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Now offering
virtual author talks! 
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What is an Author Visit?Author visits are a great way to enthuse children about reading and creative writing!
A typical author visit may include a short talk on how and why I decided to write for children, my inspirations and the process of writing, some fun Q&A, creative activities and story readings. |
How long does a visit last? Visits can be a half-day, full-day or multiple days in duration. The length of a visit is determined by the number of classes I'm required to visit, the types of activities being run, age-groups, head-count etc. My aim is always to give the best experience I can, so I recommend a minimum of 45-60 minutes per class group session, and a minimum booking of a half-day.
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Discussing plot ideas with Year 7s during a 3-hr story-building workshop
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What age groups do you cover?
My target audience varies very slightly for my picture books, but generally my talks, stories and activities are suitable for Foundation age right up to Key Stage 3.
What creative activities are carried out during a visit?
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As well as the author talk and readings, I use a number of pre-built activities of my own making, which suit different audience sizes and ages. However, as every school and class is different, I would expect to adapt the content to ensure it is a good fit for your school.
I will also use the visits as an opportunity to promote my books, and that means having copies to sell or order on the day of the visit, and of course all purchased copies will be signed! Below are some of the more popular creatives activities that I run: "Conjuring Characters"
A single-session workshop focussing on creating and developing unique characters.
"Stupendous Stories"
A full-day story workshop, incorporating character creation, idea outlining and story structure.
S.O.C.K-in-a-Box
S.O.C.K (short for Story Outline Construction Kit) is a creative card-based classroom resource developed by yours truly! I often use my S.O.C.K resource as an support aide during my activities, but did you know that you can actually BUY IT for yourself from the STORE? |
Signed copies are available to purchase or order on the day of visit.
"Ingenious Ideas"
A single-session workshop creating, exploring and sharing story ideas.
Also!
"In school, 'The Great Reef Race' can help teachers explain good sportsmanship, cheating, putting friendships above the competition, and being a good loser." |
How much does a visit cost?
My day rate is modest and sits well beneath the rates recommended by the Society of Authors. In short, I'm pretty good value.
Allowances for travel and (only if necessary) basic accommodation are additional to my day rate and chargeable beyond 20 miles from home base ("home base" being my house, not the DIY emporium).
Of course, there is always room for negotiation, and I may be able to offer concessions for small schools with little or no funding. Rates will be always discussed and agreed before any commitments are made.
Feel free to contact me for a quotation and/or suggestions for an author visit to your school, library or arts event, stating clearly who you are, where you are, what you want and by when. I'll do my best to respond within 48 hrs. You can also download my School Information Pack, which includes my current rates, details of my activities, plus other helpful information.
Allowances for travel and (only if necessary) basic accommodation are additional to my day rate and chargeable beyond 20 miles from home base ("home base" being my house, not the DIY emporium).
Of course, there is always room for negotiation, and I may be able to offer concessions for small schools with little or no funding. Rates will be always discussed and agreed before any commitments are made.
Feel free to contact me for a quotation and/or suggestions for an author visit to your school, library or arts event, stating clearly who you are, where you are, what you want and by when. I'll do my best to respond within 48 hrs. You can also download my School Information Pack, which includes my current rates, details of my activities, plus other helpful information.
| school_information_pack.pdf |
Are you worth it?
Well, I'm a firm believer in Word-of-Mouth. So go on, click the link and see for yourself what others have said about my visits.
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"Having a 'real' author's perspective on writing has had a positive impact on children's attitudes towards writing" |
OK, so I've booked you, and I'm excited about it - so what happens next?
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Once you make a booking with me I will get in touch shortly after to confirm the booking with you. After that I may contact you a few more times to firm up the timetable of sessions and get a better understanding of the group I will be working with. My aim is always to create the best experience for your group. I will also send you some author information and a standard letter for you to send home to parents ahead of the event. This will detail a bit about the event and the books that will be available to buy during my visit. An order form for parents is included with the letter. Cash/cheque payments (for book orders) should be brought to the school by the day of the visit, and of course, I'd be delighted to sign all purchased copies.
For the visit itself, if my talk includes a slide presentation, then I will require a laptop or PC to plug my USB stick into, and a projector/smartboard screen, but apart from that (and the odd cup of coffee) I'm fairly self-sufficient. It is important for my own safety and protection that at least one member of staff is present in the room at all times. It is helpful for me to have a contact name/number/email of the person arranging the visit, and that the ugly topic of payment is handled in a clear, discreet and timely manner. No author likes having to badger someone for payment at the end of their visit (awkward!) |
DBS Certification:
Please note: I am not DBS registered. This is for no other reason than I simply do not make enough regular school visits for this to be a necessity, so as much for my safety as the children's, I always ask that a member of staff is present at all times during my visit. This is not uncommon among authors and artists who carry out infrequent class activities. For more information on DBS Certification, and how the frequency criteria applies to artists (including authors), see here. 
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