald high school). Essence"

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