Kerry Kriseman • Memoir Book Coach and Author

Kerry Kriseman is a St. Petersburg, Florida, native. She is the author of Accidental First Lady: On the Front Lines (and Behind the Scenes) of Local Politics, her memoir that provides a rare, unfiltered look into the life of a 22-year political spouse. Kerry teaches memoir writing through her course, Make Memoir Magic, at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes at USF-St. Pete and Eckerd College. Website: kerrykriseman.com

Hands-On Craft Workshop: How to Discover the Memoir Within Your Memories

If you’ve ever thought about writing your life story but felt unsure where to begin, this workshop will help you discover the moments that truly matter. Participants will learn to:

• Identify the turning points that shaped their lives
• Understand why certain memories stay vivid for decades
• Use memory mapping to uncover the deeper thread of your story
• Discover the powerful moments that belong in their memoirs

Memoir starts with discovering the story hidden inside your life experiences. This workshop helps writers uncover those moments so their memoirs have a clear emotional foundation.

Writing Masterful Memoir Scenes

Memoir lives and dies on the page in scenes. In this dynamic workshop, writers will learn how to transform flat narrative summary into vivid, emotionally resonant storytelling. Through guided instruction, close reading, discussion, and in-class writing exercises, participants will develop the essential craft skills needed to write compelling memoir scenes that immerse readers and elevate their manuscripts.